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Archiver > NIR-DOWN > 2001-11 > 1005794419


From: "mary louise hillyard" <>
Subject: [NIR-DOWN] HELP, PLEASE
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 19:20:19 -0800


For about two or three years now, I have been trying to locate my Irish ancestors from County Down. I have, in fact, hit that well known brick wall. Since nothing else has panned out, in my desperation I have one last thought, and if that doesn't pan out, guess I'll just have to drop this search.

My grandfather's name was William Francis Fox, and he was born in Newry, County Down in
February 1858. In 1881 or possibly 2 or 3, he emigrated to the US, and settled in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. He became a Minneapolis policeman, in time----not sure when he joined the force--- and progressed to becoming a detective and had a record as a "good cop".
He died in December 1941 in Pasadena, California.

His parents were Michael Hugh Fox and Margaret Turley. His father died in 1885 in Ireland and is buried there, but I have not been able to locate his death record or where he is buried. His mother and siblings had also come to the States, but a couple of years after William.
His last brother, Michael Thomas, was to come over last with his father, but when the father died (and I do no know why), he came earlier.

Since I have been able to find nothing, in looking at pictures of my grandfather that I have, I noticed that he always stood very tall and straight, almost like a soldier at attention. He was a very tall man, as were his two sons, Bill and Gene. But his brothers were much shorter in stature. So...I wondered if perhaps he could have been in the military in some form in Ireland and if that is why he always stood so straight and tall. So my question is (and I'm sorry this has taken so long) how could I find out if there is a record of military service for him? Where do I write? Whom do I contact?

Oh and one more question. In doing all this checking, in some of the records I have gone over, I have noticed that the word "Dommolly" had crept into their address in Newry, County Down. What does that mean? Does anyone know?

And I do have his naturalization papers for when he became an American citizen. But they tell me nothing about his life in Ireland.......not even what community he lived in. Nor have I ever been able to find anything on his mother. Anything at all will be so appreciated.

Thank you for even reading this.

Mary Louise

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