Hi,
I'm hoping to find out more information about my father's family from either County Armagh or Derry. Our surname is Goodwin, but the family folklore is that it was McGuigan prior to my great-grandfather immigrating to the United States from Northern Ireland. I have no idea what town he was from or who his family was - or even if he used Goodwin as his last name while he was still living in Armagh. My great-grandfather was Patrick, born approximately in 1887 or 1888. He immigrated to New York City in 1904 out of Derry. He married Jennie McDonough when he was in New York.
If anyone has any clues or leads, I would appreciate it more than I can even put into words!
All the best,
Katie
Katie Goodwin
Sunday 18th Mar 2018, 11:21PMMessage Board Replies
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Katie,
Have you looked for a marriage or death certificate in the USA to see what parents names are recorded there? Without parents names it will be very difficult to be sure you find the right family in Ireland.
I looked at the 1901 census for Ireland. There were 28 people named Patrick Goodwin. Narrowing that to those born around 1887/8, I see 2 possibles. Neither in Armagh or Co Derry though:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Foxhall/Belmount/1402368/
72 people named Patrick McGuigan, 14 of whom are of about the right age. 1 in Armagh, 3 in Derry:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Middletown/Crossdall/1019381/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Inniscairn/Brackalislea/1544398/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Grove/Tamneyrankin/1521663/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Inniscairn/Brackalislea/1544374/
Without parents names it’s just guesswork. Have you looked for him on passenger lists for 1904, to see what name and addresses he gave? Was he naturalised in the US, and if so, what information did he give about his parents and his place of birth? Wills, obituaries, military service records can all sometimes contain this sort of data.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 19th Mar 2018, 05:14AM -
There are only 2 Armagh birth/baptism for either Goodwin or McGuigan 1888 + - 3 years on www.rootsireland.ie/; the address in the first one looks interesting
Name:Patrick McguiganDate of Birth:16-Aug-1888
Registration Date:30-Aug-1888Address:West Manchester America Parish/District:PORTADOWNGender:MaleCountyARMAGH
Denomination:Civil Parish / District
Father:James McguiganMother:Mary HydeOccupation:Laborer
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Mary Mcguigan Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:
Notes:MOTHER [INF1]/ CURRAN ST PORTADOWN [PLACE OF BIRTH]/ W STEWART
[REGTR]Name:Patrick McguigganDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:17-Aug-1888Address:
Parish/District:DRUMCREEGender:UnknownCountyARMAGH
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:James McguigganMother:Mary HydeOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Patrick Mcguiggan Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Margaret HydeCol
ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 19th Mar 2018, 11:09AM