Andrew Madden born Drumneath, Down, February 1872

Hello,

I have been receiving emails from your site and have been reading some of the stories of connection with great interest.

In May 2017, it will be 200 years since my ancestor, Andrew Madden, arrived in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been aware of irelandxo when my cousin visited County Down last September.   He was researching our Madden family line.  Our original ancestor, Andrew Madden, arrived in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1817 (departed Greenock, Scotland May 1817 aboard the William Fell, and may have been an assistant to the ship's surgeon).  He was born in Drumneath, County Down, in February 1782.  His parents are said to have been Edward Madden and Rose Brannigan.  Other than where he studied medicine (Glasgow, Scotland from 1812 to 1817), we have not been able to find any further information about his parents or siblings in Drumneth, County Down, Ireland (though we do have some possible names of his siblings).  Andrew's siblings, that we have,  were James, Edward, Arthur, Alexander and some of his siblings may have been born as late as 1798, possibly in Drumneath.  Andrew's mother and/or father may have also immigrated to Cape Breton (family lore).  Edward, Arthur, and Alexander were also in Cape Breton by 1820/1821.  Andrew Madden married in Cape Breton in 1821 to Mary Ann Jackman of Halifax, Nova Scotia.    Their children's names were Mary Ann, Patrick, Edward, Rose Morgana, Catherine, Edward, Sarah and Thomas.

My cousin wasn't able to break through the brick walls during his visit to Ireland, due to the time frames involved.  Andrew Madden may possibly have been Roman Catholic and, as Roman Catholic church records in the area did not begin to be recorded until 1833, that became another dead end.  Several graveyards in the Drumneth area were searched but no Madden gravestones were found. After my cousin returned to Australia, he contacted a genealogist, who was unable to find any information through an initial three-hour research of church records, tithes, wills, etc.

My ancestor began his studies in medicine rather late in life, at the age of 30.  We have some indication, but no proof, that he may have been in the Royal Navy, and think, perhaps, that is how he was able to obtain his medical degree.  He studied at the Andersonian University and graduated in April 1817 as a Licentiate from the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow.

My cousin did not visit Belfast, while he was in County Down, and that may or may not have made a difference in the research.

I have tried to find information through on-line searching, for quite some time, but have not been able to find anyone, in Ireland, researching this Madden line, so I've also come to many dead ends.

I thought I would send this information along in case there might be some interest and/or that you might be able to provide me with other ways of finding information about ancestor born in the time frame stated.

I appreciate any information you might decide to offer as I'm sure you have many, many requests of this kind.

Thank you in advance.

Leslie McKenna
Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA