Comments on: Q&A from Finding Your Irish Ancestors in America … and Ireland

By: Seán Sloane

Seán Sloane — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:32:32 +0000

How would one go about finding information for someone with very common names, i.e., John O’Kelley (dropped the O upon arrival in the USA). I know his son was born at Ohio in 1841 and a family tale says he was born in Northern Ireland. I have his son’s death certificate and it said his father was born at New York and census records say Ohio as well… These were my 2nd and 3rd great grandfathers and I know nothing more as there was no information passed down… I know the son was enlisted in the Union Army for Wisconsin but can no longer find the records after ancestry renamed them

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:07:08 +0000

Was surprised there were so few questions. I asked a question, but didn’t see it included.

By: Pam Halsey

Pam Halsey — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:27:10 +0000

I also did not stay for the complete webinar because it was too basic for my needs. I also have found information about my ggg gf previously that I have not been able to find recently. Robert McAfee entered the Port of Philadelphia June 18, 1844 on the ship Venture. Why can I no longer get that result on Ancestry? He was born in Ireland in 1825 and lived in NM Territory from 1848 until his death in 1900.

I would be very interested in a more in depth presentation.

Thanks,

Pam Halsey

By: Melody Marshall

Melody Marshall — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:37:31 +0000

I enjoyed the webinar, my first one. To many of us amateur “genealogists” it was great to listen to and see the structured steps it takes to do our research. The material covered might have seemed basic but it gave us a chance to see if we missed any overlooked clues to look for.

I agree that I wished it would have covered what you do when you do not find a specific record on an Irish ancestor or how to go about finding it in rural areas.

I also submitted question pertaining to my gr-grandmother arriving as a child from Ireland around 1850-1853 and without knowing her parents and siblings names, how do I track down a naturalization record for her? My reading indicates that children and women before Ellis Island were naturalized under the husband/father’s name?? Anyone with advice??!

Congratulations to #12 Sally Apprenzellar for finding new infornmation through the Emigrant Savings Bank. I too will check it out and the rest of sites indicated through the webinar.

Just reading everyone’s comments gives a person clues to look for. Good Luck with your searches to All. –Melody

By: Chris (New Zealand)

Chris (New Zealand) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:33:41 +0000

I have traced one lot of my ancestors back to dob 1778, confirmed from a headstone in Mt Jerome. But what resources are there to go back further than this? I have been told by one genealogist that unless my ancestors are famous it is unlikely I will be able to go back further than this?

Is this true? Is it difficult or nigh on impossible to get further back than this in Southern Ireland, Dublin, Meath, Limerick etc?

I would appreciate any feedback or personal experience. – Chris

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:12:23 +0000

You can’t find your ancestors if you don’t know where they were–townland, parish, county etc. But your answer from PRONI left out an absolutely vital fact. There are two kinds of parishes in Irish records–civil (Protestant Church of Ireland) and Catholic.

That’s why you can get two different parish names for the same person. You need to know whether the record was from the government or the Catholic church to find your ancestors. This should have been mentioned in Ancestry’s answer.

By: G. York

G. York — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:41:55 +0000

My question is to B. Black….how do you get back to version of Family Tree Maker software? I’m not real computer wise and my Family Tree Maker has been upgraded every year, but I don’t like the software. Liked it much better when it was simpler.

By: yvonne marshall

yvonne marshall — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:10:31 +0000

I was quite happy with the webinar because it confirmed my research processes and I am confident that more info will become available in the near future.

WILL you please do lots more on Ireland and get Directories and Cemetery records ??

One more – GERMAN webinars please oh please ??

Yvonne in Melbourne Australia

By: B. Black

B. Black — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:29:52 +0000

Agree with previous comments. This was soooooo basic. Also they do things just to go along with what is on their web site.

Off the subject, but anyone else object to the later versions Family Tree Maker Software? Hate multiple things on it (have gone back to using 2006 – It IS COMPATIBLE with Windows 7 except for the pdf printing.)

By: Carmen Farrell

Carmen Farrell — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:20:12 +0000

I was very disspointed in the webinar. It touched only on the easiest found information and did nothing for us whose ancestors came over around 1800 or before. Further, it concentrated on large cities who historically have easy to find info. My questions were not answered on these subjects either. When and where can we get information on older ancestors, and particulalty those who did not settle in New York and Chicago? The seminar should have been entitled “Finding your ‘recent’ Irish ancestors.”