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Hello!

I am new here and looking for any information/guidance on researching my ancestors. 

My great-great-great-grandfather's name was Ralph Henry, he was born in 1833 in Ballyjamesduff in Cavan and was Presbyterian. His birth record shows John Henry and Frances Clemenger as his parents. I found that John and Frances were married in 1816 in Kilmore, Cavan (with Church of Ireland listed, not presbyterian). In the 1821 Census I found John and Frances Henry living in Pallomalady, Lurgan, Cavan. Based on the info on the census, John's birth year would be 1793 and Frances' would be 1798. I also find them in the 1825 Tithe Appointment Books in Lurgan. They eventually moved to the US in 1848 and I see them on the census there with Ralph, my great great great grandfather. I am able to find Frances' birth record and family in Cavan, but I am having no luck with John. I have been using the rootsireland website, ancestry, and myheritage with no luck! I can find birth records for a John Henry around his birth year but none are in Cavan and most of them are Roman Catholic which wouldn't add up. I have a lot of Scottish in my DNA and I'm wondering if he could have moved from Scotland to Ireland and that's why I can't find his birth records in Ireland? I don't know how to even start searching for him in Scotland with no information about his family (siblings, parents, etc), knowing only his birth year and name - and Henry is a very common name!

Do you have any suggestions on where to go from here? 

Thank you so much!

Catherine

Saturday 6th Nov 2021, 02:07AM

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  • Hi Catherine,

    Having done a lot of U.S. research, I would like to discourage you from looking for John Henry in Scotland.  I looked him up in a couple of U.S. federal censuses, and they clearly state  he was born in Ireland.  Now, census records are not always accurate, but if you look at all of the available censuses, plus his U.S. death record, headstone inscription, obituary, will, etc., you may be able to conclude that he was definitely born in Ireland.  

    John was born too early for civil registration in Ireland, and it is quite possible that there is no baptismal record in existence for him.  

    I hope something here is helpful.

    Patricia

    Saturday 6th Nov 2021, 09:35PM

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