Happy Christmas to all my readers & researchers & happy genealogy hunting in 2009 . Ray and I are flying to Western Australia to spend Christmas with the family. This will be the first time we've been there when the grandchildren (now aged 5 & 3 ) will be opening their presents. What's Christmas without children.

There's a lovely story to end the year on. I usually help people find their family from several generations ago but last month a lady who I'll call Mary, emailed me asking if I knew anything about a certain man in a specific townland. It turned out that my husband, Ray, had known this man and was best friends with his nephew. It was one of those serendipity moments. Mary was trying to find her birth parents. She'd found her mother (who didn't want any further contact) and knew her father was deceased but needed to know if any of his family still lived in the area. We phoned the nephew to see if he was happy for contact to take place and he was thrilled to find a long lost cousin. A reunion was organised and now Mary has lots of cousins, aunts & uncles.

Gaynor Kane has kindly sent death details of Catherine Kennedy/Coulter of Carrowdore 1913 & two lovely school photos from Movilla School (Newtownards) in 1940s . Gary Thompson has kindly sent a copy of Alex Millar's 'Ballyclander Ball' c. 1905 . Lots of names of people from the Ballee area.

Saintfield High School is celebrating 50 years and has published a 108 page A4 book about the school and the students with many class photos. A must for anyone who attended or lived in the area at the time. Copies are only available from the school for £10. Call in or phone 028 9751 0356.

Thank you to all the wonderful people of Co. Down who made our stay so good. The hospitality and friendliness of family & friends always overwhelms me. The family wedding went very well with an impromtu helicopter ride for the bride and groom over Castlewellan and Newcastle.

There was one incident though which I'll relate. I've often received emails from overseas researchers saying that their stay in Co. Down was marred by frustrating visits to PRONI or being unable to view church records locally. I phoned the parish secretary (I'll not mention names) and made an appointment to view the church records between 11am-2pm the next Monday. I was asked which surname I was interested in and stated one but hoped that I would be able to view other family names as well. When we arrived at the church office, I was not allowed to view the church register nor the computer printouts. I was told privacy was the reason but after 120 years, who cares. I was asked to name a specific family and was only given information on them. It seemed to be that I was only allowed to have information that I already knew. The parish secretary knew Ray's family well as they'd grown up in the same village so it wasn't as if we were up to mischief. We left after 15 minutes- angry and very frustrated.

If you requested photos- they should be on their way shortly as I'm still jet lagged. I'm trying to answer research emails as quickly as possible too.

Sheila Phillips has kindly sent baptisms from Newcastle Church of Ireland for 1856-1857. We had lunch with Sheila & Ricky in Newcastle on a very blustery day so we were able to finally meet each other and swap genealogy stories . Sheila thinks like myself in that family history information should be freely available and she's working hard to that end.

Damian Murdock has kindly given me a history of Purdysburn Mental Health Facility , just south of Belfast. Vicki Baker has kindly sent information of Rev. Joshua Free of Dunsford and his work in the Famine Years. Eileen Simpson has kindly sent information on her Sheils family of Kilkeel. Nan Brennan has kindly sent the obit for Mr. Michael King of Castlewellan 31 Mar 1900 with a list of mourners. Mark Donald has kindly sent photos of Drumbo Presbyterian & Lisburn & Down Cathedrals. Sharon Oddie Brown has kindly sent Will information on her Stitt family. I've also brought back several books from Co. Down which I'll index and place onto the website. Margaret Mooney has kindly sent me an old photo of Robert Denvir of Denvir's Hotel, Downpatrick. Andy Borland has kindly sent the marriage certificate of ancestors Andrew Borland & Martha Tipping of Hillsborough. Nancy McCormack Schaalje has kindly sent a photo of the children at Killinchy Woods (Killyleagh parish) National School in 1895. Gemma Ward and Marie Brannigan have kindly sent more Down Recorder newspaper articles.

I use rootsweb to host my website but they were taken over by Ancestry. Ancestry changed its hardware on 18th August and left a lot of us with uploading problems. We had to switch over to Passive Mode, but despite lots of advice from the freepages mailing list, I still couldn't update my website, Finally my son came to visit and after a few hours realised it was my modem that was the problem. He reconfigured it and now I'm uploading again as usual. Aren't children wonderful!

Ray and I will be in Co. Down in October if anyone would like photos of gravestones, townlands, towns/villages etc. Email me.

Laurel Baty has kindly sent excerpts from Registry of Deeds covering my One Place Study of Drumnaconnor in Kilmore Parish owned by the Trail family then Alexander Stewart

You may notice a few differences to the pages over the next few weeks. My new computer has arrived and Peter was able to transfer all my files over successfully. I now have a flat screen 17" monitor so that my web pages look different to me on my screen. I'm rearranging some of the pages to fit this new format as my son says most of you will also have the bigger screens. I've also been told that my abbreviation for registered (regt.) looks too much like the word regiment and is confusing some people who haven't accessed my Site Notes page. I like to think my site is user friendly so, over time, I'll replace regt. with regd.

Davy McTear has kindly sent marriage & birth certificate information for his McTear/Mateer families & Sheila McGivern has kindly sent marriage information of her McGivern, Eady/Eddy , Cammock & Jordan families from Newtownards area. Elaine has kindly sent information on her McCullough/Robinson family . Diane has sent graveyard photos from Eglantine Church of Ireland featuring World War 2 Air Force from Australia, New Zealand , Canada & British Isles personal who crashed nearby. I'll index the names into the Surnames Index and send photos if you find a match. Nan Brennan has kindly given permission to copy newspaper articles from London papers featuring Co. Down people.

We had a great time with the family in Western Australia but arrived home to find the computer had crashed. My son did a patch job & hopefully it can last out until I get a new one.

Have you tried out the new Wills section of www.proni.gov.uk ? So far just indexes c. 1870- 1930 but soon full copies of Wills fee online. Also checked out the www.census.nationalarchives.ie page regularly as Co Antrim & Co. Down were the next to be indexed free online.

There's a new DNA project for those whose ancestors came from the Ards Peninsula. Check out their website for surnames involved so far. http://www.familytreedna.com/public/ardsdnaproject/

Teresa Mary Barker has kindly sent information about her Morgan/Dixon families of Lisburn . Patrick James White has kindly sent information about his Butterfield / Byrnes families of Maybridge. Brian McCleary has kindly sent more church photos & Gemma Ward & Marie Branigan more newspaper articles. Bill Haggan has kindly sent a photo of Ballyroney Presbyterian Church. Trevor Moody has kindly sent a CD with the original pages from Daniel Teer's (of Newcatle) diary c. 1897 and his adventures as a seaman c. 1897 . Leslie Campbell has kindly sent a PFD file of his research into his grandparent's Capt. Robert & Kate Campbell & their drowning near Kilkeel following the sinking of the Alder in 1938. Megan Townsend has sent baptismal details of her Farrell family around Annaclone.

I've decided to concentrate on civil registration marriages from 1846 this year. Some observations; couples didn't necessarily marry in the parish where they lived so always check around the area.If you were under 21 then you had to state your age but after that it was voluntary. So did , some didn't. A surprising number married in a Registry Office. Youngest brides (so far) Nancy Hayes, Mary Duke & Rose Anne Martin aged 15) & oldest couple were James Chambers ,75 marrying Mrs. Mary Mooney nee Boyd,70.

I'll continue with civil births , gravestones and the full Griffiths Valuations of 1863. I'm getting satisfaction out of tying families together .The Claim-a-Relative Scheme seems to be popular but please remember to let me know if you change your email address.

Douglas Gray has kindly sent marriage details of David McKenzie & Sarah Jane McMeekan of Bangor in 1871. Nan Brennan has kindly sent details of her Doherty family from Drumlee. Megan Flanigan Townsend has kindly sent information about her Farrell/ McPoland family . Martin Benn has kindly sent more information about Co. Down ships and their owners. . Alec McKee Stephenson has kindly sent information about his McKee & Gracey families. Judith Collins has kindly sent details of her Wright/ Graham family of Ballymacbrennan.

If you've left surnames on my Message Board or part of my Claim-a- Relative scheme. Please remember to email me if you change your email address.

Bob Davidson has kindly sent information on his Huddleston family of Downpatrick area. Diane Flanagan has kindly sent photos & information from Knotty Ask Cemetery, Rostrevor. Surnames Bell, Atkinson, Bates, Browne, Buishell, Canning, Crooks, Cunningham, Fullerton, McCullough. Moore, Seeton, Speers, Steede, Von Stieglitz & Wade. . Julie has kindly sent information on Boardmills Presbyterian churches .

