Genealogical Crusade
So I woke up this morning to not only a call from Jilian, but also an e-mail from Caroline, a second cousin on my dad's side of the family. We've been in touch for awhile now before I left for Ireland because she did some research on the Fitzpatrick side of the family.
It also turns out I met her a little earlier (when I was around 16) and was into my "lets meet people online because there's no one in Harrington" phase. I turned to the natural choice for social connection: The internet and chat rooms. This would lead me through the topsy-turvey world of meeting super-models from Italy, a girl named "Angel," a few rabid U2 fans, French girls whom I practiced the newly learned and subsequently forgotton language and, finally, discovering not so long-lost relatives in Spokane. I met Caroline's daughter, Danielle, and came to a party and had a great time, but afterwards we didn't keep in touch very well.
Right, anywho, Carrie sent me an e-mail with a nice, definitive genealogical link to Ireland (we have two in fact.) Here comes the fun part: Ok, so my grandpa is Morris Fitzpatrick, his father was Mark Fitzpatrick, grandfather John Fitzpatrick, and the one who emmigrated was his great grandfather, William Fitzpatrick (with John, his son, in tow.) William left Ireland in between 1809 and 1867 (the span of his life) for Ontario, Canada with his relatives and all but one child. Arthur, the eldest of the group, stayed in Ireland. Cool huh? And the best part is, we know where they came from! Ballykeel in County Down (which is a south-eastern county in Northern Ireland..just north of Dublin.) Chances are that Arthur got married and had children, which gives the Fitzpatricks a pretty solid link in Northern Ireland.
The other cool (whenever I use "cool" here just substitute it with "nerdy." If you're falling asleep and you might find this more humorous), is that these Fitzpatricks were Catholic landowners in Northern Ireland, which prior to the 19th century (1800s), experienced heavy English and Scottish plantation and was (and remains still today) strongly Protestant. With the exception of a few (in which the Fitzpatricks might be included) most families in these areas (and most of Ireland) were excluded rights for land-holding due to the fact that they were Catholic. This means these Fitzpatricks might have had some clout on top of being Fitzpatricks. So the big mystery that I want to solve is this: What happened to Arthur? Did he go on to hold on to the lands? Were the Fitzpatricks in fact that well known in Ballykeel? Maybe Arthur was forced to turn Protestant while the rest of the family left for Canada where they could practice Catholicism more freely (although conditions during the mid 19th century (in the US at least) weren't that great). We'll see what I find out, but a trip to Ballykeel is definately in the works.
The other connection we have is a Dublin one. John Fitzpatrick (my great-great grandfather) was married to Maggie Lawless (my great-great grandmother) in Canada, but Maggie's parents came from Dublin and were in fact married there. We even have a date for the marriage: 1844 (right during the famine).
I'll keep you posted as I find out more, and once again a big "Thank you" to Carrie who has really been doing most of the work, and I'm hoping I can reciprocate soon by finding our long-lost Fitzpatricks.
In other news I got offered a job for March 31st to dress up as Tony the Tiger for a "Frosties" promotion (they don't call them Frosted Flakes here, but they're still grrrrrrreeeeeeat!" I've never been a mascot before, and I can't wait to be tormented by little children, but it pays well, so that'll be mighty-fine. St. Patrick's day is on Thursday, and I'm thinking I might stay in Galway for it (Galway's celebration is supposed to be just as epic as Dublin's, only they don't dye their river green...err..wait..is that Chicago?)
That's all for now. Hope all is well.
Cheers,
-Nate
"Like a fire I'm drawn to her lust. I can't run from her, but lord I must. Like a demon I'm drawn to her flame. I'm gonna burn, calling her name."-Tonic
Link of the day: http://www.retrocrush.com/tvthemes/75-100.html This website has the top 100 tv themes, according to the website. Ever wonder the lyrics of a tv-theme song, or maybe you'd just like to hear it so you can have it in your head for the next couple of weeks. This is the site for you.
