My 2nd great grandfather, Thomas Stinson, came from Ireland according to Canadian census records. He was born around 1833-1836. In 1855, (in Cavan Township, Durham County, Ontario, Canada) he married Mary McClelland (b. 10 Jun 1836, Ireland, daughter of James and Sarah Peche/Peake?) in the Church of England/Anglican. No parents names are indicated on the marriage record. There was another Stinson family living in the area at the time, Samuel but I have not been able to find a connection. I also have not been able to find a death record in Ontario.
He and Mary had 5 sons, Samuel Wesley, John James, Robert George, Thomas Henry (my ggrandfather) and William A. and a daughter Mary Ann who died young. He registered the birth of his grandson in 1889 (John James, son of Robert George) using the name Thomas Francis Stinson. Another of his grandsons (son of Samuel) was called Francis so it is probable that Francis was his middle name.
Thomas and Mary were protestant, but I have no other clue as to what province or county they were from. I'm tempted towards Cavan, not only because they came to a township of that name in Ontario, but because the neighbour Samuel Stinson mentioned above was born 1800, Drung, Cavan, Ireland (son of William with sons named William, Thomas, Samuel). Any help on the origins of this Thomas Stinson or of James McClelland would be much appreciated.
Linda Stinson
Linda_Stinson
Tuesday 16th Jul 2013, 02:17PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Linda,
Thank you for your message.
It may be an idea to check the church records in Drung parish to see if you can find Thomas? birth record there. Most surviving Church of Ireland records are still held by the local clergy, although some are in the National Archives of Ireland and others are in the Representative Church Body Library in Dublin. Here are their websites: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/ and http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42
Lists of these surviving registers can also be found at the National Library of Ireland.
You could also try looking on:
www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.
www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.
Have you heard of Griffith?s Valuation? this is a property valuation survey carried out in Ireland 1848-64. It doesn?t have any genealogical information but will give you an idea of where in Cavan there were Stinson?s living:
You could also check the earlier Tithe Applotment Books 1823-38:
Some other websites that you may find useful are:
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm
Alternatively you could try contacting Cavan Genealogy for some assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net
All the best,
Genealogy Support
Wednesday 17th Jul 2013, 09:26AM -
Thanks for your response. I'll start checking the websites now. The trip to Ireland will have to wait for another year.
Linda_Stinson
Wednesday 17th Jul 2013, 12:13PM -
I am not expecting much, as this reply is 9 years after your inquiry. I am deep into the Stinson family history, and would like to talk with you. My email address is rlcolwell@gmail.com Please drop me a line richSunday 15th Jan 2023, 03:45PM