Parkinson and Brown Families

Hi,

Thank you for your message.

Have you tried looking for information in Church records? Most Catholic records are held locally. One website which may be of help to you is the irishtimes. Here they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. For Loughinisland follow this link:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Down&parish=Loughinisland&churchid=435

For Church of Ireland records check:

http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42

 http://www.nationalarchives.ie/

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history/family_history_key_sources.htm

Also, check www.irishgenealogy.ie/index.html Catholic and Church of Ireland records are currently being uploaded here free of charge. However, this is an ongoing project so not all records are available yet.

Do you know much about their emigration? Generally more information was given at the port of arrival rather than that of departure, so this may be a place to find some information. For immigration information in the US check the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/

Given the dates of their emigration they were most likely processed at Castlegarden. You can search their databases here:

http://www.castlegarden.org/

Some other websites which may help you 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

Remember to post as much information as you can with regard to the people you are researching. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

I would be very interested in a copy of the letter you mentioned.  My great-great grandfather was Thomas Parkinson, who emigrated to New York and then to London, Ontario around 1820.  He was from Seaforde, which I believe is in Loughinsland Parish.  His older brother James emigrated with him and he married Sarah Wellesley Brown in New York.  I think that the Thomas Parkinson that you mentioned may have been my relative.  I have plenty of genealogical information available.

Tom Parkinson

I too, am searching for any info about Parkinsons. - James, Thomas, Robert and sisters Mary Ann and Jane. I believe their parents were Robert (who also emigrated to Canada) and Nancy Mooney.  James was b. near Seaforde about 1791 and his father, Robert c. 1745. The Parkinsons were all protestants.

Nancy Mooney was apparently a Catholic from Drumcaw Townland who was denounced by her family for marrying Robert.  Estimate her birth to be c 1755 and she died about 1817.

I'll be happy to share any available info.

Merilyn Dodds