Genealogy

As the Dallas Irish American Society grows, so does interest in tracing roots back to Erin’s Green Isle. Fair warning: it is a delightful and addictive pursuit! The more of your past you unearth, the deeper you’ll want to dig.

In this Age of Technology, the explosion of information available via the Internet has greatly simplified the journey back to our heritage, whether Irish or otherwise. Diligent detective work, patience and documentation are required. But what richer legacy can we leave our children than stories of their ancestors to pass down to their children?

Here is some information that will help you get started. If you have questions or would like to share your genealogical research with us, contact our webmaster.

• Getting Started
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Where does one begin? There were no public records of Catholics in Ireland until 1864. Before (and after) 1864, Catholic parishes kept baptismal, marriage and death records. Griffith’s Valuations can be of value if one or more of your ancestors were landowners. Those records existed for taxation purposes. A positive outgrowth of them is material relating to land, its location and pertinent family details.

Before beginning your quest, check in libraries or online for Family Histories of your relatives written by others. A mound of data could fall right into your lap, although with Irish research this is quite infrequent. Start with yourself and work backwards, filling in names of your parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents and so on. Interview older family members, recording them (with permission). Prepare probing questions that may trigger long-buried memories. Ascertain birth, marriage and death locations to facilitate searches for those certificates. Many of these records are online now, as are censuses. As you obtain facts, carefully record the sources. Sooner or later you may gather conflicting information due to illegible handwriting and failing memories. These can be sorted out. Some misinformation was deliberately conveyed; e.g., before applying for citizenship in America, the rule was that one must wait five years after immigrating.

Ask relatives for old photographs; make note of names, dates and locations when available. There may be long-forgotten treasures in their attics such as albums, old newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. Ask to borrow documents and pictures to copy. Then “glue” together pieces of the puzzle. Older folks enjoy telllng stories of childhood days. Later you will bring long-gone ancestors “to life” by mentioning aspects of their characters and personalities while developing short narratives. Try to include a history of the era such as occupations, towns, neighborhoods, clothing, schools, transportation, friends and entertainment. Remember automobiles and televisions were few before the late 1940s. In addition to gatherings at home, people socialized at dances, concerts, church fairs and sometimes by taking trolley cars into nearby cities. Don’t omit the “black sheep” stories as every family has one or two. The New England Historical and Genealogical Society (a rich source of not only Irish but all genealogies) invites members to write stories of black sheep ancestors in their publications. Many people do just that and readers enjoy them.

While gathering information make inquiries about health issues in families. Answers could be valuable long into the future where genetic components are concerned. Old death certificates usually delineate a “cause of death,” but ancient terminology and names for diseases can be confusing. There are websites that translate conditions such as “phithisis “ (breathing problems) into a modern term. But accuracy is never guaranteed, and memories of those giving death information are often clouded by grief.

Consider joining the New England Historical and Genealogical Society on Newbury Street, Boston. (Go online to: www.NewEngland Ancestors.org) or call toll-free: 1-888-296-3447 to inquire. NEHGS is especially rich in Irish history. For $75 per year you will have unlimited onsite admission to the research library, including access to manuscripts and rare book collections, plus unlimited access to members-only content on their website. Other benefits are bimonthly subscriptions to “New England Ancestors” and “The New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” the flagship journal of American genealogy. Members unable to visit Boston can order books from the Circulating Library and order research services; each involves a fee. An invaluable resource for members is the vast number of databases available online. Among numerous databases are “Cemetery Inscriptions,” “Early American Newspapers” and “The Search for Missing Friends-Irish Immigrants,” to mention only a few.

Of course the Federal (and state) censuses provide invaluable clues; some more than others. The 1900 Federal Census contains rich resources for the genealogist. Fire destroyed the majority of the 1890 Federal Census. But earlier and later censuses are all worth perusing. Since many Irish immigrated through Canada, be sure to check Canadian censuses as well as those of Ireland and England. The easiest way to find them is by “Googling”(www.google.com) the specific item you are planning to research.

The Social Security Death Index is available online and contains data for everyone who has died and had a Social Security Number.

Genealogy software programs can ease your research considerably in these days of technological advances. REUNION 8 is the perfect tool for Macintosh users. Due to frequent changes and updates, I suggest searching on Google.com for PC Genealogy Software. FamilyTree Maker is highly-respected, as is Personal Ancestral File (PAF), the program developed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is a free family history program, downloadable online, available from the Latter Day Saints.
FamilySearch.org, Cyndislist.com, Ancestry.com, Origins.com, RootsMagic.com and Ancestralfindings.com (with a free link to Irish Heritage) are others. Many of these can be ordered from Amazon.com.

Other sources of ancestral data are: Immigration Records, Military Records from the Revolutionary War to 20th Century Wars, Petitions to Naturalize, Naturalization Papers, Ships Passenger Lists and Probate Records. Go to the Index to Probate in the city where a Will was probated and find the number of the record you want to view or order. These are usually replete with family details.

Essentially, the hobby of researching your ancestors can be gratifying, frustrating, enlightening and addictive. Give it a try. Your children, grandchildren and other descendants will take pleasure in knowing you cared enough to record their family histories.

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