I wish all my readers a safe, healthy and Happy Christmas time. Thanks for all your support and contributions this year. May 2008 bring joy with the release of the census online www.census.nationalarchives,ie

My Inbox has crashed so I apologise to any people whose emails I haven't answered. Please contact me again.

Phil McArthur has kindly sent information on his Munce family of Killinchy. Wendy Turner has kindly sent information about her Smyth Dickson family. Marie Brannigan has kindly sent a brochure about Narrow Water Castle & several newspaper articles.

Ann McKie has kindly sent McEvoy/ McAvoy will probate information from PRONI. Rodger Stubbings has kindly sent photos of names of soldiers who died in 1st World War from Donaghadee & Newtownards. . Martin Benn, a shipping expert, has kindly sent me additional information on Co. Down ships via Gareth Hicks.

I'm flying over to Western Australia to visit my daughter, son-in-law & two gorgeous grandchildren who'll be turning 4 & 2. I'll be back by 26th November to answer any emails.

I have made any interesting discovery. Since I've been working with the Griffiths Valuations of 1863, I've noticed a few errors such as the wrong Christian names but recently I noticed that 20 pages of entries for Newtownards & 20 pages from Donaghadee parish & 15 pages from Bangor parish which are in the full listings are missing from the indexes on CD from Genealogical Services. So I apologise to all those people who requested a lookup from these parishes and I came back and said I couldn't find any. I've decided to place these entries throughout the Surnames Index to make them more accessible . May take a while.

Because of the large number of correspondents who are researching in the Clonduff/Hilltown area, I have decided to place the full listings of the land records, Griffiths Valuation of 1863 throughout the Surnames Index.

Rachel Barber has kindly sent information on her Borland/Singleton family of Hillsborough. My 'Claim a Relative ' Scheme has been well received. Lena McVea on a recent trip to Co Down discovered the old St. Mary's parish graveyard in Ardkeen and has kindly sent several photos of the old graves. Copied into Surnames Index . Mary McClure has kindly sent marriage details of Thomas Rafferty & Margaret Ann Rooney in 1884 in Newcastle. Jacqui Roberts has kindly sent details of her Beattie/Campbell family in Annahilt. Brian McCleary has kindly sent photos of the Comber War Memorial with names. Sandra Wanamaker has kindly sent information on her Wallace family from Killyleagh & Killinchy church registers. Ann McKie has kindly sent early baptismal & marriage entries for her Polin/ McPolin & McEvoy / McAvoy families from various parishes & Flinn wills. Terry Kennedy has kindly sent Presbyterian records for his Kennedy/ Toal/Taylor/Sloan/Brown/Hoods/Todds & Scott families from Glascar, Ballyroney & Rathfriland.

Lynda Cowan has kindly sent information about her Huntsdale family in Tullynakill parish. David Cassells has kkindly sent information about his Hayes family of Killinchy. Alan Scullion has kindly sent information about his Bittle family. Scott Turner has kindly sent information on his McNeal & Graham families in Kilmegan parish. Chuck Keenan has kindly sent a birth entry for Dionayais Keenan, Dromara 1883. Mark Donald has kindly sent information about the ministers of Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church. Jean Kerr has kindly sent information about her Kerr family from Dromore who went to Scotland. Other surnames are Drain, McKeown, Ward. Frank Murphy has kindly sent information on his Murphy/Gribben family of Clonduff & Brown family of Rathfriland. (Frank's records include 1901 & 1911 Census, school registers & civil registrations) . Gerry Rice has kindly given me a copy of the Lecale Miscellany 1999 and photos of Magorans of Killyleagh & Rices of Drumaness. Ann Deamer has kindly sent information about her McCombe & Doran families from Loughinisland.

We had a lovely time in Co. Down with family and friends. I have collected a few more books which I'll index into my website covering the Comber, Ards & Downpatrick/Killough areas. I also visited the following graveyards whilst taking photos for others and copied down a few early inscriptions as these graveyards haven't been published; Bryansford Catholic & Church of Ireland , Kilcoo Catholic & Clonduff Presbyterian. It may take a few weeks for the entries to appear on the website.

I'm starting a "Claim a Relative" scheme. If I have one of your ancestors in my Surnames Index and you'd like your name beside the entry with a link to another page with your email address on it, so people with a connection can contact you; email me.

Michael Yeaman has kindly sent more Yeaman baptisms from Carrowdore Church of Ireland registers.

I'm flying up to Coffs Harbour on the north coast of New South Wales on 16th and speaking about Irish research at the Heritage Society meeting in the Botanical Gardens. If you're in the area come along and have a chat.

Alan Lilley has kindly sent some URLs for Australian BDMs

Ray and I will be in Co. Down for a family wedding in July and we're happy to take digital photos of towns,villages, townlands, graves etc. Sorry but we 're not going into Belfast. Email me if you're interested.

I've placed an index showing all the dates & places of the Post Office Directories that I've indexed so you can see the coverage- check it out at the bottom of the Site Notes page.

There are a large number of people who are being very generous and leaving their family information for me to put in my Surnames Index to share with everyone around the world. In order to make it easier to contact these people, if you have a match, I've created a Contacts page . If your name is on this list and you'd like it removed, please email me.

Leslie Drew has kindly sent a lovely old postcard of Woburn House, Millisle. As many people have been sending house photos, I've set up a separate page to showcase them. Click here to check them out. Douglas Hewson has kindly sent information about his Ker family of Boardmills and some extracts from Boardmills Presbyterian Church Register. Chuck Keenan has kindly sent marriage certificate details for Sarah Keenan & John McWhir married 1877 in Glastry Presbyterian. Juneann Caughey has kindly sent information about her Caughey family of Ballynhinch & Kearneys of Crossgar. Thanks again to Gemma Ward & Marie Brannigan for sending newspaper articles. Lynda Cowan has kindly sent information about her Cowan & Hunsdale family of Greyabbey & Tullynakill and an extract from Mount Stewart rent records of 1865. Bridget Brennan has kindly sent information about her Rice family of Magheralone.

We had a lovely holiday in the Cook Islands near Tahiti for a week . It was lovely having the family relaxing together on the beach whilst the children played. My daughter's wedding on the beach was very romantic.

Carol Ingram has kindly sent a b/w photo of Loughaghry House in Annahilt parish. I've decided to set up a new webpage with just the house photos on it as I have a few collected now. Dianne Poore has kindly sent a n old postcard of cottages at Six Roads End, Ballygrainey in Bangor parish.

Alan Marshall has kindly sent more information about his ancestors Eliza Seawright of Seapatrick & Samuel Whiteside of Magherally; Eliza's photo is on the Old Folks page.

Sandra Gilpin has kindly sent about 30 photos of Non Subscribing Presbyterian Churches , Presbyterian Churches in Newtownards, lists of Non Subscribing minister for Comber & Newttownards, Thomas Andrews of Titanic fame memorial, Gawn Orr's genealogies and lots of other interesting items. Family historians are very generous people.

I have been in contact with David Sommerville from www.emeraldancestors.com who has given me permission to add family names from his records to my website. I can recommend this site for civil registrations of marriages from 1845 & births from 1864.

John Linnie has kindly sent me details of his Brown & Townley families of Downpatrick. Michael Yeaman has kindly sent all Yeaman burials in Carrowdore Church of Ireland graveyard. Earla Angell has kindly sent a lovely old postcard of Dollys Brae near Castlewellan. Maud Hamill has kindly sent a photo of Fisherwick House in Newcastle.

Jean Burton Over has kindly sent a CD containing letters written by families from Dromara parish to emigrating relatives to Almire WA USA. Surnames are mainly McKay but include Wallace, Halstead, Bell, Henderson, Malcolmson, Dawson & Chambers and were written around 1900-1910. Jean provided an excellent uindex which I'll place into the Surnames Index. If you have a connection email me and I'll pass on the relevant letter.

Rebekah Drew has kindly sent families extracted from Agricultural Census of 1803 in Kilmegan parish ( Magherasaul, Dundrum,, Moneycarragh Wateresk, Moneylane, Cloughram, Castlewellan & Ballybannan)& Drumgooland parish (Ballymagreehan, Magheramayo, Gargory, Ballymagenaghy, Backaderry , Leitrim). See throughout Surnames Index.

