Today was a day like all days until I received notice both from Jim McKown and FTDNA
that Jim is only the second McKown/McCown who is an exact 12 marker match with me.
The other match is a known cousin, Sam McCown.
Jim has signed up to be tested to 67 markers and those results should all be in by late in August. There are about 39 McCown/McKown members of the McCown Surname Group,
so this is great news at least by one of Irish descent and, hopefully two of Irish descent. I will keep you current on this as Jim's results are received.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Adventure to Fermanagh is Taking Shape
Airfare and trip insurance fees were charged to our credit card today and a huge fee for passport renewals was sent in for expedited service. I don't know if this is prejudice against Protestants of Irish descent or not.
I found that having a good travel agent is a great advantage in getting the best fares and seats for the money and most especially for giving great advice. We will be in Fermanagh for parts of 10 days with more than half of those days spent in Belleek. Belleek isn't easy to find even in a small county such as Fermangh and even with a good size fold out map from Michelin. It is relatively close to Donegal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is just southeast of Ballyshannon and a little west of Lower Lough Erne.
Judging by said map, it looks as though we will travel from Belfast and up the west side of Lough Erne going from the lower end of upper Lough Erne to the top of Lower Lough Erne. I think I am lost already, but, thank goodness, the tour guide or one of his associates will pick us up at the Belfast Harbor Airport and deliver us to our bed and breakfast accomodation in Belleek. I will not have to learn to drive on the wrong side of the street or get lost in transit. Barry McCain says that getting lost in Ireland is fun, but he is much more into adventure than I.
So, between Belfast and Belleek, we will pass all along the west coast of the lough including things we will come back to see later in the tour. If you haven't looked at Lough Erne on a map, you may be surprised to learn that upper Lough Erne is south of lower Lough Erne. In this case, it is because the River Erne rises in the mountains at the south end of the county and runs to the north so the terms upper and lower refer to elevation rather than compass directions. More later.
I found that having a good travel agent is a great advantage in getting the best fares and seats for the money and most especially for giving great advice. We will be in Fermanagh for parts of 10 days with more than half of those days spent in Belleek. Belleek isn't easy to find even in a small county such as Fermangh and even with a good size fold out map from Michelin. It is relatively close to Donegal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is just southeast of Ballyshannon and a little west of Lower Lough Erne.
Judging by said map, it looks as though we will travel from Belfast and up the west side of Lough Erne going from the lower end of upper Lough Erne to the top of Lower Lough Erne. I think I am lost already, but, thank goodness, the tour guide or one of his associates will pick us up at the Belfast Harbor Airport and deliver us to our bed and breakfast accomodation in Belleek. I will not have to learn to drive on the wrong side of the street or get lost in transit. Barry McCain says that getting lost in Ireland is fun, but he is much more into adventure than I.
So, between Belfast and Belleek, we will pass all along the west coast of the lough including things we will come back to see later in the tour. If you haven't looked at Lough Erne on a map, you may be surprised to learn that upper Lough Erne is south of lower Lough Erne. In this case, it is because the River Erne rises in the mountains at the south end of the county and runs to the north so the terms upper and lower refer to elevation rather than compass directions. More later.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Grand Adventure to Fermanagh
We almost have all the ducks in line for a trip to Fermanagh. It will be our first ever trip to Ireland and have received some great suggestions from the fair Coane and husband,John,
Barry McCain and Patrick MacAuley. All gave some discrete insights and advice.
The trip will involve an eleven hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow and then a change of both planes (from Boeing 777 to Airbus 319)and airlines. The transportation from Belfast to Belleek, Fermanagh, will be provided by John Cunningham
(a tip of the hat to the fair Coane and her husband, John).
This will be our first ever trip out of the country without a complete, predetermined package, and at my age, traveling a la carte, is a bit more exciting than I would like.
No personal genealogical research is planned, but we hope to visit many scenic and historical sites. The trip, if all the ducks line up will happen in September.
I look forward to relating the highlights on our return.
Barry McCain and Patrick MacAuley. All gave some discrete insights and advice.
The trip will involve an eleven hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow and then a change of both planes (from Boeing 777 to Airbus 319)and airlines. The transportation from Belfast to Belleek, Fermanagh, will be provided by John Cunningham
(a tip of the hat to the fair Coane and her husband, John).
This will be our first ever trip out of the country without a complete, predetermined package, and at my age, traveling a la carte, is a bit more exciting than I would like.
No personal genealogical research is planned, but we hope to visit many scenic and historical sites. The trip, if all the ducks line up will happen in September.
I look forward to relating the highlights on our return.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A Few Words from William Roulston
I spent some time late last week checking the Calendars of the State Papers relating to Ireland for any further references to Maguires and McCowns.
