Hi, I've been reseaching my own Ulster families for many years, from both my overseas home or on visits to Ireland for researching at PRONI. However, I've just begun looking into my son-in-laws paternal line which descend from William Needham who married Elizabeth Cooke. I don't feel they were residents in Fahan Lower for a long period, but were obviously there from at least the mid 1820's until 1840 or so.
I'm now unable to travel to Ireland anymore and would appreciate any local help I can get. At this stage I have found the following, all on RootsIreland but am looking for scans for the actual entry if possible:
NEEDHAM, William Marriage to Elizabeth COOKE on 22 Nov 1829 at Fahan Lower, Church of Ireland, Donegal. The couples children:
NEEDHAM, John son of William and Elizabeth. Born 9 Nov 1830. Bapt 14 Nov 1830 at Fahan Lower, Donegal. Church of Ireland
NEEDHAM, William b 6 Apr 1832 Bapt 8 Apr 1832 son of William NEEDHAM at Fahan Lower Church of Ireland, Donegal
William baptised in 1832 emigrated to New South Wales in 1856, sponsored by 'cousin' Mary Burns. At this time William stated that both his parents were deceased. Elizabeth Needham (ms Cooke) appears to have remarried:
NEEDHAM, Elizabeth of Lower Fahan married John McANNY of Lower Fahan on 10 Feb 1839 at that Church of Ireland parish.
I can't trace any other Needhams in Donegal following this. Can anyone assist with more information about the above.
edesfamily
Tuesday 31st Jan 2023, 09:02AMMessage Board Replies
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No Needhams in the 1740 Protestant Householders return for Fahan:
http://donegalgenealogy.com/1740ph1.htm#Fahan
The tithes for 1831 list just 1 Needham in the parish, in Ballymacarry:
(Though obviously there may have been others without land).
None in Ballymacarry by the time of Griffiths Valuation.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 31st Jan 2023, 09:44AM -
Hi Elwyn, Thanks for looking at those resources, I probably should have stated that I'd already found the Tithe listing and noted that Needham is almost non-existant in Donegal by the time of GV, in fact the other Donegal parishes listed in rootsireland don't have any listings either. Was there a nearby militiary barracks around there (apart from Londonderry) as I am wondering if William snr might have been posted locally, met his future wife and then resigned and stayed in the area until he died which seems to have been prior to 1839 seeing Elizabeth, his wife/widow remarried then.
I appeciate your taking the time to look.
Bobbieedesfamily
Tuesday 31st Jan 2023, 11:58PM -
Bobbie,
Yes there was a military presence at Dunree Fort in Fahan, about 10 miles north of Buncrana. It guarded the mouth of Lough Swilly. Nowadays it's a museum:
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 1st Feb 2023, 08:24PM -
Thanks a lot for that Elwyn, I shall follow that information up.
Bobbieedesfamily
Wednesday 1st Feb 2023, 10:53PM