1857 Griffith's Valluation Leitrim
Richard Lawrence Creenagh townland, Cloone Parish
Richard Lawrence Aghdrumderg townland, Mohill Parish
Richard Lawrence Collabaun townland, Mohill Parish
Try your local Family History Libary ( Church of Latterday Saints )

James Lawrence, had two sons in the early 1800's. Richard Lawrence and James Lawrence II. Supposedly in the city of Stralohan in Leitrim County, Ireland. James came to America and Richard stayed in Ireland.
Does anyone know if in fact Stralohan (Stralolhan?) is a real city? I have been unable to locate it.
Has any seen any records of any Lawrence family in Leitrim county?
Thank you in advance.

Hello there.
Could you please fill me in on the history of Madge Lawrence - her husband/childrens' names. Husband = George(?)
Thanks
Barbara

Hi Scott

I am the great grandson of James Lawrence from Stralohan near Ballinamore in Co Leitrim. He was born around 1856 and died on 20th October 1927. I have no details of his parents but I suspest that Richard Lawrence was his father or possibly grandfather.

My great Uncle was also James Lawrence and he looked after the farm in Ballinamore until he died in 1991. I spent holidays there when I was a boy.

Are you related to the James Lawrence who went to the USA?

Ian

Hello Ian,
Yes James Lawrence is a namesake in my family, I am not however named after him. My father, grandfather and his father were. Is there anything you can tell me about Stralohan? Does it still exist? Is it a town or parish? What are my chances for visting this place and perhaps meeting you? Have you heard of Carrmahon?
http://users.ev1.net/~dcook2/codo/Lawrences.htm

Scott

Thanks for your reply.

Stralohan is a small area near the town of Ballinamore in County Leitrim. I always believed that it was a townland (typically an area of about one square mile) but now I'm not so sure. I can't find it on an database of Leitrim townlands. It's certainly not a town. I'll check and get back to you.

Stralohan is still there so you can visit if you like. I'd be delighted to meet you. I live in Belfast, about 100 miles from Leitrim. Where are you from?

I haven't heard of Carmahon but I'll look into it.

The Lawrence letter posted on your site is fascinating. I am trying to make sense of some of the names. Was it written by Richard Lawrence's son to his cousin, Richard, the son of James Lawrence II? One or two of the names in the letter are familiar. My great grandfather's sister, Maggie Lawrence married a man called Farris. Also, the Huston family were closely associated with the lawrences in Stralohan. In fact, I believe the Huston family took over the farm and land at Stralohan of my great uncle (Jimmy Lawrence) when he died in 1991.

I have been trying to see how you are connected to the Lawrences. Am I right in assuming that your great grandmother was Helen Ida Lawrence? if so, how is she connected to the children of James Lawrence II which you have listed on your site?

All the best.

Ian cargill
ian@pmp-ni.com

Scott

An appendix to my last message: Stralohan is indeed a townland. Although our family always referred to it as Stralohan or Straloghan this seems to be the modern spelling. It used to be known as Sraleaghan. It's total area is just 199 acres (about one third of a square mile).

Another correction: the Hustons didn't take over the Lawrence farm at Stralohan when my great uncle died. However, the Hustons were neighbours and great friends of the Lawrences. In fact, there is still contact between the two families.

The letter you have transcribed
at http://users.ev1.net/~dcook2/codo/Lawrences.htm is a great find for us. I am almost certain it was written by my great great grandfather, James Lawrence. It gives a great insight into the difficult times in rural Ireland in the 1850s. In the letter James mourns the loss of his eight year old son, John. Three years after the letter was written James had another son. They called him John. He never married and is recorded in the 1901 census as living with his brother James (my great grandfather) and his family at the house in Stralohan.

You asked about Carrmahan, the place mentioned in the letter as being the home of your ancestor, Richard Lawrence ("...The Lathers and Farises that got your place in Carrmahon..."). This is referred to in old records as Corramahon, a townland in Leitrim. Corramahon and Stralohan were in the same parish (Drumreilly) and were probably a short distance apart - certainly no more than a mile or so, possibly much closer.

Ian

There is still a beautifully restored old house at Stralohan, I have some photos of it as my Parsons ansestors owned it at one time. Curramahon (Corramahon, like Stralohan it has several spelling variations). Curramahon is south of Stralohan between Stralohan and Lough Garadise, closer to Lough Garadise than to Stralohan, as my ancestors also had land and a house there I have a recent picture of it but it is only of rolling farmland, all the old buildings have gone.
PS I am descended from the Parsons family mentioned in the letter.

Brendan

My ancestors, the Lawrences, were neighbours of yours - the Parsons - for many years at Stralohan.

You might be interested to know that there is a well known clothes shop in Belfast called Parsons and Parsons. My mother always told me that the owners were related to the Parsons family of Stralohan.

Ian
(Belfast, Northern Ireland)

Yes the Parsons in Belfast that own the tailoring/clothing business are related to me, and are descended from the Parsons of Stralohan and Curramahon, I spoke to one of them once but we dont have close contact.
You must be connected to the Lawrence letter, an awesome momento to those of us with ancestors mentioned in it. I recently discovered that it gives me an important clue as to why my ancestor Elizabeth Parsons came to N.Z. in 1862with her sister Catherine. You see Catherine Parsons married a John Bleakley soon after arriving here, the breakthrough came when I realised that this was the same Johnny Bleakley that is discussed in the letter.

Brendon
Wellington New Zealand