Nicholas Furlong

Tamara:

Only one RC parish in Co. Wexford (Wexford town) has baptismal records back to 1779 and earlier. New Ross records start in 1790.

The subscription site Roots Ireland has a July 26 1779 baptismal record in the Wexford RC parish for a Nicholas Furlong with parents Stephen Furlong and Anstase Murphy.

You mentioned possibly New Ross. Is this a situation where someone found the record and connected the record to your ancestor without better proof? You would need more confirming proof from other records. There are more than 40 Co. Wexford RC parishes and your Stephen may have been baptized in one of those parishes but a record would not be available.

Have you taken a general DNA test? Once you test your DNA, you can contact closer matches and see if you can make a connection on the Furlong line. 

Roger McDonnell

Thank you. I have not taken a DNA test. The New Ross came up because when my grandmother and aunt were in Ireland many years ago they said that he came from the same town the Kennedy's were from. (John F. Kennedy, US President). That is how the rumor started. 

I found marriage data (doesn't say the source) 

1832 Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame) Catholique 7-May-1832 Nicholas Furlong adult s/oPatrick Furlong, farmer & Bridget Howlet of Co. Wexford. m. Mary Nowlan adult d/o Michael Nowlan farmer & Ann Jordan of Co. Carlow, IE

I'm not thinking this is the right Nicholas Furlong because his wife was Abigail Nowlan who was born in Quoddy, Nova Scotia. So......maybe his parents are Stephen and Anstase. How does one figure out the truth? It drives me crazy.

Thank you for sharing Roots Ireland data. I only have a subscription to Ancestry and I am at a dead end.

Tamara

Tamara:

I understand your frustration. As I mentioned in my prior response, a DNA test will give you matches on all your lines but you want to try to find matches on your Furlong line. They may have more info on where the family was from. I would also rely on the family lore regarding New Ross.

Roger

Would you be able to tell us the names of Nicholas's children, in order? There were Irish naming patterns, with the first son named after the paternal grandfather, etc.  So his sons' names might give a clue to his father's name.

Also, do you have his death record? Does it give his parents' names?  Have you seen his headstone? His obituary? His will? These might hold clues.

Good luck.

I have no death record and from what I understand, he was buried at the family home.  No obituary or will.

His children's names in order are John, Catherine, Anne, Ellen, Bridget. All born in Nova Scotia. wife is Abigail Nowlan. 

This is from a person on ancestry who believes that his parents were Stephen and Anastase Murphy. Who also lists Nicholas' siblings being Patrick John, and Elizabeth. Both born in Wexford. 

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/191528758/person/36248…

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61039/images/04252_01_…

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62047/images/62047_b95…

The ship was called Columbine. 

But it goes back to how do we know for sure? My sister has done the DNA so I will ask her what information she has. That might help. 

Thank you for answering.

Tamara