I took out a one month subscription to www.emeraldancestors.com and have been extracting family names & sharing them through the Surnames Index. (Still indexing) Marner, Flynn, Brannigan, McGurnaghan, McComiskey, also Dugan & Stitt .

Ann Chisholm has kindly send me an old postcard of Shrigley. Elizabeth (Maguire) has kindly sent Maguires extracted from Loughinisland Catholic parish records. Ken Johnson of Arizona has kindly sent photos & information of Rev. David Fleming & his children John & Lizzie (b. 1873) from Banbridge area. Katherine Joyce has kindly sent marriage certificates of Mary Elizabeth Long of Rathfriland -1st & 2nd marriages . Brian Price has kindly sent details of his Price family of Saintfield.

Sheila Phillips and her Mum have kindly sent a school photo for Dundrum 1922 and a photo of Mum doing Irish Dancing at Dundrum Regatta in 1930.

Bill Seely has kindly sent me a list of Co Down people buried in Newburgh, New York USA graveyard. Margaret Gordon has kindly sent information about her Short family. Sheila Phillips has kindly sent a photo of Dundrum coalheavers of 1912 with names underneath.

Thank you to the McKibbin family of Ballyhornan for sending the latest copy of the Inverbrena magazine which chronicles stories of the Strangford area.

Genealogists love to share which makes this hobby great. Bill Dodds has kindly sent information on his Moss/Kingan family from Ballynahinch area & Alison Aldersea has kindly sent more information on her Brown family of Seapatrick.

I'll continue to add civil birth registrations 1865-1874 , index wills, gravestone inscriptions, newspaper articles, post office directories, full Griffiths Valuations of 1863 and any journals or books that are sent to me. It all helps someone, somewhere, sometime.

Happy 2007 to you all and good hunting in the archives. I have been fiddling around with trying to made the Navigation Bars less cumbersome and think I've got it right so you'll see them appearing on the pages over the next few weeks. Please let me know if any of the links don't work.

Aaron Orr has kindly sent me photos & information about Holywood Unitarian & Presbyterian churches.

Nan Brennan has kindly given me permission to add the McCartan baptisms & marriages extracted from Lower Mourne Catholic (Kilkeel- Ballymartin & Glassdrummond churches) records. Lots of other names involved as well.

I'm flying over to Western Australia to visit my daughter, her husband & two small grandchildren for a few weeks so I won't be available for research inquiries.

Tony Rooney has kindly sent details of James Johnston & Mary Smyth of Comber c. 1880.

I'd like to wish all my readers a very happy and healthy Christmas season and to thank you all for your continuing support of my work in trying to make Irish research easier and more accessible. I feel I have now recovered from the stroke I had in 2003 (aged 56) thanks to the love of family and friends and a lot of hard exercises but in 2001 I was diagnosed with Shy Drager Syndrome with Pure Autonomic Failure and it's this rare neurological disease that keeps mainly grounded. But I can still type.

Jacqui Roberts has kindly sent marriage & death certificate details for Roland Croft of Bangor who married Mary Ellen Gilmer 1915.

David McTear has kindly sent me a collection of births & marriages for the McTear/McTier surname .

Jane Kolar has kindly sent me details of the Arthur McClain (1811-1885) & Mary Ann Cairns family of Newtownards .

Rev. Gregor McCamley, Archdeacon of Down, has kindly sent me a copy of St. Columba's Parish Church , Kings Rd, Belfast (Knockbreda) centenial book 1896-1996 written by Betty Rainsford.

Allen Bunn has kindly sent a booklet about Kilwarlin Moravian Church.
Letitia Pollard has kindly sent me a watercolour of Ranfurly House in Rostrevor & Iris Frizzell has kindly sent information and a photo of some Belfast churches that I didn't have before.

Ray's sister and family from Drumee near Castlewellan in Co. Down will be staying with us for a few weeks so I'll apologise to those people with research requests, as I'm going to be busy showing them around, and won't have much time for the computer.

Sue Stamper has kindly sent me details for a marriage certificate of John Murphy of Islandmoyle & Mary McAlinden 1878.

A big thank you to Gemma Ward & Marie Brannigan for keeping me supplied with articles from the Down Recorder newspaper.

Heather McKinley has kindly sent me baptismal & burial records from Mourne Presbyterian church , Kilhorne Church of Ireland & Newcastle Church of Ireland & Presbyterian burials 1861-1959 & baptisms 1858-1907. Mainly Cousins but many others too.

The Lecale Historical Society www.lecalehistory.co.uk have now put the 1901 Census and the full listings of the Griffiths Valuations of 1863 on their website for those parishes in the Lecale District i.e. around Downpatrick, Ballyculter & Strangford. This is rare for a local society in Co Down and they are to be applauded for their work.

Dougie Llewellyn has kindly sent marriage details of Charles Gilliland & Eliza McBride, Dromore.
Elizabeth Pearce has kindly sent me details of her Kerr & McAlea family from Newtownards .
Ian Corry has kindly sent details of his gg grandparents John Corry & Eliza Bright of Gilford.
Robert John Hamilton & David Millan have kindly sent information about their Hamilton families & DNA results.
Paddy Dugan has kindly sent more information about his Dugan & Lenihan families of Kilmegan & Kilcoo parishes.

Graham Steer has kindly sent me McComiskey/McCumiskeys extracted from St Margarets Church of Ireland , Downpatrick- baptisms & burials.

Terry Kennedy has kindly sent me photos and information on the Presbyterian Churches in Rathfriland.

In October 2005, I thought it would be a good idea to cross-index the 1st Holywood Presbyterian records which Mary Robinson kindly sent me with the Griffiths Valuations of 1863 to get street addresses of some of the families. I've finally finished . Access in Surnames Index.

Moreen Blair has kindly sent me marriage details of her Blair, Kelly & Brown families of the Ardkeen area.

Julian Armstrong has kindly sent me portraits of his Ballynahinch Armstrong ancestors.

Dan Patterson found the grave of Rev Alexander Moore from Glasker Presbyterian in USA and kindly sent the details.

David Arathoon gas kindly sent Brice Crozier of Tullylish's family tree and Nan Brennan & Dierdre McEvoy have kindly sent more McCartan baptisms and marriages from the Saul , Bright & Ballygalget Catholic registers. .

John McTopy has kindly sent me information about his Keaghey family of Ballyculter.

I'm continuing to add civil birth registrations, articles from Down Recorder and full listings from Griffiths valuations of 1863. check the Surnames Index.

Jim Cleland has kindly sent me details of Robert Cleland of Creevycarnanon's death & will.

Bruce McCullough has kindly sent me photos of Killinchy Church of Ireland and 1st Presbyterian.

Alison Aldersea has kindly sent me details of John Stewart & Ellen Gregory's marriage in Ballymacarrett in 1883. Brian McCleary has kindly sent more church photos and Marie Brannigan more Down recorder articles.

Finally back online (17th July) after numerous hassles with the service provider. Otherwise the house move went relatively stress free and most of the boxes are unpacked. Time to relax again.

Apologies.I'm going to be unreachable by email from 3 July to 13th July as we can't get cable broadband at our new address and I have to change to ADSL broadband. For some unknown reason, it takes a few weeks to set it up. Thanks for your patience.

Erla Angell has kindly sent me her Campbell & Donaldson information from Aghaderg parish and Pat Jones has kindly sent her Marshalls of Killinchy information. Joe Keyerleber has kindly sent me details of Dunn gravestomes in old Kilbroney graveyard. These haven't been published. It all helps someone, somewhere, sometime.

Ray and I are in the process of moving house so I apologise to anyone waiting for a research request. I'm trying to get to them all.

Thanks to Marie Brannigan & Gemma Ward for continuing to supply me with articles from the Down Recorder & Mourne Observer newspapers.

Chris Hunri has kindly sent me her Bitcon births from Millisle Presbyterian records.

Nan Brennan has kindly given me permission to add more McCartan births from Newry & Downpatrick Catholic register.

Judith McGinness has kindly sent me many gravestone entries for her Houston family with lots of extra names included.

Rodger Stubbings has kindly sent me photos of the War Memorials in Ballynahinch & Comber and the lists of those who served & died in 1st World War. Access in Surnames Index.

Phil & Mary Clark have kindly sent me 3 marriage certificates for the Tanner family of Donaghadee. Access in Surnames Index.

The McComiskey family have kindly sent me more copies of the Clonduff Post to index.

Rev. George E. Jenkins has kindly sent me some lovely old postcards of Donaghadee Harbour & Promenade c. 1890 & 1908. Access on Donaghadee page.

