Dee Notaro's Blog (74)

Wexford-Born Signer of the U.S. Constitution

Thomas Fitzsimons was born at Ballikilty, County Wexford, Ireland in October of 1741 to Anthony Fitzsymons in the mid-1750s.  We know his mother's name was Jane, but we do not have a record of her maiden surname.  Fitzsimons immigrated to Philadelphia where his father…

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Added by Dee Notaro on February 14, 2015 at 4:30am — 2 Comments

Another Job Gone by the Wayside: Catchpole

The law-officer, whose business was to apprehend criminals, was long- known popularly as the "catch-pole."  But few remembered that he obtained that designation due to the fact that he originally carried with him a pole fitted by a peculiar apparatus to catch a…

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Added by Dee Notaro on February 7, 2015 at 5:00am — 1 Comment

Etymology of the Name Ireland, Éire, Erin

In Gaelic myth, Ériu, Banbha and Fódla were three goddesses who greeted the Milesians upon their arrival in Ireland, and who granted them custody of the island.

Ériu is generally believed to have been the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, or simply a…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 31, 2015 at 5:00am — 3 Comments

Coats of Arms and Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry, the word, in its most general sense, encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 24, 2015 at 5:30am — 12 Comments

'Jack Tar': Not a Pleasant Smelling Job

"Jack Tar" was a common English term originally used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire. By World War I the term was used as a nickname for those in the U.S. Navy. Both members of the public and seafarers…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 17, 2015 at 5:00am — 3 Comments

Surnames: Caledonia and Hibernia - 'Mac' or 'Mc'

Mac, Gaelic for "son", is the most common element of Scottish and Irish surnames. In both countries, Mc is always an abbreviation of Mac.…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 10, 2015 at 4:30am — 3 Comments

'Women's Christmas' in Ireland

January 6th is celebrated in Ireland as "Women's Christmas" (Nollaig na mBan).  More commonly known in other parts of the world as the Feast of the Epiphany, it marks the end of the Christmas period in Ireland.  It is known as "Women's Christmas" because of the…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 5, 2015 at 4:30am — 2 Comments

The Origins of 'January'

Originally recorded as January, Janaway, Jenery, Jennery, Jennardy, in England, Janvier (France) Janer and Jane in Spain, Januario in Portugal, Gennaro and Zannari (Italy) and many others, and recorded throughout Europe, this is a name of truly ancient origins. It has…

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Added by Dee Notaro on January 1, 2015 at 4:30am — 1 Comment

Merry Christmas

Added by Dee Notaro on December 24, 2014 at 6:00am — No Comments

Christmas Baby and Signer of the U.S. Constitution

William Paterson (December 24, 1745 – September 9, 1806) was born in County Antrim to William Paterson and Unknown named mother. (How about it, Ireland – who is she?) He immigrated to the U.S. at the age of two, and entered the College of New Jersey (now Princeton…

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Added by Dee Notaro on December 19, 2014 at 6:00am — No Comments

'Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly'

This beloved carol, believed to be originally of Welsh origin, had already been around for quite a while when Mozart used it for a piano duet in the 18th century. You can read more about its interesting history in …

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Added by Dee Notaro on December 10, 2014 at 5:30am — 3 Comments

The Christmas 'Whitewashing'

The Irish have only a few Christmas traditions that stand out as traditionally Irish and not borrowed from other cultures in recent times. Perhaps the oldest of these traditions is ... housecleaning!  And it may, too, have been borrowed from other cultures, although it was as long ago as before the birth of Christ.

This is not your typical housecleaning. Traditional Irish "whitewashing the…

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Added by Dee Notaro on December 6, 2014 at 5:30am — 1 Comment

Memorials, Tombstones and Cenotaphs

What is the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard? Graveyards are in the "yards" of churches.  The use of tombstones may go back to the belief that ghosts could be weighed down. 

The difference between Union and…

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Added by Dee Notaro on November 29, 2014 at 4:30am — 2 Comments

James McHenry: Secretary of War and Namesake of Fort McHenry

James McHenry (November 16, 1753 – May 3, 1816) was born into a Scots-Irish family in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland in 1753.   Sent at age 17 to North America McHenry lived with a family friend in Philadelphia before deciding to finish his preparatory…

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Added by Dee Notaro on November 15, 2014 at 5:30am — 1 Comment

George Michael Cohan - 'The Man Who Owned Broadway'

George Michael Cohan was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and producer. Assumed by many to be Jewish because of his last name, which was really Keohane! Known in the decade before World…

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Added by Dee Notaro on November 9, 2014 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

In Answer to More Info on Dan Daly

Mr. Hurley – You win the brass ring. I know and use this sight and the info contained on there will lead to everything about Dan Daly! However, no documentation but  there is no documentation on lots of thins ... I love that site. I feel there are lots of people like myself who do not believe that Ancestry.com is the answer.

Mr. Regan – On Dan Daly’s records (those available – no birth certificate) I feel that when his father got off the boat with…

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Added by Dee Notaro on November 5, 2014 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Sgt. Major Daniel Daly

Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly was born 11 November, 1873 in Glen Cove, New York to  Daniel John Daly and Ellen Donovan -- presumably both were born somewhere in Ireland?

Daly was twice awarded the Congressional Medal of…

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Added by Dee Notaro on November 1, 2014 at 6:00am — 7 Comments

The Origin of American Slang

I teach genealogy at a senior center in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.. This city is a virtual melting pot of many nationalities of the world and people of many colors. We sometimes get into discussions that really are "food for thought." It is…

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Added by Dee Notaro on October 22, 2014 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

Creepy Things to do with Your Ashes or Your Pet’s

Added by Dee Notaro on October 15, 2014 at 5:00am — No Comments

Transcontinental Railroad in United States

One of the biggest projects in U.S. history, the building of the transcontinental railroad is played out in “Hell on Wheels”.  Four of the lead actors are Irish: Phil Burke, Irish Canadian; Colm Meany, Dublin; Robin McLeavy, Australia – ancestry  Ireland; Dominique…

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Added by Dee Notaro on October 8, 2014 at 5:30am — 4 Comments

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