Yay! A genealogy group!

[OneGrassRoot]

I've just begun the process of trying to research my ancestry in a more dedicated fashion after recently receiving scanned documents from a relative. I realize I need to investigate the validity of the documents (and just basically learn about them because I'm a complete novice), but it left off with the first ancestor here in the states. It says he was a Revolutionary War soldier in 1775, in NC, born in Ireland in 1751. The surname is Patrick and, oddly, his name is listed with "Sir" in front of it. Sir John Patrick, which seems like an extraordinarily common name and thus I'm not very hopeful about being able to progress. There is no record found thus far of his parents' names. No county of birth. Nothing else.

(I highly doubt that's accurate as far as peerage -- a word I just heard for the first time this week...lol), as this has been a family of poor farmers in the Southeast for as long as we can tell.)

I've read a wee bit and understand it's very difficult to find records in Ireland prior to the 1850s and that church records are the best hope. It has also been mentioned a few times that, given the early date, it's likely Ulster Scots.

Given the paucity of info, how would you proceed? Are there specific research databases re: Ulster Scots here in the US in the 1700s? Should I try to find some resource in NC that may have info? I did search a few Irish county-specific databases that were recommended and, amazingly, the surname Patrick was not common at all. But I still didn't find anything.

I went ahead and started an Ancestry.com free trial just now but thought I'd see if anyone here has suggestions. Thanks!

[deRien]

1. Try the

National Archives. They have military records for the Revolutionary War.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Excellent. Thank you! n/t

[deRien]

3. I was able to

get about 117 pages of information about my grandfather from them years ago. The records had medical exams, marriage license, names of children, address changes, etc. because he served in the Spanish American War.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. This is so exciting. I don't know why...

I've never done this before! I think that, given our current crisis, I'm more enamored of moving abroad and am curious about my lineage. lol It's all a daydream but this process is interesting nonetheless. Thanks again!

[deRien]

7. I discovered that

some of my ancestors got here in 1710! Good luck with your adventures into where your family came from.

[CanonRay]

5. Check the D.A.R. Someone may have already researched your patriot.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. There's a hit! Thank you! n/t

[LiberalArkie]

8. Start off with a known deceased person that you know the birth and death dates and the locations.

I also use now Familysearch.com as it is free..

https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/record/results?q.anyDate.from=1751&q.givenName=john&q.surname=patrick

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Thank you! n/t

[LiberalArkie]

10. Punching that in will give you their parents birth/death dates and place of birth.

You will luck out if you have any sort of royalty in the lineage as a lot of it will be down for you. The UK stuff has been in the databases for awhile. A few years ago the French, Danish, German and many other EU nations popped up in the databases.

I found out I was related to the Uhtred of Bamburgh or Uchtred the Great on my dads side. A lot of Danish and Swiss popped up then.

My fathers side was naturally on the English side but what was interesting was my moms side came over from Normandy with the French army of William to fight the English.

My 26th Great Grandfather (Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria) ended up being beheaded by William 1 and became a cult figure when his body was exhumed and his head was reattached.

Some interesting stuff. My family essentially commoners after with with except of a few slave traders a little later on.

But find a royal or semi royal and a lot of the work is done..