I have been trying to track my Irish genealogy and have hit a brick wall. My ancestor, Peter McCormick (b. est 1815) came to the United States with his wife Margaret. They had one daughter in Ireland, Bridget born around 1835. They had several other children, but we think they were born in the US. Ellen and Christopher perhaps born in Ireland.
Peter settles in a small suburb of Philadelphia (Manayunk) with a John McCormick (b. est 1812) and his wife Margaret. Both from Ireland. I suspect John and Peter are brothers or cousins.
We found the birth of Bridget McCormick in Armagh to Peter McCormick and Margeret McCreer. We think this may be our family, but we can find no other information about this family. Nothing that would confirm that this family is related to our family in America.
Do you know anything about the McCormick family in Armagh that may link them to Peter and his family in the US?
Tuesday 26th Feb 2019, 02:31AM
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The 1901 Irish census has 86 McCormick/McCormacks in Co. Armagh. So you need to be careful that you find the right family. Not all parishes have records for the 1830s so it’s easy to seize on the wrong record on the basis that, since it’s the only apparent match, this must be it.
Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.
The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with Family Tree DNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price. http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website). You don’t need to be a member of the NIFHS to participate in the DNA project.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