Margaret Hallem from Illinois, who was checking up on her Ulster roots, told Philip McDermott from University of Ulster, Magee Campus, her grandmother had been due to sail on the White Star liner but missed the trip due to bad weather.
The family still has the ticket but how much it is worth and whether it is insured was not revealed.
Valerie Adams, Public Records Office Northern Ireland, said: “It is always amazing to hear the stories of people searching for their family histories. This one was a bit special. We have talked to more than 4,000 people since the start of the Festival and it has been a wonderful experience.”
Texans, Californians and Canadians have all traced their roots back to Northern Ireland.
The genealogists have provided enquirers with help using the databases of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the Ulster Historical Foundation and the Centre for Migration Studies as well as a number of printed resources and, for those seeking information outside Northern Ireland, the Irish Genealogy Central Signposting Index.
Arriving with varying degrees of detail, many of the visitors have been trying to find the origins of their family names. Others have provided very specific information which has often resulted in records being found of family births, deaths and marriages.
A shipbuilding story bringing together both sides of the Atlantic emerged when a visitor told of how one of his relatives, with the family name of Benson, fitted out a new ship in Belfast, emigrated to the United States and then found himself refitting the same ship some years later in a New Jersey yard.
Christine McIvor, Centre for Migration Studies, said: “The combination of the three databases has been a brilliant tool kit for us and has helped us provide a real service to visitors to our marquee.”
Commenting on the phenomenal interest in the subject at the Festival, Fintan Mullan from the Ulster History Foundation said: “The high level of traffic to the Genealogy and Family History marquee demonstrates the strong links between Ireland, north and south, and America.”
Notes to Editors:
Media enquiries to DCAL Press Office on 028 9025 8917 or email: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
Outside office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
