Brickwall

Remember, undocumented genealogy is mythology.

Let's face it - sooner or later - we all hit a "brickwall" in our genealogical quest! This is the place to post your brickwall request and share your frustration. Just send me an email with "BRICKWALL" as the subject and include your request for information in the text. Your request will be added verbatim to this page. Make sure to include a email address so that others may contact you directly. Photographs can also be included. Don't forget to send an update when you find that missing family member!
Please note - all requests MUST have a COUNTY DOWN connection

My Brickwall
Submitted by Ruth Ann Johnson, Iowa, USA

My ancestors came from both Antrim and Down.
They wore neither sashes nor medals nor crown
Nor cassock nor miter nor armor nor swords
They were not clergy or barons or lords.

They sailed before passenger lists were in vogue
And they kept to the rules—not a one was a rogue.
Therefore, they never appeared ‘fore the court.
They just never got in a mess of that sort.

Of their life on the Auld Sod seems nothing’s been writ,
And of their travels I know not a bit.
They seem to have transplanted lock, stock, and barrel,
No one saw reason their arrival to herald.

Connolly, Clendenin, Turner, and Craig,
Where did you come from? The townland, I beg.
If I could just find one of these on a roll,
I would have to believe I had truly struck gold.

But alas and alack, they all remain hidden,
Because none was important enough and they didn’t
Go down in history, recorded for all,
So collectively they all remain my brickwall!

Has the Secret Researcher helped you? If so, please feel free to add your comments to this page by emailing me at mourneminers@optonline.net

SECRET RESEARCHER

Regular visitors to the site may have discovered that we have a very kind researcher who picks names from those listed on the BRICKWALL and conducts some research at PRONI to help breakdown your BRICKWALLS.

It is so kind and generous of Secret Researcher to take the time and effort to help one or some of us - without even the credit of identifying him/herself! I'm impressed. And it reminds me again that without the people on this and other lists, we wouldn't have the resources or encouragement to find our families. Most of ours are buried in unmarked plots, a situation which I would like to rectify. I need to find them first! Anyway, thank you Secret Researcher! Wendy in a blizzard in Canada.
I also want to thank all, those who have helped me in my research it would have been useless if I was not given help , my sincere thanks to all you good people who help us who cant help ourselves, God Bless all of you , whoever your God may be. Alex.
I would like to add my THANKS to a "Secret Researcher" who has offered so much help on the BRICKWALLS of the Murray Family in Clanvaraghan & Slievenisky. Sheila in Ontario, Canada
Another HUGE THANK YOU for the terrific help so generously given by the "Secret" Researcher! With Great Appreciation! Roxanne in California, USA.
I would also like to say Thank-you to the 'Secret Researcher' for the help that has been given in finding our Murray Family from Slievenisky and Clanvaraghn. Also i know that my father would like to add his thanks as well, for now through the 'Secret Researcher' he is finding his ancestry. Sue in England.
Through the help of the "Secret Researcher" I feel that I can now remove the Wright Family Brickwall from the list. The Researcher is certainly the modern day "Irish Leprechaun" helping us with our Brickwalls.
We all need that "Little bit of Irish Luck" researching our ancestors and I feel so blessed that they offered their help.
Many many thanks. Judith
^©2006/2007/2008 Fiona Jones