Brian McCleary has kindly sent me more photos of churches from the Ards & Knockbreda areas. Access in Photos index.

The McComiskey family have kindly sent me a local publication "Re-Dedication and Re-Opening of St. John the Baptist Church Ballygorian", Clonduff.

Paul Thomas Keenan has kindly sent me Keenans that he has extracted from Catholic parish records of Tullylish & Drumgooland & Clonallan. Genealogists love to share.

I've just received my copy of the Lecale Review 2005, the journal of the Lecale Historical Society. It's a great read. See their website http://www.lecalehistory.co.uk if you are researching in the Downpatrick, Strangford, Killough area. It contains marriages in Strangford Presbyterian church 1840s-1900.

Horace Reid has kindly sent me a details of a new book "Radicals and Revivals", a tribute to W. Desmond Bailie, edited by Ivor F. Smith, pp.121, ISBN 0-9538526-7-9, Presbyterian Historical Society, Belfast 2006, £5.00. It covers the Presbyterian involvement in the 1798 Rebellion, mainly around Saintfield.

Patrick Clarke has kindly sent me newspaper articles regarding the fishing disaster in Dundrum Bay in 1845. He's interested in the inhabitants of Widows Row, Newcastle which was built after a fund raising venture at the time. Please email me if you had relatives involved in this incident.

Daniel Curran has kindly sent me the entries for Annahinchago townland in Drumballyroney parish from the Annesley Estate Rental Roll for 1849; those people in rent arrears.

Brian McCleary has sent me lots more church photos from the Ards Peninsula. It may take a while to sort them out and post them onto the website. Thanks Brian for all your efforts.

I had a lovely time visiting Caroline, Brad and the grandchildren. I'm sad that I can't see them more often. Thanks to those people sending kind wishes.

I'm flying over to Western Australia again next week to spend time with my daughter and grandchildren. They're so lovely when they're little. Apologies to those people needing research done.

Ann Weir has kindly sent me extra information about her McCrea family of Lurganbane, Dromore. Access in Surnames Index.

I've finally finished the published gravestones for Seapatrick, Tullylish & Magherally parishes. I've decided to reword those for the Downpatrick/Inch/ Killyleagh parishes which were done years ago and don't fit the current format. Access throughout Surnames Index.

A lady wrote to me to say that my website was difficult to navigate. This is probably because it contains about 1500 pages. I can't work out how to add a google search engine so I've added Navigation Bars to the top of the page as well. It might take me a while to do all the pages but hopefully it will help readers move around the site more easily.

Rose Gibbs has kindly sent me information about her Ballagh family of Greyabbey and some marriage & death certificates of other Ballaghs in Co. Down

Brian McCleary has kindly sent me more photos of Churches of Ireland. This time in the Bangor & Donaghadee areas.

Denyse Bonney has kindly sent me details of her McFarlane/McCartney (Comber) family.

Phil Clark has kindly sent me his Tanner research from the parish graveyard & the records of Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee.

Brian McCleary has kindly sent me more Church of Ireland photos. This time it's from Hillsborough & Kilwarlin & Dundonald parishes.

Brian Magaoidh has kindly given me permission to index his listings of the members of Ulster Defence Union against Home Rule in 1893. Access throughout Surnames Index.

Larry Price & Les Fielder have both sent me stray items from parish registers which is very kind . Genealogists love to share.

Happy New Year to you all and good hunting!

May I take this opportunity to wishes all my readers a very Happy Christmas and may 2006 be kind to you all.

I've added a list of British & Irish army units stationed in Newry 1803- 1819. See under photo of Newry.

I'm continuing to add civil birth registrations; wills indexes; gravestones, Dowb Recorder articles( thanks to Marie Brannigan), post office directories and land records. See throughout Surnames Index.

Philip Westerman has kindly sent me information on his Westerman family of Drumgooland & Newcastle. Also information on Leitrim Presbyterian Church.

Pat McGowan Bartos has kindly sent me another lovely old postcard of Ballyhalbert.

John Richards has kindly sent me full details of his ancestor, John Kirk's false conviction at Downpatrick and subsequent transportaton to Australia. He was a parish clerk & schoolmaster from Killinchy area accusing of stealing a cow in 1822. Contact me if you have connections to this family. I'll index all connecting names.

Good news! I'm a grandmother for the second time. Anaya Willow Munro was born 22 Nov 2005 to Caroline & Brad. I'll be flying over to Western Australia to see the new baby soon.

I've made some internal changes to the Surnames Index as it was getting rather huge and unmanageable. The only way the might affect you, is if you've bookmarked a certain page. Go back to the Surnames Index and access the page you want then re Bookmark it with the new path.

Rodger Stubbings has kindly sent me details and photos of WW1 War Memorial in Bangor & Holywood . Access throughout Surnames Index.

Paddy Dugan has kindly sent me details of his Dugan family and related families from Kilmegan area.

My server, rootsweb.com, had technical problems from 30th October to 3 November so apologies to all those people unable to access my website. It's feespace so I can't complain. Other people have reported large sections of their website missing. Please let me know if you find anything odd or missing.

I've finshed indexing the 1st Holywood Presbyterian births & marriages which Mary Robinson kindly sent and have decided to try and cross-index with the Griffiths Valuations of 1863 to get street addresses of some of the families. I've finally finished (Sept 2006). Does anyone else have any parish register entries to share with others?

Rodgers Stubbings has kindly sent me photos of Groomsport & its Church of Ireland and the WW1 War Memorial which I'll index into the Surnames Index.

James Edgar has kindly sent me photos of Kilkeel & Newry Presbyterian Churches. Access in Photo Index.

Brian McCleary has sent me more photos of Church of Ireland churches. He is the Diocesan clerk and is making his 5 yearly rounds .

Mandy McDiarmid has kindly sent me details of her Hewitt family of Ballyhackamore, Holywood. Access in Surnames Index.

I've been extracting named houses & farms from Griffiths Valuations of 1863 & putting the details in Place Names Index to help those doing One House or One Place Studies. I've finished the northern parishes , Balynahinch, Downpatrick, Lecale, Ards & Newry areas.

Joy Davies has kindly sent me her Skilling & Gilfillan family tree from Newtownards. Access in Surnames Index.

I've finished indexing "Sailing Ships of Mourne" . Many farmers on the Mourne coast supplemented their income as seasonal crew on fishing boats . This book deals with fishing boats, lifeboats & crews, cross channel ships from Carlingford Lough to Kilkeel, Annalong,Newcastle, Rossglass, Ardglass & Portavogie. Access throughout Surnames Index and Ships Index.

David Millan has kindly sent me his family tree of the famous Bronte family of Drumballyroney. Access in Surnames Index.

Gemma Ward was kindly sent me newspaper articles from Newtownards Chronicle 7 May 1892 dealing with obituary of Rev. Thomas Watters.

Patrick Jones has kindly sent me an article from Down Recorder 26 May 1855 about the sinking & loss of life onboard 'Fortune' off Tyrella coast.

Eileen has kindly sent me a copy from Down Recorder newspaper dated 1856 which details Killyleagh in 1700s. It's an interesting article which talks about the ruling families and their involvement in politics, particularly in Whig Club. If I've helped you get copies of articles too, would you mind sending me a copy to share with others via my website.

Doug Gray has kindly sent me details of the Gray family of Gray's Hill Bangor. See in Surnames Index.

The McComiskey family have kindly given me a copy of "The Catholic Diocese of Dromore- Past & Present". Lots of information on Catholic Churches & schools & lists of priests & curates for the parishes of Newry,Magheradrool, Clonallon, Seapatrick, Shankill, Donaghmore, Dromore, Drumgooland, Dromara, Clonduff, Drumgath,Kilbroney, Annaclone, Tullylish, Aghaderg & Magheralin. Access in Church Index, School Index or Surnames Index.