By way of background, state papers concerning Ireland are preserved in The National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) in London under SP/63. The documents concern the administration of Ireland in this period of enormous change. There is much information of interest about the Ulster plantation. Calendars of the papers covering the period 1509–1670 were published in 24 volumes by the Public Record Office between 1860 and 1911, under the title Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland.
I checked the following volumes:
1600
1600-01
1601-03
1603-06
1606-08
1608-10
1611-14
1615-25
1625-32
1633-47
Only one reference was found to a McCown who also bore the name Maguire and this was to our old friend Edmond Maguire McOwen who had been noted in the patent rolls in 1611. The reference found now amplifies what we know about him.
The document in question appears in the Calendar covering the years 1611-14 (page 70). It takes the form of a letter from Sir Arthur Chichester, the lord deputy of Ireland, to the Attorney General, dated at Dublin Castle on 6 June 1611:
“Warrant to draw out a fiant of letters patent granting a pardon, with the usual limitations, to the under named, being natives of the province of Ulster, who are to be removed from their ancient dwellings upon this plantation, and who fear to be prosecuted by their landlords for leaving them. Edmond Maguyre McOwyne of Tyrone gent[leman] with 13 yeomen, 11 labourers, 15 husbandmen, 1 victualler, 4 serving men, 1 smith.”
This is all very interesting for it gives us an insight into the position of the Irish just as the Plantation of Ulster was getting underway.
Although the ‘undertakers’, as the English and Scottish grantees were known (for they agreed to undertake the planting of their lands with British settlers) were expressly forbidden from having Irish tenants, in reality nearly all of them disobeyed this ruling and were quite happy to retain the Irish on their lands.
At the same time, there was considerable dislocation of Irish society during this period. As this document reveals, Edmond Maguire McOwen et al were concerned that they were to be forced to leave their homes and farms and so took precautions to protect themselves from being prosecuted by their landlords for doing so.
While we cannot as yet be certain this Edmond is the progenitor of your line, we have delved a little deeper into the world in which your ancestors lived in the early seventeenth century.
I’ll add this to the website in due course.
By way of background, state papers concerning Ireland are preserved in The National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) in London under SP/63. The documents concern the administration of Ireland in this period of enormous change. There is much information of interest about the Ulster plantation. Calendars of the papers covering the period 1509–1670 were published in 24 volumes by the Public Record Office between 1860 and 1911, under the title Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland.
I checked the following volumes:
1600
1600-01
1601-03
1603-06
1606-08
1608-10
1611-14
1615-25
1625-32
1633-47
Only one reference was found to a McCown who also bore the name Maguire and this was to our old friend Edmond Maguire McOwen who had been noted in the patent rolls in 1611. The reference found now amplifies what we know about him.
The document in question appears in the Calendar covering the years 1611-14 (page 70). It takes the form of a letter from Sir Arthur Chichester, the lord deputy of Ireland, to the Attorney General, dated at Dublin Castle on 6 June 1611:
“Warrant to draw out a fiant of letters patent granting a pardon, with the usual limitations, to the under named, being natives of the province of Ulster, who are to be removed from their ancient dwellings upon this plantation, and who fear to be prosecuted by their landlords for leaving them. Edmond Maguyre McOwyne of Tyrone gent[leman] with 13 yeomen, 11 labourers, 15 husbandmen, 1 victualler, 4 serving men, 1 smith.”
This is all very interesting for it gives us an insight into the position of the Irish just as the Plantation of Ulster was getting underway.
Although the ‘undertakers’, as the English and Scottish grantees were known (for they agreed to undertake the planting of their lands with British settlers) were expressly forbidden from having Irish tenants, in reality nearly all of them disobeyed this ruling and were quite happy to retain the Irish on their lands.
At the same time, there was considerable dislocation of Irish society during this period. As this document reveals, Edmond Maguire McOwen et al were concerned that they were to be forced to leave their homes and farms and so took precautions to protect themselves from being prosecuted by their landlords for doing so.
While we cannot as yet be certain this Edmond is the progenitor of your line, we have delved a little deeper into the world in which your ancestors lived in the early seventeenth century.
I’ll add this to the website in due course.
Friday, June 25, 2010
DNA Updates
It looks as though Bill McCown, who is descended from William McCown, Rebel Scottish prisoner, deported from England to Port Oxford, Maryland in 1747/48, is about to sign up for the Y-DNA 67 marker test. This should be very interesting for Scottish McCowns or even Irish McCowns.
Also, a test kit for the 37 marker test is on it's way to Bob McKown. Bob believes that his family
immigrated from Antrim. In my opinion, that may indicate that he has DNA in common with Francis and John McCown and also with Alexander McCown and his six sons of Pennsylvania.
Also, Robert Maguire has just upgraded his order to 67 markers as well. His family is from Tempo, Fermanagh where one of his ancestor's was a tailor.
