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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1998-08 > 0903463766


From: Edward Andrews <>
Subject: Re: Questions
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 19:09:26 +0100


David and Marla Fair wrote:
>
> Edward (and all)
>
> Sorry, I'm new to this. And I know all of you are much more educated in
> this than I am. The people I am talking about were (by tradition)
> farmers, so I don't think they moved too much. And the time setting is
> 1796 - 1838 approximately when they both (Nancy and Robert) went to
> America. So I guess I have a mystery. :-(
>
> Also, part of what I was wondering was just about the placement of these
> towns or counties and the nature of the people living there at the time
> (1796-1800).

Were any of them predominantly Catholic or Irish, etc. I
> know Antrim was the main place for McCurdys. I'm pretty certain Nancy
> (my great-great grandmother) named Cain and Boyd came from Belfast. Is
> Colraine near or part of this or another county like CLare etc. I
> haven't studied the maps and am just beginning at this. I have a VERY
> rudimentary understanding of Irish history and little time to devote to
> it, but I long to learn more. I'm afraid before this my interests were
> wrapped up in Ancient Briton and Rome, as well as the Dark Ages and
> fantasy. Doesn't help much here, does it? Any suggestions of books,
> etc? I WILL look up a map on the Internet web site and see what I can
> find for myself.
>
> Anything else you'd like to say, advice or information is welcome. I
> learn from it all.
There are a very good series of pages associated with the SI site.
They will be able to help you.
Do look at a map while Belfast and Coleraine are only about 40 miles
apart, Clare is at the opposite side of Ireland as far away as
possible.

You quote the period 1796 - 1838, and 1796 - 1800, not only is there
38 years difference, Politically and economically there is a world of
difference.
Your two options for a move would be
1.
Economic. It is hard to understand why, given what you have told us -
unless the guy was a gardener, or wanted to learn. there were jobs for
gardeners on the Munster estates, but I think that you might be a wee
bit early for that.

2.
Personal security
There might have been reasons why he might have found Clare more
healthy.
He could have been a common criminal running away. Why go to Clare?
He could have been political as the 1798 rebellion is right in the
time frame. if your dates are 1796 - 1800, you would be bang on for a
political romance.
They could have engaged in an inter faith marriage, and decided to go
to Clare. to get away. Cain is an unusual name, and could be one that
someone may have picked up i.e., an Irish name changed.

Your data is a little bit confused. If you check it, and reorganize
it it might be easier to speculate on the reasons
I hope that this helps
Edward Andrews
--
St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church Dalkeith
Visit our Web site
http://www.btinternet.com/~stnicholas.buccleuch/index.ht

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