It's been 20 months since my stroke and I've recovered very well despite the initial prognosis. I've been nominated for a National Physiotheraphy Award for outstanding achievement and asked to speak at Stroke Seminars. I did my first seminar last Monday and all went well with pleasing feedback. Thank you to all those people who've sent kind wishes over the months. I've finished indexing Patrick J. Clarke's 'History of a Co. Down Townland- Drumaroad' . Access throughout Surnames Index. and Church Index for Loughinisland parish . Larry Price has been busy again and sent me all Wards extracted from Newry & Donaghmore Catholic records c.1820; See Ward file. I've finally finished indexing the wills from Dromore & Newry Diocese from 1600- 1840s. This would cover the west and south of the county. These indexes were compiled in 1905 but most of the original wills were burnt in the Dublin fire of 1922. Access throughout Surnames Index. I've finished indexing Lecale Review 2004 for those people researching in the Strangford to Killough area. Access throughout Place Names Index. & Surnames Index. I've finished indexing 'The Most Unpretending of Places' by Peter Carr- a history of Dundonald. If you're researching in this parish, it's a must. Access throughout Place Names Index. & Surnames Index.
I've finished indexing 'The Places that Time Forgot' by Terence Bowman, centred around Newcastle. Access throughout Place Names Index. Judith Collins has kindly sent me Armstrongs extracted from 1st Ballynahinch Presbyterian birth register 1842-1907.Access in Surnames Index. Larry Price has been very busy again and has sent me Wards extracted from Warrenpoint Catholic birth & marriages registers 1826-1838 As this includes any Wards who were sponsors at the baptisms or witnesses at marriages, it includes many other surnames as well. Access throughout Surnames Index. I've finished indexing North Down Memories- photographs 1860s-1960s. Access throughout Surnames Index. & Place Names Index I've finished indexing the Clonduff Post. The interesting articles were the arrivals in New York of Hilltown & area folk on their way to the copper mines in Utah & Montana and also the minutes from the Newry Rural Council c. 1903-1926 dealing with the connection of a water supply to Hilltown &Rathfriland. Access throughout Surnames Index. My Thanks to Gerry Curran for researching these articles and giving permission for me to index them. I've finished indexing a curious little book, 'Four Shots from Down' by Francis Joseph Bigger written c. 1900. It contains 4 stories from 1700s- Robert Bradshaw of Milecross; Rab Russell, stone cutter of Newtownards; The Bucks Head Inn at Annadorn & Rev James Cleland of Stormont. Access throughout Surnames Index. I've finished transcribing the names of those killed in World War 1 from the memorial in Rathfriland Square. Access throughout Surnames Index. I've purchased the Griffiths Valuations of 1863, full listings, for the following parishes, Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey,Newtownards, Ardkeen, Ballywalter, Inishargy, Ballyhalbert, Comber, Dundonald, Killinchy, Kilmood, & Tullynakill. Email me if you'd like a look-up. The full listings include acreage and landlord's name . I've indexed the Grant & Morgan graves from Mayobridge Catholic graveyard & Murray & McMurray grave from Clonallan Church of Ireland both in Clonallan parish Access in Surnames Index. These were transcribed on my recent visit. I've finished indexing The Journal of the Upper Ards Historical society 1977 (Portaferry). Access throughout Surnames Index.

Warren J. Martin has kindly sent details of his Martin family from Ballynahinch & Newcastle area & Ballee House & Marlborough House . Access through Surnames Index. & Place Names Index Francisca Fearon has sent details of her Trainor family from Rostrevor & Eilen Simpson has sent details of her Sheils family from Kilkeel & Patrick Thompson has sent details of his Thompson family from Newtownards. Access through Surnames Index. Brian Magaoidh has kindly sent me some excerpts from Belfast Weekly News consisting of deaths, missing persons & a few marriages c. 1890-1896. Access through Surnames Index. Brian McCleary has kindly sent me several photos of Church of Ireland churches in the Belfast area of Co Down. Access in Photo Index. Larry Price has kindly sent me the marriage 1837- 1903 & baptismal records 1827-1854 for the Ward family of Leitrim Catholic Church in Drumgooland parish . See Ward file. Graham Steer has kindly sent me all the McComiskey/McCumiskey civil births, marriages and deaths from 1864 to c. 1900. Ray and I had a lovely holiday in Co Down as everyone is very friendly. Special thanks to Reene,Marie & Kathleen and their families for their wonderful hospitality. I managed to bring home a few local history books which I'll index over the next few weeks/months and let you know when I've finished each one. We also took lots of photos of churches to add to the parish pages.

Ray and I leave for Ireland on 12th to visit family and return late July. Apologies to anyone having a research request. I've finished indexing a booklet "Kilcoo Parish Church" Bryansford and "Old Gilford, Scarva, Loughbrickland and Lawrencetown" by Alex F. Young & Des Quail and "Bangor", historical photographs 1870-1914 by Ian Wilson. Information across Church Index, Surnames Index & Place Names Index. Michele Rowe has kindly sent me information about William Carlisle & Ellen Martin & family from Loughinisland area. Access in Carlisle file.

Meg Greenwood has kindly send me an obituary for Peter Murray of Bangor who died in Scotland. Access in Murray file. My personal thanks to Michael Canning (researching Cannings, McCleerys and Brysons in Co. Down ) who has found the marriage of my great grandparents in Lancaster UK. Another brick wall tumbles. Elizabeth Hanna has kindly sent me photos of Annaclone & Magherally parish churches.Access in Photo Index. Deirde McEvoy has kindly sent me some photos of Rostrevor & Warrenpoint. Access in Photo Index. Larry Price has kindly sent me the burial,marriage & baptismal records for the Ward family of Kilbroney Catholic parish 1810-1841. See Ward file. I've now finished the Post Office directories. There's probably a few out there that I've missed. Access through Surnames Index. Shirley-Ann Walker has kindly sent details of her Burns family from Burren in Clonallon parish. See Burns file. Thanks again to Marie Brannigan for sending the newspaper artcles. Nan Brennan has kindly sent me more records from Leitrim & Gargary Catholic Churches in Drumgooland parishes & Kilcoo Catholic Church. Most are McCartans & Brannigans but lots of other surnames as well. I'll let you know when I've finished transcribing. Ray and I will be going to Co. Down in June/July to visit family and friends. I have a digital camera and we're happy to take photos of townlands, villages, gravestones etc. Email me.

Mary Robinson has undertaken an enormous task of transcribing the records of 1st Holywood Presbyterian Church and has generously sent them to me to share. Baptism 1859-1902 & marriages 1845-1917. Later records after 1905 are available but for privacy reasons we've decided not to add them .Access throughout Surnames Index. I had a lovely time in Kalgoorlie and my daughter informed me that I've another grandchild on the way. I'll be doing a lot of flying next year. Latest photo of my grandson,Taj Munro aged 17months on the right

I'm flying off to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to visit my lovely grandson who is now 17 months old and naming objects. Couldn't miss that, could I? Apologies to all the people waiting for research requests. I'll be back on 8th May. Maria March has kindly sent me information about her Andrew & Mary Clark of Inishargy. Access through Surnames Index. You may notice some slight changes to the website. I was advised to place a copyright on my research to stop large commercial companies from lifting material. I originally set up my website because I was appalled by the lack of material available and the high charges of commercial researchers in Co Down compared with other countries. I believe the information should be freely available and that there are many people out there who can't get to a genealogy library because of distance or disability. A very kind man named Derek sent me a few pages from the 1659 census which gives population statistics. I've entered these beside the various townland names.Mainly Ards parishes. Access throughout Place Names Index. I've finished the New Zealand passenger lists. Access in Surnames Index Pearl Finney has kindly sent me some marriage certificates for the Foley family of Inch parish. Spouse names include Hamilton, Bassett & Campbell. Access in Surnames Index

I've nearly finished the will indexes for Dromore Diocese, passenger lists for New Zealand and post office directories . I'm continuing to add civil birth rgistrations. I've finished the will indexes for Newy & Mourne Diocese Access in Surnames Index Grit Whitmore has kindly sent me some Murnin baptism & marriages from Ballyculter Catholic registers.Access in Surnames Index
I have been sent an old photo of Tollymore House in Kilcoo parish which may be of interest to those who had tenant farmers of Earl Roden. Access in Photo Index for Kilcoo parish. Jim Gracey has kindly sent me a map & directory for Comber & Saintfield 1899. Access throughout Surnames Index. Barry Quinn has kindly sent me a page from Church of Ireland, Banbridge burial register for 1829/1830. Access throughout Surnames Index. Mary Kolb has kindly sent me some baptisms & marriages from Leitrim Catholic Church in Drumgooland parish and the index to the 1901 Census for Ballymagreehan townland. Access throughout Surnames Index.

I've purchased a copy of UHF Vol 20 gravestones which covers, Banbridge/Seapatrick, Magherally & Tullylish. Email me for a look-up. John McCreanor has kindly sent me information with regard to the school records available at PRONI & LDS Libraries and I have added this to the entries in my School Index.
I've been extracing prisoner records from the Down County Museum site and adding them to the Surnames Index . http://www.downcountymuseum.com/data/prisoner.asp - for the few that have a place of abode mentioned. The majority don't but if you're missing someone from your family tree 1815-1830 they may have been transported to Australia.
Pauline Bengston has kindly sent me gravestone inscriptions for O'Flinn from Maghera & Bryansford. If you have any inscriptions from unpublished graveyards and would like to share, please email me.