All of these men will be encouraged to join the FTDNA Ulster Heritage Group of some 1,500 members.
If you, the reader, expect to take either the 37 or 67 marker Y-DNA test, do it now while prices are at an all time low, but be sure to do it through a surname group to get the best price.
Also, a test kit for the 37 marker test is on it's way to Bob McKown. Bob believes that his family
immigrated from Antrim. In my opinion, that may indicate that he has DNA in common with Francis and John McCown and also with Alexander McCown and his six sons of Pennsylvania.
Also, Robert Maguire has just upgraded his order to 67 markers as well. His family is from Tempo, Fermanagh where one of his ancestor's was a tailor.
All of these men will be encouraged to join the FTDNA Ulster Heritage Group of some 1,500 members.
If you, the reader, expect to take either the 37 or 67 marker Y-DNA test, do it now while prices are at an all time low, but be sure to do it through a surname group to get the best price.
Friday, June 4, 2010
A New Cousin in the Lawrence McCown Line
My brother, Dick, found him as a result of a search using Bing under the search term "Lawrence McCown". This cousin is named Clark McCown and is descended from Lawrence McCown's third son,
Leander. We now have descendants of three of the four sons of Lawrence McCown and the fourth and last son died without issue as far as we know.
His family moved from Kentucky to Louisiana many years ago. He is being urged to take the Y-DNA
test to confirm that he matches cousin Sam (descended from 2nd son Eli) and me. A tip of the hat is due to Leonard McCown, administrator of the McCown Surname Group because he thought that we would be his most likely match.
Even though we likely all descend from the same common ancestor, born somewhere in South Carolina ca 1790-92, sometimes distant cousins can shed new light on the family via DNA mutations. That
was true of Sam's results because he has a mutation that is common to only one of two lines of MacAuley Maguires out of the entire Maguire Clan. Perhaps Clark's results will also turn up an interesting mutation that is of genealogical value as well. As you can see, I have recovered from
my last post in good order.
Leander. We now have descendants of three of the four sons of Lawrence McCown and the fourth and last son died without issue as far as we know.
His family moved from Kentucky to Louisiana many years ago. He is being urged to take the Y-DNA
test to confirm that he matches cousin Sam (descended from 2nd son Eli) and me. A tip of the hat is due to Leonard McCown, administrator of the McCown Surname Group because he thought that we would be his most likely match.
Even though we likely all descend from the same common ancestor, born somewhere in South Carolina ca 1790-92, sometimes distant cousins can shed new light on the family via DNA mutations. That
was true of Sam's results because he has a mutation that is common to only one of two lines of MacAuley Maguires out of the entire Maguire Clan. Perhaps Clark's results will also turn up an interesting mutation that is of genealogical value as well. As you can see, I have recovered from
my last post in good order.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
No Takers
Having wasted several posts to this blog on the Family Finder Test and finding no evidence of
interest, I assume that everyone who reads this blog already knows everything they want to know about their own families. If so, they are much more fortunate than I, because I know full well who my great great grandfather was based on his answers to census reports and a record of his marriage in January 1815 and records as to the birth of his first two sons, one in December 1815 and one in 1818 and the birth and death dates of his other sons.
Still, we do not have a clue as to the identity of his father or mother. To get that information is the reason I took the FTDNA Y-DNA test to 67 markers, and the deep subclade test to R1b1b2a1b5 and continue to flog this blog. I am as completely in the dark as to my earliest known ancestor's father's name as I was before loading all that treasure on DNA labs. I belong to way too many FTDNA Surname Groups just to be able to find all of my matches since only one is in the McCown Surname Group and he is a known cousin.
I think it might be just as productive to fill my mouth with rocks and shout at the ocean or just wait until one of you readers enlighten me as to the identity of my earliest known ancestor's father. Please start now.
interest, I assume that everyone who reads this blog already knows everything they want to know about their own families. If so, they are much more fortunate than I, because I know full well who my great great grandfather was based on his answers to census reports and a record of his marriage in January 1815 and records as to the birth of his first two sons, one in December 1815 and one in 1818 and the birth and death dates of his other sons.
Still, we do not have a clue as to the identity of his father or mother. To get that information is the reason I took the FTDNA Y-DNA test to 67 markers, and the deep subclade test to R1b1b2a1b5 and continue to flog this blog. I am as completely in the dark as to my earliest known ancestor's father's name as I was before loading all that treasure on DNA labs. I belong to way too many FTDNA Surname Groups just to be able to find all of my matches since only one is in the McCown Surname Group and he is a known cousin.
I think it might be just as productive to fill my mouth with rocks and shout at the ocean or just wait until one of you readers enlighten me as to the identity of my earliest known ancestor's father. Please start now.
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