Searching for James Welsh's family

Hi Mary, would you kindly pass on my thanks to your friend for her research on the Nicholson's. It is very exciting. I had a suspicion that Elizabeth Nicholson may have been the daughter of Peter and Mary Nicholson, but I have not been able to confirm it. If in fact she is, then it would appear that she may have a sister Emily. However, if Thomas was her father, as he did witness her wedding to James Welsh in 1818, then she may have a couple of brothers and sisters as your friend has discovered. I had also somewhere in my research thought that Elizabeth was born in Boolebane and that she had died some time before James was transported to Australia. He left in December 1818, so if she did die, then she wasn't married for very long. I wonder if she is also buried in Ahascragh? James married Mary Macklin in Sydney in 1825. She was  born in the colony of Sydney, though I've not been able to find any birth registration for her.

Many of the references you've found refer to the parish of Fohany (Fogenagh). Is this near Boalabane? or Clontuskert? or Ahascragh? Are they each  towns or smaller places with only several families?

Your friend also noted that Arthur Walsh was a witness at the marriage of James Welsh and Elizabeth Nicholson. Is is known whether Arthur was James' father or other relative? Is there any way of getting a copy of this marriage certificate or a death certificate for Elizabeth???

I'm sorry I have so many more questions, but I'm so excited to know that there is some confirmation that my relatives did exist and that some documentation may still exist. I've not had much success in the past with researching my Irish ancestors, from here in Australia. I'm really pleased to know that through "Ireland Reaching Out" I might now be able to break down some of the brick walls that I have come up against in my Irish research.

Thank you once again from a very excited bmcalary1