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Author: rwcarnahan
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carnahan/1906.1.1.3.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
I wish I could delete a few of my earlier posts. I have to cringe when I see some of the
things I wrote back when I was getting on track. I know a lot more about the family
history now than I did several months ago.
Thanks to my cousins, I have been provided with family bibles, a few photos, and letters
to within one generation of Archie 1 1784. I too am a direct descendant of Archie, via
William and Elizabeth (who's family bible identifies her as "Betana", and
who ultimately came to be known in the community as "Britania"). Wm. & B.
had another Archibald, who had an Edward Howard Carnahan, who had a William Howard
Plunkett Carnahan who had me.
Your catch of finding an Archibald Carnaghan on the Flax Growers' List for Monaghan
county is actually quite an exciting find. Nice going.
What I have in my possessesion is a letter to William Carnahan dated in the 1860's
from a James Williamson of Martinstown, Glengarry County, Ontario. In it, he mentions
that his father would dearly like to see his sister and isn't it amazing that the two
families having come from so far away are now within 2 days travel.
I can't make a solid link yet, but it strongly appears that the Irish Williamsons
(most Williamsons are Scottish in that area) of the Martinstown area are from Monaghan
county Ireland. Canadian census records show a James Williamson to be the third son of
Robert Williamson of Ireland. Robert married a Roman Catholic woman, Isabella, despite
his Presbyterian background. I found the marriage record identifying Robert's father
to be John Williamson of Ireland and also records the birth & catholic baptism of his
Robert's first son, also John.
I just came off a recent bout of internet searches on the Williamson's of Glengarry
County and am seeing repeated hits on a the patriarch being a John Williamson from county
Monaghan, in the area of the town Monaghan.
As I started to say, there's no concrete tie-in yet. I have only been on to this
information for a couple of days. Your flax growers info is interesting, as the same list
contains a handful of John Williamsons in addition to the one Archibald Carnaghan.
I'd say there is at least a remote chance that the listed Archie could be the father
of our Archie and the grandfather of your Archie and of my William.
The possibility is definitely going to hold my attention for a few weeks. I'll let
you know if I can make the link. Doubtful I imagine, but certainly worth the try.
The Cavan connection for Archibald comes primarily from the Belden Illustrated Atlas where
William & Archie #2 (& John) provide a short bio each stating they are from Cavan
county.
I'm wondering now where the Lisball came from. Certainly from Betty Warilow's
& Susan Moody's research on Archie 1 for the Ottawa Genealogical centennial
project. When it comes down to it I really don't know where in Ireland our first
generations of Canadian Carnahans were born. Betty Warilow is amazing so I'd have to
believe her sources to a great extent. I now would not say that Archie 1 was born in
Lisball as I naively stated above. I would only say that is probably where he and
Elizabeth were prior to leaving for Canada.
The township of Lisball is not far from Monagahn, about 50 kilometers due south. I guess
I have a lot of work ahead of me. I'll let you know if I turn up any hard facts.
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