McNallys & Fitzpatricks from Co MOnaghan

Hello out there in Monaghan

Looking or my great great grandparents were Michael McNALLY and Margaret FITZPATRICK, both born around 1812 in Co Monaghan, 'parish unknown', as recorded on the 1871 census in Northumberland England, where they had eventually settled after leaving Ireland in the late 1840s. They seem to have married in the 1830s but I have not yet found a marriage record, or anything conclusive in Griffith's or the Tithe Applotment Records. Since 'parish unknown' was recorded, I am starting my search in Monaghan Town.

Known children's names were Mary 1839, Owen 1844, Michael 1849, Philip 1850, Margaret 1854, Ann 1857 & George 1859, birth years approximate, with likely a Patrick and James in the 1830s as the eldest, making their own way by the time the family got on to the English census. Hoping to find more in parish records later this year. The eldest were born in Ireland, Michael & Philip in East Lothian Scotland, and the younger ones in Hexham Northumberland England.  I am in touch with Dermot McNally who is already helping me, but to widen the net through this forum, if anyone recognises this couple or sees a suitable marriage or baptisms for the children, I would be very pleased to hear from you.

I am looking at a couple of McNally families in Monaghan Parish as possibly related, and at a FitzPatrick family from Errigal Truagh, some of whom emigrated to America. From knowing nothing at all about them, I've made great inroads in my family history and hope very much to bring home my Irish family.  I carried out autosomal DNA testing while looking for my father, and I hope one day I'll find someone on the ground who matches me and has Monaghan roots, leading me to 'my' Monaghan or other Irish relations.  So the more people who test, the sooner this will work out.

Thank you everyone for this wonderful initiative. 

Katie de Haan

born London UK, resident in The Netherlands