I have been working for ages on a particularly tricky group, the Jacksons of Raffrey (especially the townland of Barnamaghery). After 3 or 4 days at PRONI wading through original documents and microfilm I have managed to untangle the Jackson family which is “right” for my wife.

I’ve added a little to the section on the Clarks. Next week I will be visiting Scotland for the first time in years and hope to visit Newtonmore.

I have begun to upload information about George Patton of Corporation Street in Belfast.

Coming soon… the Pattons of Corporation Street in Belfast I have been researching my wife’s family and have found it interesting, so I intend to share what I have learned when I can. Be patient- some of us are still at our place of work every day despite sickness all around.

I managed to get myself a slot at PRONI this week and despite the utter lack of carparking in the area currently succeeded in entering the building. I was able to look at a large map from the late 1780s, showing the estate of a Mr Johnston in the Drumbanagher area. It shows locations of…

I’m sorry if anyone has been trying to contact me and is awaiting a reply. I’ve been having trouble access emails (and still can’t).

I’m pursuing a couple of DNA links on Ancestry to a Sarah Jane Smith or Smyth who died in Belfast in 1922. Her family came from Bessbrook, she being born there around 1850. Her husband was also named Smith and he came from the same locality which confuses things but I think it likely that…