It also turns out I met her a little earlier (when I was around 16) and was into my "lets meet people online because there's no one in Harrington" phase. I turned to the natural choice for social connection: The internet and chat rooms. This would lead me through the topsy-turvey world of meeting super-models from Italy, a girl named "Angel," a few rabid U2 fans, French girls whom I practiced the newly learned and subsequently forgotton language and, finally, discovering not so long-lost relatives in Spokane. I met Caroline's daughter, Danielle, and came to a party and had a great time, but afterwards we didn't keep in touch very well.
Right, anywho, Carrie sent me an e-mail with a nice, definitive genealogical link to Ireland (we have two in fact.) Here comes the fun part: Ok, so my grandpa is Morris Fitzpatrick, his father was Mark Fitzpatrick, grandfather John Fitzpatrick, and the one who emmigrated was his great grandfather, William Fitzpatrick (with John, his son, in tow.) William left Ireland in between 1809 and 1867 (the span of his life) for Ontario, Canada with his relatives and all but one child. Arthur, the eldest of the group, stayed in Ireland. Cool huh? And the best part is, we know where they came from! Ballykeel in County Down (which is a south-eastern county in Northern Ireland..just north of Dublin.) Chances are that Arthur got married and had children, which gives the Fitzpatricks a pretty solid link in Northern Ireland.
The other cool (whenever I use "cool" here just substitute it with "nerdy." If you're falling asleep and you might find this more humorous), is that these Fitzpatricks were Catholic landowners in Northern Ireland, which prior to the 19th century (1800s), experienced heavy English and Scottish plantation and was (and remains still today) strongly Protestant. With the exception of a few (in which the Fitzpatricks might be included) most families in these areas (and most of Ireland) were excluded rights for land-holding due to the fact that they were Catholic. This means these Fitzpatricks might have had some clout on top of being Fitzpatricks. So the big mystery that I want to solve is this: What happened to Arthur? Did he go on to hold on to the lands? Were the Fitzpatricks in fact that well known in Ballykeel? Maybe Arthur was forced to turn Protestant while the rest of the family left for Canada where they could practice Catholicism more freely (although conditions during the mid 19th century (in the US at least) weren't that great). We'll see what I find out, but a trip to Ballykeel is definately in the works.
The other connection we have is a Dublin one. John Fitzpatrick (my great-great grandfather) was married to Maggie Lawless (my great-great grandmother) in Canada, but Maggie's parents came from Dublin and were in fact married there. We even have a date for the marriage: 1844 (right during the famine).
I'll keep you posted as I find out more, and once again a big "Thank you" to Carrie who has really been doing most of the work, and I'm hoping I can reciprocate soon by finding our long-lost Fitzpatricks.
In other news I got offered a job for March 31st to dress up as Tony the Tiger for a "Frosties" promotion (they don't call them Frosted Flakes here, but they're still grrrrrrreeeeeeat!" I've never been a mascot before, and I can't wait to be tormented by little children, but it pays well, so that'll be mighty-fine. St. Patrick's day is on Thursday, and I'm thinking I might stay in Galway for it (Galway's celebration is supposed to be just as epic as Dublin's, only they don't dye their river green...err..wait..is that Chicago?)
That's all for now. Hope all is well.
Cheers,
-Nate
"Like a fire I'm drawn to her lust. I can't run from her, but lord I must. Like a demon I'm drawn to her flame. I'm gonna burn, calling her name."-Tonic
Link of the day: http://www.retrocrush.com/tvthemes/75-100.html This website has the top 100 tv themes, according to the website. Ever wonder the lyrics of a tv-theme song, or maybe you'd just like to hear it so you can have it in your head for the next couple of weeks. This is the site for you.
posted by Nate at
7:14 AM
1 Comments:
Great jog of research by all. Hope you can learn more and visit our starting place in Ireland and find
out more on Auther.
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