Empathy List Archives

D

dm60

Tue, Feb 24, 2026 4:16 PM

Dear Listers

Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!!

I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed with, this now over many decades! I was but a young newborn babe and my father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother -- who had been my dad's godfather.
In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another "David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch any cause to claim this clue.
It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry.
Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted, inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast, with co. Tyrone connections .....

Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother (who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too.

Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere ..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list -- like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving us a "leg up" ...

Warm regards to all

Dave Mitchell

Cape Town, South Africa

Dear Listers Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!! - I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed with, this now over many decades! I was but a young newborn babe and my father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother -- who had been my dad's godfather. - In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another "David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch any cause to claim this clue. - It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry. - Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted, inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast, with co. Tyrone connections ..... Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother (who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too. Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere ..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list -- like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving us a "leg up" ... Warm regards to all Dave Mitchell Cape Town, South Africa

DG

Dorothy Gaunt

Tue, Feb 24, 2026 5:53 PM

Thanks Dave for sharing this. It’s stories like yours that keep me/us looking and hoping, and people like Len who help people fulfil such hopes.
Dorothy in New Zealand
Sent from my iPad

On 25 Feb 2026, at 5:17 AM, dm60 via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:

Dear Listers

Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!!
I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed with, this now over many decades! I was but a young newborn babe and my father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother -- who had been my dad's godfather.
In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another "David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch any cause to claim this clue.
It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry.
Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted, inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast, with co. Tyrone connections .....
Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother (who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too.

Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere ..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list -- like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving us a "leg up" ...

Warm regards to all

Dave Mitchell
Cape Town, South Africa

Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
List Archive - https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com
Join the list by sending an email to - cotyronelist-subscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com
To receive the Digest version, send an email to - jamckane@gmail.com
Unsubscribe by sending an email to - cotyronelist-unsubscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com

Thanks Dave for sharing this. It’s stories like yours that keep me/us looking and hoping, and people like Len who help people fulfil such hopes. Dorothy in New Zealand Sent from my iPad > On 25 Feb 2026, at 5:17 AM, dm60 via CoTyroneList <cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote: > > > Dear Listers > > Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!! > I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed with, this now over many decades! I was but a young newborn babe and my father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother -- who had been my dad's godfather. > In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another "David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch any cause to claim this clue. > It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry. > Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted, inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast, with co. Tyrone connections ..... > Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother (who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too. > > Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere ..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list -- like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving us a "leg up" ... > > Warm regards to all > > Dave Mitchell > Cape Town, South Africa > > > > > > > > ================================= > Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com > List Archive - https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > Join the list by sending an email to - cotyronelist-subscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > To receive the Digest version, send an email to - jamckane@gmail.com > Unsubscribe by sending an email to - cotyronelist-unsubscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > =================================

MC

MT Coghlan

Tue, Feb 24, 2026 7:33 PM

Thank you too Len for all that you do. I save all of your posts in a folder
after I read them so I have them for researching my Irish connections. I
will be making that my priority this year.
They provide a valuable resource and I appreciate it very much.
Tracey 😊
Australia

On Wed, 25 Feb 2026, 2:17 am dm60 via CoTyroneList, <
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:

Dear Listers

Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this
topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!!

- I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed
with, this now over many decades!  I was but a young newborn babe and my
father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother
-- who had been my dad's godfather.
- In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the
Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another
"David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght
townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch
any cause to claim this clue.
- It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me
a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and
Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one
of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David
Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry.
- Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on
the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted,
inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast,
with co. Tyrone connections .....

Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David
Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where
land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his
family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm
my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And
best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother
(who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell
me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too.

Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere
..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list --
like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact
that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving
us a "leg up" ...

Warm regards to all

Dave Mitchell
Cape Town, South Africa

Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
List Archive -
https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com
Join the list by sending an email to -
cotyronelist-subscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com
To receive the Digest version, send an email to - jamckane@gmail.com
Unsubscribe by sending an email to -
cotyronelist-unsubscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com

Thank you too Len for all that you do. I save all of your posts in a folder after I read them so I have them for researching my Irish connections. I will be making that my priority this year. They provide a valuable resource and I appreciate it very much. Tracey 😊 Australia On Wed, 25 Feb 2026, 2:17 am dm60 via CoTyroneList, < cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote: > Dear Listers > > Thank you to all listers for their comments and inputs, especially on this > topic -- and to our dear Len Swindley -- Len, please note...!! > > - I had little choice in the selection of the name I have been blessed > with, this now over many decades! I was but a young newborn babe and my > father (my parents) chose to name me after my grandfather's younger brother > -- who had been my dad's godfather. > - In chasing ancestral roots, I found among other references, in the > Ordnance Survey Memoirs (kindly published by the UHF) mention of another > "David Mitchell" who had been the schoolmaster of the Killymallaght > townland school, in the 1820s -- tantalising stuff, but nothing to clinch > any cause to claim this clue. > - It was our stalwart Len Swindley who -- in September 2004 -- sent me > a few newspaper snippets etc. from the Londonderry Sentinel of 1835 and > Freeholder Lists of that era (sources I was completely unaware of) -- one > of them confirming the marriage in December 1835, yes, of one David > Mitchell of Killymallaght to Eliza Gilkey of Londonderry. > - Len did this unsolicited, completely out-of-the-blue, and just on > the off-chance that "I might find them interesting" -- kind-hearted, > inspired, and well-experienced genealogical support to a fellow enthusiast, > with co. Tyrone connections ..... > > Where did this lead to? Fast forward 20 years. This schoolmaster David > Mitchell has been found, in Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where > land records confirm his (onetime) occupation as a "teacher". Where his > family included the middle name of "Gilkey". And where DNA tests confirm > my own close relationship to his descendants and his own close kin. And > best of all, I have been at the graveside of this David Mitchell's mother > (who emigrated to Canada as an elderly widow) who all signs and clues tell > me is my own 3-greats-garndmother too. > > Yes, there's real magic in them records, whether in Ireland or elsewhere > ..... Ah hah! There are "magicians" who support our co. Tyrone list -- > like Len -- who contribute so generously, and so wisely, and have an impact > that stretches far out in time. Demolishing brickwalls and indeed giving > us a "leg up" ... > > Warm regards to all > > Dave Mitchell > Cape Town, South Africa > > > > > > > > ================================= > Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com > List Archive - > https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > Join the list by sending an email to - > cotyronelist-subscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > To receive the Digest version, send an email to - jamckane@gmail.com > Unsubscribe by sending an email to - > cotyronelist-unsubscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > =================================

cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com

Re: Personal Announcements from the Londonderry Sentinel and other newspapers