Robert McClellan

Pat,

Statutory birth registration started in 1864 in Ireland and 1855 in Scotland. So Andrew & Sarah would have both been born before that. Consequently you won’t find a birth certificate for them. You may find their baptisms but not all baptism records have survived, nor are they all on-line. What denomination were they, do you happen to know?

You don’t say exactly when Andrew was born but searching for baptisms in Scotland 1835 – 1845 produced 4 possibles, on Scotlandspeople. (All were Presbyterian). None was born in Edinburgh though.

I can’t see any sign of Andrew & Sarah’s marriage in 1865 – 67. Nearest I could see was Andrew McLelland who married Sarah Clyde on 17.12.1862 in Limavady, Co Londonderry.

Nor could I find any trace of Robert John’s birth in the Gort area. (There are 24 Roberts born elsewhere in Ireland in the period 1864 – 1870 but none in Co. Galway).

There’s about 12 towns or townlands called Gort in Ireland. How sure are you that Andrew & Sarah married in the one in Co. Galway?

Pat:

I will alert our parish liaison in Gort about your message and September visit.

Roger McDonnell

Elwyn and Roger - Wow - you were so quick with a response, thank you very much.

I believe all my relatives were RC - my information about Robert John is taken from USA Census records, marriage record, and death record. All record Ireland as place of birth for Robert, Gort Galway is mentioned as well. Now Census takers being so varied in approach and documentation - who knows?

Had no idea so many Gort(s) - wow. Was hoping for those baptismal records - sorry I neglected to mention RC.

Have accessed some of the baptismal online but haven't had any luck.

Thanks for anything further you can achieve. If no information will just enjoy :Ireland - plan to visit Galway anyway.

Really appreciate all you accomplished and quick response. If still have time and any luck would appreciate....

Pat 

Pat,

Gort RC marriages start in 1853, baptisms in 1848. They are all on-lline on the NLI site. So you can check them easily enough. Enjoy your visit.

Pat,

It is a possibity that if Andrew (if from Scotland) married a girl from the area of Gort that he was a soldier. Gort had a British Army barracks in the town in those days. The last name Leonard was often an anglicisation of the name Linnane or Lennane in Galway. My own 2nd Great Grandmother was Ellen Lennane from Tarrea which is 7 miles to the northwest of Gort. Her children used Leonard in America. Linnane/Lennane is very common in the 1856 Griffith's Valuation to the west of Gort in Galway and across into Clare. The Church in Gort is Saint Colman's but stretching my theory a bit... if Andrew were a soldier, it is unlikely he was Catholic. Sarah Leonard would have been Catholic and the marriage could likely be in a Protestant Church. I have found a number of Gort girls who married soldiers from the Gort barracks including my own Great Grandfather's sister. Also check records in Ardrahan, Kinvara- Doorus area for Leonards. 

Regards,

Kevin Flynn

Thank you Elwyn and Kevin - great information

Wondered if Andrew was Scottish but couldn't locate anything in Scotland either. Trying to imagine how they would have met so searched (without luck) in Scotland for Sarah J also - but this makes sense, soldier and married "local" lass. Fairly certain RC as Robert John married in the Roman Catholic Church in MI and all children brought up as RC.

In USA it was a pretty big deal to marry another RC - the church made so many obstacles to marry if you fell in love with a non RC. IF married non RC there had to be a pledge all children would be raised RC. This continues today but not as many obstacles although my entire family is RC.

Kevin - guessing you have traced your ancestors - since a potential common last name, are we distantly related? Realize a long shot.

I so appreciate all this assistance. I have learned so much from this website/message board. I click on just about each one to see if other nuggets. I have ancestors in Westmeath and County Down (all RC) as well. This has been a fabulous journey made much easier by people such as you taking time out of your day to assist me. 

Thanks to all

Pat

Wow - thank you so much. I had tried, unsucessfully to search on name variations but nothing.

I cannot thank you enough - I will keep researching - this is another big, big help.

Special thanks for all of you! You work miracles....

Pat