Graham Steer has kindly sent me the wills from the PRONI indexes for all McComiskeys/ McCumiskys. Now in Surnames Index. Executors names also cross indexed. Gordon Silleck has kindly sent me a photo of Henryville, Knockbreda parish c. 1897. Access through Photo Index I'm continuing to add the names from Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church parish relief notes to the Surnames Index. I've indexed the Passenger Lists to New Zealand and articles from Down Recorder newspaper and continue to add civil birth registrations. I've been trawling through some Vital Records to match up the civil birth registrations with some civil marriage records. So far I've found 250 . Many of thes couples were married in the 1840s and still having children in the 1860s. I'm also placing the Irish Will Indexes for Co down in Surnames Index. A kind lady who wishes to remain anonymous has sent me a lot of Presbyterian marriages that she extracted from an LDS film. Surnames Arnold, Black, Cairns, Eager, Edgar, Erwin, Harper, Here, Irvine, Johnston, Maxwell, McKee McKnight/McNeight, Shanks, Wilson. Cross indexed with the spouse name in Surnames Index. Geoff Carse has kindly sent me an address by Rev. T.S. Woods, given at Magherascouse School Prize giving October 1898. Many names are mentioned.View throughout Surnames Index. Roland Torrens has kindly sent me some old photos of Warrenpoint. Access through Photo Index for some and email me for others of Bests Row and the Swimming Baths.

I'm flying to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia for my grandson's 1st birthday 10-24 November so please hold all research requests until I get back. Ray has work commitments so I'm going by myself- major achievement! It's been an amazing year and worth celebrating. Can't wait. Roy Creighton has kindly sent me a photo of Creighton's Scutch Mill in Lappogues townland, Dromore and Dromore Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church Access in Photo Index Penny Ashenhurst has kindly sent me information about the Stoupe family of Newtownards. Access in Surname Index or email me for the family tree. The family later emigrated to Scotland Ron Cleland has kindly sent me information about the Marner family from Kilmore parish which relates to his Clelands. Access in Surnames Index

I'm still indexing the collections and poor money disbursements from Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church (I'm up to 1728) and continue to add civil birth registrations and wills. Gerry Curran has kindly contacted me with some amendments to my civil birth registration for Brannigan and Carr families of Clonduff area. I'm only able to copy the town of registration but if you are able to tell me which townland these people came from, I'm happy to amend the entry. Phil Strong has kindly sent me some female Morrow marriage entries from the Killinchy Presbyterian records. Access throughout Surnames Index and under groom's surname. Anyone else out there with entries from church records they'd like to share with everyone? A big thank you to Erwin Matthews who kindly took photos of Banbridge's churches for me whilst on a recent visit. Access through Church Index K-W- Seapatrick parish

Ray and I are heading up the coast for a week's holiday so I apologise to anyone having a research inquiry. I'll get onto them as soon as we get back. I don't have to wear my arm sling anymore so that's a major improvement. I've had to remove my email address from the bottom of each webpage because of the volume of spa/viruses I've been receiving. Access to my email address is now via the Main Menu Joe Montgomery has kindly sent me some old postcards of Conlig village in Bangor parish and some photos of Conlig Presbyterian Church. Access through Photos Index. I have started a new section for School photos that I have copies of and can email . There are about 26 initially and you can access the list through Articles/Lists Index. I would like to thank Marie Brannigan for sending me articles from the Down Recorder & Mourne Observer newspapers. This takes much time and effort on her part and judging by the number of researchers requesting copies of the articles, is much appreciated by people around the world. Thanks Marie.

I've finished alphabetising the births, marriages & testimonials from Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church to the Surnames Index. I'm still indexing articles from Down Recorder newspaper and continue to add civil birth registrations and wills. Leona Thomas has kindly sent me an old postcard showing the ballroom at The Spa near Ballynahinch in 1906. Access through Photo Index. Nan Brennan has kindly sent me McCartan full extracts from Griffiths Valuation of 1863 from Drumgooland Parish.

I passed my Drivers Test on a modified car this morning so I'm 'over the moon' ! It's great to get back my independence, little by little. Ray and I are flying to Western Australia , 6-18 July, to visit the family so I'll be unable to help with research inquiries for a few weeks. I've added an account of the Battle of Crossgar (Kilmore Parish) on 17 Mar 1849 .Access through Articles//Lists Index

My son Peter, kindly bought me a smaller keyboard to help with my one handed typing and it's taking a while to get used too. I'm trying hard to check everything I type but I apologise for any errors.
I'm progressing slowly but with confidence after my stroke. For those people inquiring, I'm 57 years old and never had high blood pressure. I have indexed Old Banbridge & Old Rathfriland, Hilltown,Ballyroney with Katesbridge & Closkelt by Alex F. Young & Des Quail. Access throughout Surnames & Place Names Indexes. Marie Brannigan has kindly sent me excerpts from the parish magazine of Castlewellan & Bryansford Catholic churches featuring some history. Access in Churches Index.

Miss Briege McComiskey has kindly sent me The Sand Drawers' March of 17 July 1880 which tells about the building of St Malachy's Catholic Church Castlewellan. Access through Church Index. I've indexed Lecale Review 2003 into the Surnames Index- Journal of Lecale Historical Society. Lecale is that area around Strangford & Ardglass . Marion McCall has kindly sent me copies of old postcards c. 1904 showing views of Newtownards & Maggie's Lap near Newcastle. Access though Photo Index.
I'm continuing to add the births, marriages & testimonials from Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church to the Surnames Index. I'm still indexing articles from Down Recorder newspaper and some from the Mourne Observer and continue to add civil birth registrations.

Tom Courtney has kindly sent me several postcards of Bangor, Donaghadee & Millisle from around 1930 , I haven't put all of them on my website because of space/size. Access through Photo Index & email me if you'd like of copy of all of them .

Julian Armstrong has very kindly sent me records and information of Ballynahinch Presbyterian church from 1696 and its offshoot churches in Dromara, Kilmore & Clough. I have finished birth, marriages & testimonials 1696-1735 and currently working on the collections & disbursements i.e. money given to the poor. Access the information through Articles/ Lists Index. I intend to index them alphabetically in my Surnames Index eventually.

I'm finally home and very pleased about it too. Thanks again for all your kind wishes.

I'm home on Day Leave from the Rehabilitation Hospital and wish to thank all those people who have sent kind messages. During the operation for the aneursym, I suffered a stroke down my left side, then I got a DVT in the left leg which travelled to the lung (pulmonary embolism). I spent more time in the Intensive Care Unit then transfered to the Rehabiliation Hospital. They've done some wonderful physiotherapy on me and I can walk short distances with a quad stick. My left arm is still paralyzed.

The good news is that I have a grandson. Taj Munro was born 21st November and is doing well. So are his parents. Caroline is flying over soon so I can finally see him.

November 2003

I've been visiting my daughter in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia this month as she's expecting my first grandchild in December so it's been a slow month for indexing. I've added some more Down Recorder articles, more civil birth registrations and more wills. Access throughout Surnames Index

I have indexed some more articles from the Mourne Observer & Down Recorder newspapers. Acces throughout Surnames & Place Names Index Miss Briege McComiskey has kindly sent me the lists of 20th century parish priests for Co. Down & Co Antrim. Access Co Down throughout Surnames Index. For Co. Antrim, email me. Eric Rogan has kindly sent me some parish records from Dromore Cathedral, Dromore Presbyterian & Hillsborough civil registration- mainly McAdam family but many others as well. Access throughout Surnames Index. Keith Hanna kindly sent me the Index to Newry & Morne Wills 1727-1858. Access throughout Surnames Index. Nora FitzGerald has kindly sent me some more graves that she transcribed in Kilcoo Catholic graveyard & St. John the Evangelist Catholic graveyard in Hilltown. Access throughout Surnames Index.

Nora FitzGerald was very busy during her recent stay in Co Down and transcribed many of the gravestones from Cabra Catholic Chapel in Clonduff Parish and has kindly sent them to me . Access throughout Surname Index. The Breen family have kindly sent me a photo of a Ballydugan clachan. Ballydugan is in Down parish near Downpatrick. Access through Photo Index. Bobbie Edes has kindly sent me some more death registrations from Downpatrick/Ballynahinch area. Mainly Irvine.
Indexed Margaret A.K. Garner's book "Robert Workman of Newtownbreda 1835-1921" He was Presbyterian minister of Newtownbreda. Access throughout Surnames Index.

Mick Fitzpatrick and Terry Arthur have kindly sent me a database of all Irish families living in NW Durham UK from the 1851 Census. Most were iron workers or coal miners. No counties are listed unfortunately. To access click on Articles/ Lists from Main Page to get to the alphabetical index. Sally Johnston has kindly sent me some births & marriages from Church of Ireland Church & the Cathedral, Lisburn. Indexed throughout Surname Index. My mother died so I've been a bit preoccupied this month. I have indexed some more civil birth registrations, more will index numbers. some more Down Recorder articles and some more gravestone inscriptions.

Indexing some more Downpatrick Workhouse records 1868 & 1869 As there are thousands, I'm only extracting those people who lived outside Downpatrick. Access throughout Surnames Index. Robert Whigam has kindly sent me his Whighams from Drumgooland parish family information. This family emigrated from Scotland to Co. Down about 1740 then some moved back to Scotland and others left for Canada. Access through Surnames Index. Gai Pritchard has kindly given me permission to index the list of rectors, churchwarden & vestrymen from Kilcoo Church of Ireland in Bryansford.
Lesley Fielder as kindly sent me some death certificate details for Greyabbey parish for 1864. Access in Surnames Index. Trevor Edwards has kindly given me permission to add the marriage entries from the Linenhall Presbyterian Church in Belfast to my Surnames Index. These marriages are of people who lived in other parts of Co. Down, mainly Lower Ards but travelled to Belfast to marry. Deidre McEvoy has kindly sent me her research into the McEvoys of Drumgooland, Fitzpatricks & Sheridans of Kilcoo, Coles, Gribbens, O'Hares & Savages of Kilbroney. This includes entries from the parish register of the Catholic Church and also 1901 & 1911 census material. There are many other surnames included. Access throughout Surnames Index. I've indexed the latest issue of Lecale Miscellany throughout the Surnames Index. This magazine deals with activities around the Downpatrick- Killough area. Patrick McKenny has kindly sent me more information from the Dromara area. These are the wills associated with the McKenny family but other surnames are mentioned as executors. Indexed throughout Surnames Index. Lucy Grant has kindly sent me the valuable information from the diaries of Rev David Watson who recorded the births, deaths & marriages of the congregation of Clough Non- Subscribing Presbyterian Church 1851-1861. Indexed throughout Surnames Index. Cal Moore has kindly sent me more details of the ship 'Jesse' of which he has done a detailed study . Email me if you'd like more details of this ship which sailed between Ireland/ Scorland & Canada/ USA from 1817. Bill Gordon was sensible to send me details from the UK 1851 census of the Rogan family who originated from the Ballynahinch area of Co. Down. If you have any UK census details of families from Co. Down and would like to share them with other genealogists, please email me daviesmarner@optushome.com.au

Kathy Vacek has kindly given me permission to place her extracts from Aghaderg & Seapatrick Catholic Parish registers in Surnames Index; Mainly McCourt, Burns/Byrnes listings but many others names mentioned as well. I have started a new page for the research interests of the rootsweb. com Co. Down newsgroup members. Aceess from the Main Menu in bottom left hand corner. Becasue I now have the surname interests of the group I have been able to go through my resources and put specific information for those surnames into the Surnames Index so please revisit every month or so.
The minister's wife of Spa Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Isabel Keenan, has kindly sent me a time line of that church's history since its foudnation in 1871 and also some background information to the village of Spa in Magheradrool parish. Access in Church Index , Place Names Index and Surnames Index.
Lorie Begin has kindly sent me the records of Newry District Female School & Male Model School c. 1892-1911. Access throughout Surnames Index .
Jeff Hampton has kindly sent more old photos of Belfast, Donaghadee & Bangor. Access through Photo Index.
Patrick McKenney has kindly sent me the Estate Papers of the Trevor Family 1607-1900 with Title Deeds & Leases from Dromara Parish townlands of Drin, Dree, Gransha & Crossgar. Access throughout Surnames Index.
Bob Macoubrie kindly sent me the full listings from The Tithe Applotment Books 1823-1838 for several townlands in Magheradrool & Loughinisland parishes . Acess throughout the Surnames Index. I have only stated the acreage but if you'd like more detail, email me.

Pat & Jock Paisley have kindly sent me the Tithe map (1830) & Griffiths Valuations map (1863) showing Drumnaconagher/Drumanconnor townland in Kilmore parish. It also shows on the periphery, Margherlaoen & Broclough townlands. Access through Place Names Index or email me. Jeff Hampton has kindly sent me 4 old postcards from around 1910 of River Lagan near Belfast, the old Boathouse on River Lagan, Shaw's Bridge over River Lagan (with cows!) & Belfast Cathedral. He's also sent photos of Sir Edward Carson inspecting Ulster Volunteer Force in 1914 & Lord Kinnaird opening YMCA Pavillion at Belton Park in 1915. Acces these through Photo Index or email me for a copy. Judith Blair has kindly sent me extracts from the Catholic parish registers from Ardkeen & Ballyphilip area . Most common surnames are Mason, McKeating, Braniff , Crawford, Dorrian, McMullan & Tumilty but many others as well. She's also sent the 1901 census details for those surnames. Access throughout the Surnames Index. I have completed an index for Place Names of Northern Ireland for Kilkeel, Clonduff & Kilcoo. Access throughout Place Names Index

I have completed an index for Place Names of Northern Ireland for Newry, Drumgath, Kilbroney, Warrenpoint & Donaghmore. Access throughout Place Names Index I have started a page for information about the ships that plied the waters around Co. Down. . Access through Articles/Lists Index. About 80 listed so far. If you'd like to add a name or information, email me. Tom Harper has kindly sent me a map of Downpatrick 1792 and Edward Southwell's Rent Roll of 1752 for Downpatrick which links to the map. Email me for a look-up but I'll be indexing the names throughout the Surnames Index asap. Also a photo of the inside of Old Court Chapel, Ballyculter parish and some of the Tithe assessment for Carrowcarlin townland, Saul for 1829.

Bob Macoubrie has kindly sent me the full listings for the Griffiths Valuations for several townlands in Kilmore, Ballee, Killinchy, Killyleagh, Down, Loughinisland & Magheradrool parishes e.g. Ballymacashen, Corporation, Crossgar,Raleagh, Drumaghlis, Rademon, Broclough, Murvaclogher, Magheratimpany, Drumsnade, Cumber, Drumaness, Ballymacarn North & South, BallymaglaveNorth & South, Magheradrool townland, Ballylone Little, Ballylone Big, Ballynahinch townland & town, Drumgooland townland, Dunnanew, Farrangfad, Anndorn, Castlenavan, Tievenadarragh, Ballyhossett, Ballyhossett Milltown, Ballyalton, Magheralagan, Quarter Cormick, Demesne of Down & Downpatrick. It's going to take me a while to index the information into the Surnames Index. But ask for a look-up anyway. I have been sent the information from 1911 Census for Derwent, Gawn , Fraser, Frome, Gertrude, Graham's Place, Harland, Humbert, Foundry, Downpatrick, Ina, Island & Finmore Streets, Knockbreda parish in Belfast by a very kind, hardworking lady who wishes to remain anonymous but wishes to give something back to generalogists everywhere. I'm currently indexing this throughout Surnames Index. I am currently indexing the annual magazine 'Inverbrena' put out by the Strangford Local History group for 2001 & 2002 kindly sent to me by James McKibbin. Access throughout Surnames Index. I have indexed more Down Recorder articles. Access throughout Surnames & Place Names Index.I have finally finished indexing Rev. James O'Laverty's book The Bishops (Catholic) published around 1895. Access throughout Surnames Index kindly given to me by Gerry Rice. Gerry also gave me a wonderful painting on Drumaness village & mill. Access in Place Names Index

I reorganised my photos so that you can view one parish at a time rather than having to individually click on each one. See Photo Index. Ernie Kraut has kindly sent more civil registrations from the Ballynahinch/ Downpatrick area; this time births 1874 I have indexed many gravestones from the Newry area throughout the Surnames Index.

