Language Lesson - Scotch-Irish

I have done a couple of language lessons in the past.   This time I've selected a term that I am not particularly fond of and will explain why.  I've had more than one person mention the term "Scotch-Irish" to me in reference to my Maxwell's but also my McGuire's.  These "discussions" have mainly shown up on message boards online.  I've remained rather silent about my perception about this term, until now.

Whenever I've heard the term in the past, I always thought, "...but I am Irish".  I was never very understanding of why "Scotch" was included as I never deemed myself to be Scottish.  Just as an aside, it does appear that my ancestor, James Maxwell b. 1786, was probably from Scotland.

So why do I bother to bring up this term now?  I'd like to educate anyone who is interested in understanding this terminology.  I was intrigued recently as to why the term struck me as a catch all phrase and felt rather off putting.  The feeling was not unjustified as I will explain.  

The term Scotch-Irish and Scot-Irish or even Scots-Irish seem to be used interchangeably.   Scotch-Irish actually refers to Irish Presbyterians and other Protestant dissenters from Ulster Province who immigrated to North America during the colonial years.  Most of the Scotch Irish were descended from Scottish and English families who had been transplanted to Ireland during the 17th century.   This was known as the Plantation of Ulster.  Many of these "Ulster Scots", as they are referred to in Britain, immigrated to America in the early 19th century.  It was their descendants who immigrated from Ireland by the way.

The term Scotch-Irish is an American term that is not used in England, Ireland, or Scotland.   The term has led to much confusion among those who deem themselves Scotch-Irish.  I think I can clear this up by reminding anyone who thinks of themselves as Scotch-Irish that this group of people were not Roman Catholic.  If you are Catholic and/or your Irish immigrant ancestors were, then you are highly likely not Scotch-Irish.  The more I read about this term, the more I realize that my McGuire's and Maguire's were not Scotch-Irish.  My Maxwell's, while they may have been part of the "Plantation", may be "Ulster Scots".  That's a big maybe on the Maxwell side by the way.

So where did the word "Scots-Irish" come from?  Well it appears to be a misinterpretation of Scotch-Irish.  Scotch-Irish was coined in 1744 and generally refers to those living in Appalachian region of the U.S.  This term came into play in the U.S. when the mass Irish immigrations occurred in the 1840s-50s.  To differentiate the Protestant Irish in the Appalachian region, they were named Scotch-Irish since the masses of recent Irish immigrants were, in fact, Irish Catholics.  The term Scots-Irish/Scot-Irish does not show up until around 1972 and appears to be a mispronunciation of its predecessor.

Why dislike the Scotch-Irish term?  It really is a misnomer.  People seem to use, or misuse, this term when they come across a surname that could be Irish or Scottish.  I have also seen the Protestant Irish in Northern Ireland referred to as Scot-Irish. I am betting they would not like to hear that since they consider themselves Irish.

I stay away from using these terms as I don't think I identify with the use of them since my ancestors were Roman Catholic.  I actually cringe now when I see Scots-Irish written and used.  I did have a discussion online with someone about the term.   She found it very confusing.  Ultimately, she indicated that there were probably prejudices that went along with the use of these terms.  I agree.

So, whatever you think of the term Scotch-Irish, bear in mind that it is misused and misunderstood by many and those labeled as such may not be fond of it.

Finding Leads Online through Real People!

When researching my family, I sometimes find it to be rather solitary.  I am a pretty social, outgoing person and thrive on interaction and feedback from others.  Can you say "Type A" personality?  Yes, that would be me.   At the start of my research, I did feel rather alone searching for those who had passed on in life.

I must say that while I was trying to find my roots, I found many living people who I am related to.  I have enjoyed so much talking to them via email, on the phone and in person when the chance arises (and it has at least a few times). 

In recent months, others have found my blog and some have found me on Ancestry.com.  I welcome this and find it so much fun to share information.  I recently connected with someone looking for Cambridge's and Ahearn's/Ahern's/Meade's in Newport, New York.  That was rather fun.  I had some Ahearn information but did not have the connection for him to the Cambridge's.  I hope that he has found those cousin's.

I also found a brilliant website for Austin, Nevada.  The website is called the Walsh Family of the Reese River Valley.  This site has photos of the Austin area.   I also found the name Malloy on the site.  I seek Malloy's who moved onto Napa.  They are cousin's.  I have not yet found the Malloy's who are the direct descendants of Catherine Maxwell and Philip Duffy but I am getting closer.

