Genealogy Chat

Elizabeth, I have been away this afternoon and whilst digging my allotment the thought occured to me that maybe these rellies came from N.I. Before partition it was all one country but the NI accent was still there. After partition many place names were Anglicized, e.g. Londonderry for Derry. The accent makes Down or town sound like ton and Derry sounds like Dere. It might be worth looking at an old pre-partition map, I believe there are sites for these old maps but don`t know one off the top of my head. I found a lovely old map of Prussia some time ago. Hope this helps a bit. See, even when we are away from site we are still obsessed with it! Sylvia. obssed with it!

DERRYBROCK is Lough,Mayo DERRYBROOK is Cork

of course it has heather.

Well the Ragins has got to be Reagen hasnt it?

Thank you all for your help - I’m really grateful. I’ve had a much better response here than I did when I posted on the BBC message board so Genes Reunited gets my vote. Kate and Georgina – I’m so pleased you found him on the 1851 census. How did you both find him if his name was transcribed as Milla Dudan instead of Michael Dugan – any tips are very welcome. Sylvia – thanks for practising an Irish accent on the place names. Someone came up with the theory that Derrybrode could be Derrybrook in Co Cork but after looking at maps no nearby place name resembled Bottradon/Rottradon. Will look at maps of the area surrounding Batterstown for more clues. I’ll also follow up Kate’s clue about Patrick being born in Killeneha/Killenche. My 87 year old Mum (born Dugan) is going to be so thrilled about all this, so many thanks once again.

I sent you a message, Elizabeth, because this site wouldn't let me add a reply on here earlier, but I haven't had a reply from you (yet). Anyway, it was to say that in 1851 his name is Micla (or Miela) Dudan, transcribed as Milla Dudan on ancestry, but birthplace just given as Ireland for him and his wife. They also have a son Patrick age 10 and a daughter Margret age 7 both born Ireland on that one. Plus a cousin Micla (or Miela) Ragins age 50, widower, born Ireland, and two 'second cousins' (presumably cousin Micla's children) Mary Ragins age 14 and Barney Ragins age 12, also both born Ireland. In 1871 Michael says he was born in Measham, Derbyshire! So does Michael jr. Andrew says just Ireland. But if I have the right Patrick, his birthplace is something like 'Killeneha, Ireland.' Or Killenche? Difficult to make out, I'm afraid. His age has a thick line through it, so it's difficult to make out as well, But he is in Derbyshire anyway! At Stanton & Newhall. Kate.

What about Batterstown for the first one? If you say it with an Irish accent it can sound like Bottedon. It is in Co. Meath,South of Navan,West of Swords. Haven`t practised the accent on the other one yet! Sylvia.

Elizabeth on the 1851 census they just give their birthplace as Ireland... Andrew Dudan abt 1847 Ireland Son Measham Derbyshire Bridget Dudan abt 1850 Measham, Derbyshire, England Daughter Measham Derbyshire Catherine Dudan abt 1821 Ireland Wife Measham Derbyshire Margret Dudan abt 1844 Ireland Daughter Measham Derbyshire Miela Dudan abt 1839 Ireland Son Measham Derbyshire Milla Dudan abt 1816 Ireland Head Measham Derbyshire Patrick Dudan abt 1841 Ireland Son Measham Derbyshire Barney Ragins abt 1839 Ireland Cousin Measham Derbyshire Mary Ragins abt 1837 Ireland Cousin Measham Derbyshire Milla Ragins abt 1801 Ireland Cousin Measham Derbyshire Source information: HO107/2084 Registration district: Ashby De La Zouch Sub-registration district: Measham ED, institution, or vessel: 6c Folio: 154 Page: 15 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number: 58 GSU Number: 87710-87711 Georgina.

Okay, after looking at the image, it looks like 'Bottrador', and the wife's like 'Darey Brook'. But the Bottrador is quite difficult to be sure of. You're lucky it doesn't just say 'Ireland', really! Do you have them on any other censuses? Kate.

The image does look like Bottradon, although the enumerator must have misheard. Kath. x

They must be mistranscribed. You can't trust transcriptions of birthplaces, you should always check the actual image. I'll have a look and get back to you... Kate.

If you use the BBC Family history message board, read no further but if you don’t, please help me. I’m so pleased that I’ve just found my 3 x great grandfather on the 1861 census of Cross Street, Measham, Derbyshire. His name is Michael Dugan (aged 42) and his place of birth has been transcribed as Rottradon, Ireland. His wife’s birthplace is down as Dareybrode, Ireland, and his 2 elder sons are down as being born in Bottradon, Ireland. My excitement has been dealt a major blow in that I can’t find any reference to the place names Rottradon, Bottradon, Dareybrode (or similar spellings). Can anyone help me please as this is the first time I’ve had a lead with my Irish ancestry. Have spent hours searching on Goggle, pouring over maps and even phoning an Irish colleague of my husband but to no avail. Can anyone help me please. The reference to the census page is RG 9/2267 if this helps.