I have had a couple of days at PRONI, with another anticipated, exploring the McKees from the Boardmills area of County Down. I have established through the will of a James McKee, proven in 1937, a connection between John Jackson McKee and the McKees of Poagsburn, and since then have been delving into the parish…

The Hanlon page now includes a Newry Reporter account of the funeral of John Hanlon in March 1935, taken from Find My Past.

Well, there I was working happily on the Jacksons, making progress with my research and adding information to the Jackson page when I noted a little detail on a wedding certificate. When John Jackson McKee married in 1926 he named his father as Hugh Graham McKee. No document shows this middle name for him but…

I have started to publish information on the Jacksons of Barnamaghery and thereabouts. If you are connected or have information you would like to share please do send me an email. I was disappointed not to learn in time of a meeting of the Crossgar Historical Society a few weeks back as it was to…

I had an interesting day at PRONI today. I spent my time researching mum’s Gibson and Coughran/Cochrane ancestors using the records for Loughgilly parish in County Armagh. This included the dreaded microfilm reader but also the computer to browse documents available to view for specific townlands and also to locate actual documents which I then…

I was shocked and saddened to read of the death last month of Peter Calver. Peter was a genealogist who ran the Lost Cousins website for many years and provided interesting newsletters with stories, offers of discounts and tips which were tremendously valuable to amateurs like myself. It honestly had not occurred to me that…

I know I’ve been inactive for a good while but I had my reasons. I now have my long awaited outdoor office so there is space to pursue my hobbies. Unfortunately genealogy will still be sharing brain and eye time with wargaming so I won’t be at this full time. I have been conducting research…

I’m beavering away in my spare time trying to uncover more about the Cochrane family from Mountnorris in Co Armagh. Currently I’m exploring the school records as the Presbyterian records (I want to check them out just in case) are still unavailable at PRONI. Apparently they are being digitised. I have a found what may…

I have recently made contact with a new source who is DNA connected on Mum’s side and has a verified ancestor in common. I hope to update the Gibson page with information about the Cochranes!

I have been busy with work and with pursuing my wife’s fascinating Northern Ireland family for months but have begun to explore information from Cameron Smith via Scotlands People and hope to add some of it in the next few days.