CJ Murdoch
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Bio: Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES 
Thanks for following Shaking the Tree. I’m enjoying reading your blog; your comment “oh what I would give for 24 hours and a camera …” resonates with me so much. I miss my grandmother – the family memory – so much. Cheers, Su
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Hi Su, it’s a pleasure to read your blog; and I love all the old photos. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to know who is in them in order to enjoy them. I, too, miss many of my family; including my dad. He passed away just before he was 57; when I was just turning 31. I can’t believe it’s going to be 22 years this month. There are so many things I will never get the opportunity to ask him; he would have loved the journey that I’m on today. All the best, Colleen
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Thank you. I love the old photos, but not knowing who the people are drives me crazy. I understand how you feel about the loss of your dad. I’m not close to mine, and now he is ill I feel that I have a small window of opportunity to put things right – and to ask all the questions I never thought of when I was young. Cheers, Su.
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Sadly, sometimes things cannot be made right. I’m in the same situation currently with my mother; all we can do is our best and know that we can live with that. Take care. Colleen
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That’s true; I always have such high hopes of reconciliation which never quite come to fruition. But, as you say, if I do my best, I will be able to live with that. Many thanks for this conversation; it’s needed today. 🙂
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I think we BOTH needed this conversation! Take care! 😀
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🙂 you too!
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Thanks for liking a post on Geokult Travel. Your blog looks really great so am following 🙂
cheers
Tracey
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Hi Tracey, you’re welcome and thanks for following my little blog. All the best. Colleen
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Thank you for following the Brotmanblog. I am glad you found me, as now I can follow you as well!
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Thanks so much Amy; I look forward to reading more on your blog. Our search is one that will never end! 🙂
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Hi Colleen; thanks for following ZimmerBitch. Hope all is well with you and yours. Cheers, Su.
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Hi Su, Not sure how I missed this! 🙂 A very happy New Year to you and your family! All the best, Colleen
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Hello
Came across your blog trying to locate headstones for Culmore Church of Ireland.
I am interested in a McColley family that had 3 early headstones erected (I think) so wondering if you came across any when photographing the tombstones.
Thanks
Bobby
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Bobby, I’ll go through my photos over the next few days (around work) and see what I can find. Colleen
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Hi Bobby, I finally had time to search for headstones. I have found a few that I had taken last summer while in Ireland. Some are spelled McAuley. If you would like to send me an email at twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches@gmail.com; I will forward the pics to you. Colleen
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Thanks Colleen – I have sent you a response via gmail. Much appreciated.
Bobby
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I’ve just emailed the photos Bobby, hope they are helpful. Colleen
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Hi CJ ,
I live near Burt in Donegal.
Have you been over to visit Stunning place and part of the Laggan Valley steeped in Ulster Scots History as it was the first plantation site for the Scots and were many passed through for the ships to the New World. I’m sure your Wilson descendants are still here today .
Best of luck with your research .
Jacqui Devenney.
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Hi Jacquie, I was born and raised in Ireland! 😀 My little family and I visit often; most recently in August of 2014 for three weeks. I spend a lot of time with my living family and visit many burials grounds of my ancestors. We are planning another trip in August of this year. I haven’t made it to Burt yet; but it’s on my list for this summer. We can’t wait!!!! Colleen
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Hi CJ just stumbled on your site and I’ve been going through the photos and articles which are all fantastic. I too have a LOVE connection my great grandmother was a Catherine Love daughter of Joseph and Sarah from Campbell’s town Donneybrewer co Derry. They were married in 1847 is there any connection to your Loves.?