I have indexed the Inverbrena Magazine put out by the Strangford Local History Society, 2000 edition, kindly given to me by Jimmy McKibben. I have finished indexing Rev. James O'Laverty's Historical Account of Diocese of Down & Connor Volume #1 from 1878. Access throughout Surnames, Church & Place Names Index.

More entries from Down Recorder newspapers. Access throughout Surnames Index.Place Names of Northern Ireland- currently indexing the volume for west Co Down. Access throughout Place Names Index Ernie Kraut has kindly sent me several pages of marriage registrations from Downpatrick Registry Office c. 1866. Access throughout Surnames Index . Rev. James O'Laverty's Historical Account of Diocese of Down & Connor Volume #1 from 1878- nearly completed indexing. Access throughout Surnames & Place Names Index. Newry Post Office Directories, transcribed by Alison Causton, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. Access throughout Surname Names Index. Placed the Index to Newtownards Chronicle (1873-1900) throughout the Surnames & Place Names Index

I've finished the townland maps except Kilkeel which I'll do shortly. Access through Map IndexPlaced the index to the Newtownards Independent newspaper (1871- 1873) throughout the Surnames Index & Place Names Index. Placed the index to Northern Herald newspaper (1833-1836 Lisburn & Co. Down) throughout Surnames & Place Names IndexPlaced the Index to Northern Star newspaper ( 1792- 1797 Lisburn & Co. Down) throughout the Surnames & Places Names IndexIndexed a local history on Tullylish Parish kindly sent to me by Elizabeth Fraser.Civil Birth Registrations are now posted up until the letter R.; cross referencing to the mother's maiden name; access these through the Surnames IndexIndex a local history book on Ballyculter Parish kindly sent to me by Tom Harper. Access throughout Surnames Index.Indexed a local history book on Killough. Access throughout Surnames Index.I have added townland maps for Bangor, Newtownards, Kilclief, Ardglass, Dunsford, Domaghmore & Comber parishes. Access through Map Index.
I have added a map of the Catholic parishes in Co. Down . Access through Map Index- Co. Down parishes- scroll down.
I have indexed a book about the Catholic parishes of Drumgooland Upper & Lower. Access through out Surnames Index and Place Names Index & Church Index.

--A photo of Ballygowan Flute Band 1880, kindly send to me by Geoff Carse. Access through Place Names Index.... Ballygowan
--An article about working conditions in a power loom weaving factory in Tullylish. Access through Articles/Lists Index.
--Whilst in Downpatrick Museum I copied a few interesting items from the exihibits- escapees & prisoners in Down Gaol details. Access throughout Surname Index.
--I have indexed the older sections of the local publication, "The Clonduff Story" 1887-1984- Gaelic Atheltic Association by P.D. Kearns , publ. 1984 in Newry. Access through the Surnames Index
--An account of the effects of The Big Storm on the towns of Kircubbin, Kilmore, Killough & Florida estate. Access through Articles/Lists Index- Down Recorder newspaper articles.
--I have transcribed the gravestones from the older section of Teconnaught Catholic graveyard in Kilmore parish. Those graves behind the chapel. Acess through Surnames Index
--A list of addresses of current newspapers . Access through Articles/Lists Index- scroll down to the last section
--Ray and I are back from Co. Down with lots of new resources which I'll list here as they are put onto the website. Hopefully all those people who had requested photos will receive them within the next week.

--Two old postcards of Ballyhalbert village and school kindly sent to me by Pat McGowan Bartos. Access through Photo Index.
--Civil Birth Registrations are now posted up until the letters Mo.... & all of Mc.....; cross referencing to the mother's maiden name; access these through the Surnames Index
--I have added the full listings of the 1901 Census for Drumnaconnor townland in Kilmore parish to my One Place Study. Access through Place Names Index
--I have finished indexing The Orr family from Comber from 1600s- 1900. Access through Surname Index
--The last speech of William Gaddis of Rathfriland, hanged in Down Jail in 1818 for robbery & murder of Adam Heslip of Portaferry. Access through Articles/Lists Index.
--An article about the lead mine in Tullyratty townland, Ballyculter parish. Access through Articles /Lists Index
--A poem about Carrickmannon in Killinchy parish near Saintfield by William H. Cleland, Aug 1888 in Articles/Lists Index------Townlands Maps ( including main roads & towns) of Garvaghy , Ardkeen, Ardquin, Magherally, Magheralin, Seapatrick, Killinchy, Dromore , Donaghcloney , Drumballyroney, Drumgooland, Killyleagh, Dundonald, Down Ballyculter, Ballee , Drumgath Bright ,Rathmulla, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert, Donaghadee, Inishargy, Kilcoo, Kilmore, Tullylish, Greyabbey, Dromara,Drumbo , Inch, Saul, Tullynakill & Kilmood parishes now available through the Map Index or Place Names Index with many thanks to Bob Macoubrie. I have redrawn the townland maps for Magheradrool, Loughinisland, Saintfield & Killaney parishes to make them clear and added the coloured roads etc.

--Townlands Maps ( including main roads & towns) of Maghera, Ballykinler, Tyrella, Annaclone, Clonallan , Warrenpoint, Aghaderg & Blaris parishes now available through the Map Index or Place Names Index with many thanks to Bob Macoubrie.--Ray & I are going back to Co. Down at the end of May for several weeks. I'm willing to take photos of gravestones, villages, towns, churches, farms. No charge. I'll put them on my web site for other people to access as well. Email me if you're interested.--Added the 1911 Census information to my One Place Study of the townlands in Kilmore parish- Drumnaconnor/Drumnaconagher, Magheralone & Broclough/Murvaclogher.
--Nora FitzGerald of USA has kindly sent me a townland map of Clonduff parish and this had been indexed throughout the Place Names Index or Map Index.
--I am indexing a book by Ray A. Jones about the Descendants of James Orr b. 1570 in Scotland and emigrated to the Newtownards & Comber areas- kindly sent to me by Mike Harper.
--I am continuing to index an old black & white map which shows many of the farms in each parish. These can be accessed throughout the Place Names Index.

I have indexed the scrapbook and diary of Eliza Sarah Mahony who was born in 1824 & was the daughter of John Reid of Newry; the family emigrated to Australia in 1838; names are indexed throughout the Surnames Index ; kindly sent to me by Fran Davies of Port Macquarie, NSW
--I have indexed more Saintfield journals, kindly sent by Marlene Davidson of Bateau Bay NSW; these can be accessed through the Surname Index
--Civil Birth Registrations are now posted up until the letter L.; cross referencing to the mother's maiden name; access these through the Surnames Index--Some more gravestone inscriptions that I have acquired through research for others; access through the Surname Index
--If you have an interest in schools and education, check out the information in Articles/Lists, scroll down near the bottom and click on Schools
--Information from some birth & marriage certificates of people living around Inishargy, mainly McShane & Dorrian surnames ; kindly sent by Bill Seely of New Jersey, USA; individually indexed into the Surnames Index

-I have indexed a book by W. Lyttle, written about 1860, concerning the United Irishmen and the 1798 Rebellion- centering around Six Road Ends, Gransha, Bangor with main names Gray & McClenaghan; look in Surnames Index under each surname of interest
-I have posted some information from Irish Wills, mainly Kerr & Carr surname but some others as well. See in Surname Indexes
-I have started One Place Studies of 3 townlands in Kilmore parish, namely Drumnaconagher/ Drumnaconnor, Magheralone & Broclough/ Murvaclogher. These can be accessed through Place Names Index or Articles/Lists Index
-Some more gravestone inscriptions which I have come across in researching for others. Listed under each surname in Surnames Index
-Marlene Davidson of N.S.W. Australia has kindly sent me Saintfield Historical Journals for 1986 & 1994. I have indexed these and placed the information in the Surnames Index & Place Names Index & Churches Index & Photo Index
-I have cross indexed the townlands of Kilmore, Saintfield, Loughinisland & Magheradroll parishes( with some overlapping to Comber, Killinchy & Killyleagh) into viewable maps for their location
-I am continuing to add civil birth registrations and have uploaded Surnames A-K so far with cross referencing to the mother's maiden name; access these through the Surnames Index

-Peggy Isbell of Texas has kindly send me some old postcards of Killyleagh town, Killyleagh Castle, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church & Shrigley
-I am continuing to add civil birth registrations and have uploaded Surnames A-G so far with cross referencing to the mother's maiden name; access these through the Surnames Index
-I am adding more small articles from the Down Recorder newspaper; access through Articles/Lists Index- scroll down to near the end
-I am compiling information on the railways of Co. Down; access through Articles /Lists Index; - scroll down to near the end