From: "McCurdy, Shane" <s.h.mccurdy@ukgateway.net>

Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006

Subject: McCurdy Genealogy

Dear Chris - I have noted the McCurdy element of your genealogy.

I am a McCurdy from Northern Ireland.

While I note that there is a passing reference to Samuel McCurdy born 1805 coming from Parish of Tamlaght Finlagan - in County Londonderry, I regret to say that early records are not readily available. However I have been studying the McCurdy family history and genealogy for a good many years and have a reasonable knowledge of the various branches and geographic 'groupings' of those families bearing the McCurdy name.

In the County of Londonderry there are several distinct family groups - those near Aghadowey/Macosquin/Ringsend; those around Ballymaclary (Magilligan); those around Drumachose Parish; those around Tobermore (south Londonderry county) and those who are really in the Strabane/Co. Tyrone and Lifford/Co. Donegal areas!

Having said all that - the Ballymaclary McCurdys have a long association in the area, from the late 1600's - when Capt John McCurdy is first mentioned as residing in that area.

These McCurdys were Presbyterians by the late 1700's and worshipped in Dunboe/Castlerock area. A John McCurdy from Ballymaclary was one of the founding members of the new Magilligan Presbyterian Church in about 1814. Amongst the baptismal records for Dunboe are several members of his family - one is a Samuel McCurdy born about 1805 & hence my 'interest' in your Dr Samuel M McCurdy of Port Townsend!

The Ballymaclary McCurdys appear to be a more affluent McCurdy family. In Ireland at this time most farmers were tenant farmers & while John McCurdy may have been a tenant farmer, his farm was substantial, and in this context for a member of any family to go into the medical profession and attend University, the family would have to be 'of substance' (i.e. have material wealth) so as to be able to support their son while at university.

In this context therefore finding a Dr McCurdy in America, who was born in Ireland, would limit the families from whom he could have come & while the Donegal McCurdys also would have had 'substance' the fact that there is a reference to Tamlaght Finlagan Parish, would place the family towards the Ballymaclary grouping.

While this is speculation and uses circumstantial information, it would be a not unreasonable to suggest, in the absence of any other information, that this Samuel was your Samuel - although as far as we can ascertain in this family there was no son named Daniel, but then again as far as I am aware there has never been a Reverend Daniel McCurdy, from any church denomination, in Ireland!

I would be interesting in exploring this with you and providing you with copies of what I have pieced together on this family if that should be of interest.

Kind regards

Shane McCurdy

27 Orange Lane

MAGHERALIN

Co. Armagh

Northern Ireland BT67 0RG