My 4th great grandfather, Francis McQuiggan, was born about 1790 near Arboe, County Tyrone, Ireland. At the age of 16 he argued with his father and left home. He never had any contact with them again and never spoke of them. In 1807, he joined the British Army, was sent to the West Indies, then to Canada, and was with the British Army at the Battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. He received his discharge from the army dated Queenston, 1815 after serving 7 years 100 days. For his services he was given a grant of 200 acres of land of his choice. He settled on Lot 6, Con.3, Township of Bayham, County of Elgin, two miles west of Vienna, Ontario, Canada. After about 150 years, the McQuiggans of Canada made contact with a family of McQuiggans living in Australia. Through them we received the following information. Arthur McQuiggan who was born in Ireland about the year 1800, claimed to be one of a large family who's records show that he had a brother born in the year 1790, who left home at an early age and was never heard from again. According to a Royal Scots pay record from 1814 his rank was Corporal.
I would very much like to connect with my ancestral home and heritage. I will be most grateful for any assistance in this matter.
This is a transcription of his discharge:
Under the reserve of Defence act. His majesties 1st Battalion, 1st Artillery Royal Scotts Regiment of Forse, whereof H.R.H. Edward Duke of Kent, 9. He is Colonel, that is to certify that Francis McQuigon, plain volenteer company in the regiment aforesaid, born in the parish of Arboe, in or near the town of Arboe, in the county of Tyrone. Having inlisted for the inited...under the act of...Geo, II. Having served according to the provisions of said act for the space of seven years and one hundred full days...but in consequence of a procklamation...is hereby discharged, having first received all demands of pay, blotting from his inters into the said regimes. He is hereby discharged by the receipt on the back hereof...and prevent any improper use being made of the discharge by falling into other hands. The following is a description of the said covst
Francis McQuigon, 25 years of age, is 5 ft. 4 in. in height, fair hair, grey eyes, fair complection, by trade a weaver.
Given under my hand and seal of the Regiment, at Queenstone.......day of.....1815
Detail
Discharge of First Service
Date
1815
Janet Taylor
Friday 5th Jul 2013, 08:09PMMessage Board Replies
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Janet:
I looked for McQuiggans in Arboe parish in the Tithe Applotment listings with no success. Griffiths Valuation records did not show a McQuiggan in Arboe parish.
The 1901 census did show a McQuiggan family in Carnan townland in Arboe parish. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Killycolpy/Carnan/1732056/
In the 1911 census, it appears the family had moved to Tamnavally townland in Arboe parish.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Killycolpy/Tamnavally/861839/
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Friday 5th Jul 2013, 10:56PM -
Roger,
Thank you for the research. Family oral history says Francis spelled his name McGuigan or McQuigon. Did you find any such variations? Also, the McQuiggans you found the census are listed as Catholic. Both sides of my family have always been protestant, but I'm not sure about Francis.
Janet
Janet Taylor
Friday 5th Jul 2013, 11:24PM -
Janet:
I did not initially look for McGuigan or McQuigon records. Took another look and did not find anything in the Tithe's. The 1859 Griffiths Valuation for Arboe parish does show six McGuiggan records including two named Francis.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 6th Jul 2013, 04:24PM -
Roger,
Thank you so much. You have been a big help. Now I just have to figure out which family may be his. By 1859, he would already be settled in Canada. Perhaps one of the Francis' listed is his father. Do you have any advice as to how I should go forward from here?
Respectfully,
Janet Taylor
Janet Taylor
Saturday 6th Jul 2013, 04:56PM -
Janet
In the parish of Ardboe, in the records I have seen, the names McQuiggan, McGuigan and variants have been used interchangeably.
The Flaxgrowers’ List of 1796 (which lists heads of household who planted an acre of flax) has two names:
Arthur McQuigan
John McQuigan
The Tithes Applotment Book of 1826-27 lists the following heads of household/holders of land:
Townland of Mullaghglass – Art. Maguigan, Fras. Maguigan, Jno. Maguigan, Michl. Maguigan, Paul (?) Maguigan
Townland of Sessiagh Alexander – Peter Maguigan
Townland of Drumore – Charles McGuigan
Townland of Killeywollaghan – Eloner McGuigan, Fill McGuigan, Jno. McGuigan Senr., John McGuigan Junr.
Townland of Kiltagh – Francis McGuigan, Michl. McGuigan
The register of baptisms for the parish of Ardboe (Catholic) was begun in November 1827, and between 1830 and 1860 there are 50 baptisms for the name McGuigan and its variants, demonstrating the strength of the Catholic families in the parish.
I don’t think there are any relevant Presbyterian baptismal records prior to 1848.
It may be worthwhile, if only for the purpose of elimination, to have a search carried out in the Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI) of the Church of Ireland records (parish of Arboe) for baptisms of Francis and Arthur McQuiggan/McGuigan or variants, in the years 1785-1805. The baptismal records go back to 1775: only those beginning in 1872 are held locally so a search can only be carried out at PRONI; I don’t know whether Family Search has a copy of the early records.
pat Grimes
Friday 24th Jan 2014, 02:45AM -
Roger,
I have recently learned that the wife of Francis McQuiggan, Rosa Beaman, came from a devout Presbeterian family. It may be that Francis was influenced by her, so I cannot be sure if his family was Catholic or not. I will have to search all records available. Thanks again for your kind assistance.
Janet Taylor
Monday 17th Mar 2014, 02:20PM -
Racer,
Thank you for your diligent research and recommendations. I will work on the suggestions you have made and I hope you will update me on any other Ideas you have, or items you find in this regard.
Janet Taylor
Janet Taylor
Monday 9th Jun 2014, 03:03PM