Greetings from western Massachusetts, USA. I'm searching for information regarding my great, great grandfather (Arthur McAvoy 1806-1871) and his wife Julia Murphy McAvoy (1823-1884); her parents: Daniel P. Murphy (1799-1862) and Ann Horgan Murphy (1805- ). I think all were born in County Down, and all died in Boston, Ma. Horgan
Arthur McAvoy was naturalized in America in 1838, but I believe the Murphys arrived prior to that. I think they married in 1845 in Boston. Arthur and Julia's first (of nine) children, my great grandfather Francis, was born in 1847 in Boston.
Both McAvoy and Daniel Murphy were involved with the Emigrant Aid Society of Boston.
I am not sure about parishes, or where to start, so any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Diane McAvoy
Friday 18th Jan 2013, 02:58AM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Diane,
Thank you for your message.
One of the main pieces of information that you need when researching your family history in Ireland is a location. Most Irish record sources- church records, land records, census records- are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Ireland, preferably a parish or placename, it may be difficult to do anything more with these records.
Do you have any documentation that mentions any placenames-townlands/parishes/villages or towns? Even unofficial documentation such as diaries, letters can sometimes hold this vital piece of information!
It may also be worth your while looking into their emigration as sometimes new information, including place of origin, can be found here. For immigration information in the US check the National Archives at the following address:
http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/
You could try looking for them in the Tithe Applotment Books also. These are land records compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland. Although they do not contain any genealogical information, they can sometimes be used to tie a person to a specific place. You can search these here:
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp
Another good website is https://familysearch.org/ This is a huge database of genealogical records compiled by the Church of the Latter Day Saints. If you can find some record of the family in this it will probably give you a parish name.
Some other websites which you may find useful are:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
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
Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/down/index.html
Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/
Genealogy Toolkit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/index.html
You could also try contacting the Ulster Historical Foundation for assistance-a fee may apply. Here are their contact details:
Ulster Historical Foundation,
49 Malone Road,
Belfast BT9 6RY
Northern Ireland.
Phone: +44 28 9066 1988 Email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk
I hope that this is helpful.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
Friday 15th Mar 2013, 03:59PM