James Boyle (1831-1898) and Margaret Oliver (1839-1919

Marsha:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I checked Roots Ireland and could not find the marriage record. Although Roots has the Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records for Donaghmore, they do not appear to have the RC records. If they were RC, you may want to review the parish register for the RC parish of Donaghmore http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0362

Civil registration of non-Catholic marriges started in 1845 and registration for RC marriages started in 1864. I searched the civil marriage index records and did not find a record for a Margaret Oliver/James Boyle marriage.

Roger McDonnell

Thanks, Roger!  I searched through the NLI but could not find anything.  The name of the parish seems to be a problem.  Do you have any information on that parish specifically?  I have spent most of my time researching in Co. Limerick and so Donegal is new to me.  Not sure if there are still Boyles and Olivers in the area.  Any suggestions on someone I could contact in that area?

Thanks for all your help.  I attach Margaret Ann Boyle's birth information which shows that her parents were married in Donaghmore, Co. Dongela.

Marsha

Marsha:

Donaghmore civil parish in Co. Donegal is on the border with Co. Tyrone so possibly Margaret was from across the border in Tyrone but I checked on Roots an ddid not see a record, however, some of the RC parishes for Tyrone are not on Roots.

I noticed there is a date of December 31st 1864 below Margaret Oliver Boyle. Do you think that is their marriage date?

There is also a Donaghmore parish in Co. Tyrone but that parish is much further east within Tyrone.

We do not have a parish liaison in Donaghmore.

You may want to contact the library branch in Lifford which is a larger town just to the north from Donaghmore. They are closed Monday and Wednesday.

Roger

Lifford Community Library

The Old Courthouse

The Diamond

Lifford

Tel: 074 9172726

Email: lifford@donegallibrary.ie

Thanks again, Roger.  I will definitely get in touch with the library -- thanks for that specific info.  Haven't been to Donegal yet, but am hoping to do so next summer in August.  We are incredibly thankful to IrelandXO, as without them I would not have met my cousin, Tommy Cooke, before his death in 2014.

I'm trying to work this through before next summer, so there is plenty of time. 

Best regards,

Marsha

Marsha:

I checked the 1857 Griffiths Valuation head of hosuehold listing and the only Oliver in Donaghmore parish was a William Oliver in the town of Castlefinn. Possibly there is a connection to Margaret.

 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/donaghmoregv…

Donegal is a beautiful county and fairly large.

Roger

Hi Martha,

I am the new parish liaison for Donaghmore in County Donegal. I will tray and help you as best as l can.

Kind regards,

Cronan

Cronan - Thank you for your reply.  Glad to hear they have a new parish liaison.  I did not receive a reply from Lifford Library, so you may be my last hope.  My husband and I would love to include Donegal in our trip this summer.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give us.

Marsha Thomas

Chicago

Still looking for information on the Oliver and Boyle families in the area around Donaghmore, Co. Donegal.  Would like to visit in August, but am not sure if there is any information to be found.  Specifically, I would be looking for possibly descendants of these ancestors, but am having a hard time finding specific information on the parents of:  James Boyle, b 1831 and Margaret Oliver, b 1839.  These people were married in Donaghmore, Co. Donegal according to records found in Scotland. 

Would really like to spend some time up in Donegal if there are records not available online or some wonderful genealogy people in that area.

Thanks,

Marsha Thomas

Hi Marsha,

Sorry for the delay in getting back. There were Boyles in this area up until a few decades ago, so I'm pretty sure there are descendants. The records at the local St Patrick's RC Church start from 1840 so there should be a marriage entry for James Boyle and Margaret Oliver. The contact there is Annette Marly-Pye, Parochial House, Crossroads, Killygordon, Lifford, County Donegal. Tel 0035374 - 9149194
Margaret Oliver is not a traditional Catholic, Irish sounding name so she may have been from outside the area or a member of one of the Protestant churches.

Hope this helps. Cronan

Thanks, Cronan.  I assume there is no email address?  If not, I will post a letter to them soon.  I think it interesting that Oliver is not a traditional Irish name.  That has given me some pause to think about things.  That part of the family is a total mystery to my husband.  He always thought they were Scots, until I found the birth records of his great-grandmother.  My husband knew her well and he'd love to learn more about that part of the family.

Thanks again.

Marsha

Hi Marsha, crosskill1@outlook.com is the parish church email address. 

Thanks so much.  I've already sent off an email.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Marsha