An Introduction to Irish American Genealogy and Genealogy 101, another RACC Roots Presents

by Brenna J. Corbit

 As spring approaches some of you may be thinking of planting seeds for your vegetable gardens.  I already planted my chili pepper seeds and eagerly wait for seedlings to appear.  March also brings to mind celebrating all things Irish.  What better way to celebrate than by growing more branches on that elusive Irish family tree?

 Once again RACC Roots will be presenting two genealogy presentations via Zoom this March.  Mary Ellen Heckman will present another Genealogy 101.  This session will tie in on St. Patrick’s Day with my presentation of Introduction to Irish American Genealogy.

 Some novice researchers of their Irish roots may think it a useless endeavor because of the perpetuated myth that most of the records were lost or destroyed in the Irish civil Wars.  Certainly, some records were, but if this were true, I would have never discovered this telling Irish tale in my own family history.

 I discovered that my 2x Great Grandfather Andrew L. Britton saw a tour of Ireland as a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary, was married in a church in Limerick County, baptized his first son in the same church, and then one day in 1849 he stole the men’s pay who were under his command and took off to America with his wife and his wife’s family.  He settled in Philadelphia where he became a successful business man.  When his parents died in the next ten years, he had a stone erected for them in his native Fermanagh County, and Irish deeds have indicated that his brother had a tavern that stayed in the family up until the 1920s.  The tavern still exists, and if you care to, you can go there today and have a pint.  So much for no Irish records.

 So, if you want to find some of your own Irish adventures, come join us and find out how.  If you have never attended Genealogy 101, it is highly recommended before the Irish genealogy session. 

 The Yocum Library will celebrate National Genealogy Day by offering its Genealogy 101 workshop on Saturday, March 13th at 10 a.m. by Zoom. This session will be presented by Mary Ellen Heckman. Register for the Genealogy 101 session using this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9MH85Q

The Yocum Library will offer an Irish-American Genealogy session on Wednesday, March 17th at noon by Zoom. This session will be presented by Brenna Corbit. Register for the Irish-American Research session using this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BC8W6VL