Expert: James Hennessy, A.G. - 10/23/2003

Question
Hello James.  I corresponded with you in 1996 and you did some research for me.  I am contacting you again as I am right up against a brick wall in terms of my research.  After 10 years I have tracked down 2 of my g/mothers siblings who were born in Barronstown, County Louth, however no trace there of the marriage or birth of their parents - the County Louth Family History Centre in Dundalk has researched and confirmed this.I have emailed the Meath FHS (as the concentration of the names Fagan/Hanratty are most prevalent in that county), but to date no reply.  Where do I go from here?
Details I am researching are Alice Hanratty b.c1841 married Edward Fagan (b.c1840)abt 1860.  First child Mary? was born c1862 (deducted from the 1881 census for Northumberland UK)- no birth entry has been found for her.  Thomas b. 1869 in Barronstown, County Louth and Bridget b. 1871 Barronstown (info from civil registration).  Family history was that they came from Dublin.  Please can you give me some idea where I can go from here?
Greetings from Perth, Western Australia.

Johann Willis

Answer
Johann,

The 1881 British Census indicates that Edward & Alice FAGAN and their six children were then living in North Shields, Northumberland.  The three younger children were born there.  The three oldest were born in Ireland in 1863, 1865, and 1867.  I suggest that you direct your search towards the Civil Register of Births in Ireland for 1865 and 1867.  It should tell you the places of birth there of Bridget and Thomas.  If you do not have access to those records, I can do the search here in two hours for you.  Let me know.  Regards.  JH.