Genealogy Chat

Hi Lynne, It'll depend on where in Scotland your people were as to whether there are still poor relief records, Glasgow & Ayrshire have good ones. Did either of your men end up in Poorhouses or Model Lodging Houses, you'd only probably know this from census, death cert or passed down family info. If they did then it'd be a fair assumption that there may be an application. I found out about mine through census records by getting every record for the family from 1841 - 1901. There is a poorhouse site, I believe they hold records from 1881 census, I can't remember it offhand but if you google you should find it. i can't remember if it is all poorhouses but it certainly had some info. Best wishes Donna

Thanks for your suggestions Donna. How do I find out if they claimed Poor Relief, is there a website? Also, I've checked for parents of Robert Gardiner and James Steele, doesn't look like they came here. Thanks again. Lynne

Hi Lynn, Have you tracked these chaps on all the census records? Sometimes you strike lucky and one time it will tell you where in Ireland they were form. You could also try Ancestryireland.com I'd suggest checking on both names in the marriages just to make sure thre is a match, there's nothing so helpful as putting in both names unfortunately. Also, is it possible that your ancestors who moved to Scotland could have claimed poor relief? if so that may give more information. Have you checked on Scotlandspeople to see if the parents moved to Scotland and died there....preferably after 1855? Good luck & happy christmas to you. Donna

Thank you everyone for all your help! I'll give that website a try Maria! Merry Christmas! Lxx

Dear Lynn Try www(.)irishgenealogy(.)ie - remove brackets. You can input the details you have and it will bring up matching or close records. I think some of the records are chargeable but at least it might help you narrow down the area. Best of luck Maria

Thanks for that! Only problem is I don't have an area in Ireland to go on, I only found out they were from Ireland on the Scottish census records. Here are the details I do have. Robert Gardiner born 1836, parents are John Gardiner and Mary McKinstry (taken from Robert's marriage cert). Also James Steele born 1841, parents John Steele and Mary Ann McAllister (taken from James' death cert). If anyone has any suggestions it would be fantastic! Many thanks Lynne

Have you tried FamilySearch, we would at least need the christian names and rough year/years of birth and area in Ireland you are looking for!! Betty

Irish research is notoriously difficult, but not impossible, before civil registration was introduced in the 1850's. You would need to try and find out at least a county of origin though, or a marriage cert giving father's name. Jay

I have come across two 3xGrt Grandfathers who hailed from Ireland. Unfortunately I do not know where in Ireland as the census record doesn't give this info, does anyone know how I go about finding this out? Both men were born in the 1830's and the surnames are Steele and Gardiner. Many thanks Lynne