Patricia
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Hi Patricia, I must apologize – I completely missed this. I’ll blame it on Christmas planning! 🙂 I don’t have a Joseph Love in my tree. However, I do have record of family living in Donnybrewer. Over the next few days (probably next weekend as I’m back to work on Tuesday) I’ll take a look to see what I can find for you. Could you email me any other information you have on the family and I’ll see if I can find a connection. Have a very Happy New Year. Colleen
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Hi there, I am descended from William Hendren and Jane Douglas who married in Antrim abt mid 1820s. Their sons James Douglas Hendren and William Hendren were both in RIC and then emigrated to Victoria, Australia in the mid-late 1850s. They stated they were from Lisburn in Co Antrim. Perhaps this might connect to your Hendren family. Regards, Chrissy in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Hi Chrissy, thanks for getting in touch and I must apologize for my late response (work is getting in the way these days). Do you have more detailed information on your William Hendren? Although I follow all my family lines (not only my direct line) I have no Jane Douglas in my tree. I have several William Hendren’s, but of a younger generation. There is the possibility that your William could be a brother of my 3rd great grandfather, John Edward Hendren. However, I would need more information to clarify that. Feel free to email me at twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches@gmail.com. All the best, Colleen
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Colleen, Thinking about the Irish naming system, James Douglas Hendren had children born in Australia – John, Edward, Margaret, Susannah, Mary Jane, Sarah, Ellen. They were all grandchildren of William Hendren and Jane Douglas. AND I should have mentioned that the two RIC brothers William and James had another brother Edward who also emigrated to Australia. So, certainly, the names are all there to match your family. I have an idea the family may be from Balinderry and there were certainly Hendrens there. There is another large Presbyterian family of Hendrens in Co Armagh, descended from Minister Samuel Hendren. There are many descendants of that family in Australia also. We have been in touch over the years and feel there is probably a connection but not sure. Maybe DNA matching is the way to prove this now!! BTW I have tested with both Ancestry DNA and Famiy Tree DNA if you are interested in sharing that. Regards Chrissy
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Chrissy, many of the names you mentioned are in my Hendren and connected lines. They are all from Ballinderry and surrounding areas, where my family still lives. They are all connected to my Scott line. I’ve just recently done Family Tree DNA and uploaded it to GedMatch. Unfortunately, I don’t have a clue how to sort through the over 3700 matches! I’m still a work in progress in that area. I would love to see if we have a connection. Colleen
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Colleen, I too am on Gedmatch. All I need is your kit number with Gedmatch and I can match us. I will also match you with my sister and a paternal cousin just to be sure, to be sure. PM me at pastlane@bigpond.net.au. Chrissy
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Chrissy, sending you an email! 🙂
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Hi There I noticed in the Murdoch family the Kennedy name, kinda hoping we might have a connection.
my 2x great grand da came from County Antrim he was baptized in the Townland Moneydollogu Dec. 1819. My husband and i traveled to NI for holidays and research. Might have found great grandparents graves in Ahoghill the stone was erected by there eldest son David Junior Kennedy. The Parents names were David and Jane Kennedy They both died in 1835 a month from eachothers death. If there is any chance that there is a connection please let me know.
Kind regards
Sharon Kennedy-Granger
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Hi Sharon, the Kennedy family is connected by marriage to my Murdoch’s. Martha Kennedy married my great uncle Willie Murdock (he spelled his name with a K). Her parents were Matthew Kennedy and Sarah Steele. Matthew’s parents were William Kennedy and Jane ‘unknown’. As they are a family that married into my paternal line that’s as far back as I’ve researched them. Thanks for getting in touch. Colleen
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Hi there. I’m looking for McKee’s from Belfast, County Down. David Andrew McKee born around 1750 married Elizabeth ??, at least two children came to Canada, William McKee born 1806 with his wife Jane Anderson born in Belfast also and Janet/Jennet/Jennie McKee with her husband William McCormick both born 1790-something. William may be slightly older. The McKee and McCormick men all seemed to be blacksmiths in Canada once they got here. But I’ve not nothing about the Irish family prior to the immigration. Thanks so much. Susan M
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Hi Susan, my great uncle (Willie Berry) married Rosie McKee. Her parents were John James McKee and Johnenna McCartney – they were from Belfast. His parents were James McKee and Matilda Clyde. They, however, were from Co. Sligo. As the McKee’s married into my paternal line that’s as far back as I’ve researched them. Thanks for getting in touch. Colleen
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Maybe we’re related! Both my Granny’s were Mary Sweeney, all from the Parish of Gweedore Granda’s as well Boyle & Gallagher. Look forward to checking your stuff, I found out because a cousin sent me a photo you shared of Crolly where my Mum was from. Thanks Finbar
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Good morning Finbar, my Sweeney’s were from Garryharry, Letterkenny and still live there today. In 2014 I was able to stand in front of the building that my 3rd great grandparents lived in; it’s now being used as a byre. If you would like to check further for details/connection please email me at twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches@gmail.com. Thanks for getting in touch, Colleen
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Hi Colleen
My Scots/Irish ancestors were also from Garryharry, Co Donegal and were called Buchanan. The name Sweeney features fairly prominently in my research. If you are happy to do this, I would love to “talk” further.
Regards
EDWARD KERR
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Hi Edward, can you contact me directly at colleen@twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches.com? My 3rd great aunt, Catherine Sweeney of Garryharry, married a John Buchanan on 17 Feb 1859 in Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal.
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