The connection to Austin, Nevada and the Walsh's runs a little closer to my McLaughlin's than I had originally thought.  I looked up Julia Mahoney McLaughlin's Obit. that I have which was in the Reese River Reveille and found that the Walsh family of the time attended her furneral.  These are rather fun connections to find.  I continue to find more people associated with Newport, New York, Austin, Nevada, and Napa, California that connect to my McLaughlin's and Maxwell's along with their cousin's and relatives the Duffy's, Malloy's, Mahoney's, and more.

Here's the website for the Walsh's:

Reese River Walsh Family

The website has a photo of St. Augustine's Catholic Church.  This location is where several of my relatives were baptized and some were married.  For anyone seeking information about this location, the other's that I have listed, and the associated surnames, contact me here in the comments section.

Monetize

Well, many of you have probably noticed by now that I signed up to have advertising on my blog.  If people click on the ads, I receive some sort of payment if there is enough interest or something like that.   My intent here is to use any money from this to support my genealogy habit.  Yes, my habit includes a subscription to Ancestry.com which does cost money.  For now, the rest of my expenses have been minimal.

What I have discovered though is if I want to discover more about my family tree, especially in Ireland, that I will need to shell out some dollars to get documents of some value.  This is my first attempt to earn some money with my genealogy efforts.  Apparently, I can also purchase marriage certificates from the LDS Library for about $4 a pop.  The LDS Library also allows you to order up their films for $6 and makes them available to you for a few weeks at their library sites.  I live about 1 mile from one of their libraries in Sacramento.

So between cost and time, my genealogy habit may not continue to be an everyday venture (probably every other day, instead).  I will, however, continue to pursue my family tree and post here at Mine, Yours', and the Other Guy's Genealogy by zelsersk.

Who Do You Think You Are? - Season 2 on NBC

I hadn't looked in a few weeks but did today.  Season 2 of the NBC show, USA version, "Who Do You Think You Are?", premieres Friday, February 4, 8pm on NBC.  I am looking forward to this and found a list of the celebrities who will be included in this season.  They are Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Rosie O'Donnell, Steve Buscemi, Kim Cattrall, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Williams, and Ashley Judd.

I must admit to having seen Kim Cattrall in the UK version.  I would imagine that they are using that episode here in the U.S.  Maybe they will add updated information to it.  It will probably be a shorter version as is typical here in the U.S.

It should be an interesting season.  Can't wait!

Meath - Dunshaughlin

Dunshaughlin, County Meath is the most likely candidate for the origins of my Shaffrey family.  The village is named after Saint Seachnall, a contemporary of Saint Patrick, who established a church there in the 5th century.  Dunshaughlin (or more specifically, the townland of Lagore) is famous for an ancient crannóg or settlement from the 7th century where a number of Irish antiquities were discovered.

The oldest families still in this location are descendants of the Muintir Uí Fhloinn, who are recorded at the latest in 1550 and the Muintir Uí Mhuirí who are recorded at the same time. Outside the village, families such as the Uí Ruanaidh in Trevet continue to exist on the site where they were recorded to be in 1550.

Dunshaughlin is 29 km northwest of Dublin and is a satellite town of the nation's capital.  There is a VEC-run secondary school, Dunshaughlin Community College, which was recently selected as one of 12 schools worldwide to take part in Microsoft's Innovative Schools program.  Dunshaughlin also has a famous historical workhouse.

I didn't really glean much information online about Dushaughlin.  I guess I will need to go there someday and see it for myself.

County Longford, Ireland

When I look up Ringowny, County Longford, Ireland, I don't really find very much information.  I do know that it is near Edgeworthstown and, in fact, is in the Parish of Edgeworthstown.

Edgeworthstown is considered a successful centre located on a main roadway - N4.  The town is named for the family of Edgeworths who first settled here in 1583. The most well known members of this family were father and daughter Richard Lovell Edgeworth and Maria Edgeworth. Richard was a famous inventor while Maria was a novelist.  The family vault is in the churchyard of Saint John's.

Edgeworthstown, or Mostrim meaning: Meathas Troim, "frontier of the elder tree", is a town in County Longford, Ireland.  It is located at the eastern border of  County Longford near County Westmeath.  The railway station in town was opened in 1855.

The economy revolves around animal feed processing and pet food manufacturing.  The town has a football (soccer in the U.S.) and is big into Hurling.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who could share what Edgeworthstown or Ringowny is really like.  I invite anyone to offer up an article for this blog about this area of Ireland.   Give it some real feeling too, including the good, the bad, or the very interesting.  I'd also be interested in any McLaughlin's who live there too!