Strongs of County Monaghan, Ireland

Canada Census records state place of origin simply as "Ireland". But when Michael & Margaret's oldest son, Joseph was married to Jane Kyle, their marriage certificate recorded in Simcoe County, Ontario lists his place of birth as "Liskey, Ireland". Irish place names can be repetitive. There is a Liskey townland in the parish of Clonleigh, Union of Strabane, County Donegal. Another Liskey, a village is located near Sion Mills, south of Londonderry. Unfortunately, no records of Strongs have been found in either of these areas. 

In his diary, Michael Strong recorded the name James McKelvey of Bally Bay, Co. Monaghan a number of times. Just what Michael's connection with McKelvey was is uncertain, but Michael obviously had need for this address years after his arrival in Canada (he began the notebook in 1861, 15 years after emigrating). 

Using the Householder's Index, a number of records of Strongs were found in County Monaghan near Bally Bay. They include some common names in our family, like Robert, Joseph, James and Mary Anne. But most importantly, a Clifton Strong was recorded in 1829 in the tithe books for Cortahart townland in the Parish of Aughnamullen, just 6 miles south of Bally Bay. Another Clifton Strong was born in 1865 in nearby Donaghmoyne Parish to a Joseph Strong and Mary Hillis. Clifton is a relatively rare given name, but it is one that appears over and over again in different generations of our family. 

In the Parish of Magheraclooney in the barony of Farney in the County of Monaghan in 1861, a Joseph Strong was recorded in the Griffith's Valuation on the townland of Lisnakeeney. Note the similarity to the "Liskey" recorded in the Simcoe County marriage certificate. This Joseph Strong was a lessor of Major Evelyn P. Shirley, a large estate owner in Monaghan. Shirley provided assistance to many of his tenants for passage to Canada during the 1840's. 

All in all, we find records of Strongs in the parishes of Aughnamullen, Donaghmoyne and Magheraclooney in County Monaghan. Many of the given names, especially the rare "Clifton" seem to fit with those in our family. Michael led us to James McKelvey of Bally Bay. Was McKelvey his father-in-law? Margarets surname remains unknown, so we really don't know. 

Lastly, John and Mary Strong emigrated to Canada at the same time as Michael and Margaret Strong. Five years later, their family was found in the 1851 Canada Census immediately preceding that of Michael and Margaret Strong. The fact that they were still living so close together suggests that John and Michael were brothers, or at least close cousins. John Strong died at a young age. His tombstone has been located and it reads, 

View maps of the Church of Ireland parishes where Strongs have been located in the following counties in Ireland, courtesy David B. Strong . 

Cavan
Donegal
Down
Fermanagh
Longford
Monaghan	Aughnamullen Parish

Visit Ann Harney's County Monaghan, Ireland History Web Site

Adapted from Origins of our Strong Family in Ireland, a discussion paper by William L. Strong, 1996.