Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Laurie Ries on August 14, 2014 at 5:38pm

Ugh!!  Brick wall is right!  I'm trying to find out exactly where in Ireland my GG grandfather, James O'Neill, came from.  I know he was born in Ireland about 1835, but that's all.  I know he married my GG grandmother, Mary O'Neill (maiden name also O'Neill), on July 12, 1857 in St. Matthew's Church, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and in 1680, along with their first 2 children, Elizabeth and Sarah, still lived in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, PA, next door to Mary's parents, my GGG grandparents Edward O'Neill and Sarah (Sinnott) O'Neill.  After that they moved to Philadelphia, and had 10 more children.  I have the U.S. census data from 1860 up until his death in 1905.  The marriage records from the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center don't provide any information about James' parents or place of birth.  I've been unable so far to find his immigration or naturalization records, although one census says he did become a U.S. citizen.  The records I have on the children (baptismal records for all but 3 of them, census data, etc.) also fail to turn up any clues. I'm a member on Ancestry.com and have searched there as well as taking a few potshots on RootsIreland.ie (with a guess that possibly James' mother's name might be "Elizabeth" since the other oldest children are "Sarah", presumably for Mary's mother, "Edward", presumably for Mary's father, and "James" - for James or for his father?  There are no "Elizabeths" on Mary's side).  I do have Mary's immigration information from Co Wexford at age 14 with her parents and brothers, but there is no indication that James came over with them.  Where do I go from here?  Many thanks for any suggestions!  - Laurie

Permalink Reply by Ryan O'Rourke on August 16, 2014 at 8:54am

Hi, Laurie.  Welcome to the group!

The only suggestion I have is to really have a good, long look at County Tyrone and the surrounding counties since the surname is O'Neill.  As you may know, that was the historic seat of the "main" line of the O'Neills.

Permalink Reply by Laurie Ries on September 25, 2014 at 5:34pm

Thanks Ryan - still no luck finding James, but I made a breakthrough with the other "O'Neill" line - traced them back to Ballygarrett in Co Wexford.  One step forward!  :)

Permalink Reply by Bit Devine on August 19, 2014 at 2:13pm

Here is my Paternal brick wall:

My great-great-grandfather, Robert Telford, was born in 1837 in Fenagh, Co Antrim to Edward & Ann Telford. His mother's maiden name is difficult to suss, McCourdy, from Robert's death certificate. Edward's occupation was listed as "weaver"

My great-great-grandmother, Helen or Ellen Walker, depending on the source, was born between 1845 -1847 to Hugh & Ellen Walker. Ellen's maiden name is Keiller or Keillen, with the information obtained from Helen's death certificate. Hugh's occupation was listed as "farm labourer"

They were married on 31 October 1864 at Cullybackey Presbyterian.

They had nine children:

Elspie who was born in Ireland around 1866
Martha who was born in Ireland around 1870
Hannah who was born in Ireland around 1872

The rest were born in Scotland

Hugh who was born in Kilpatrick, dunbartonshire, around 1874
Ellen who was born in Duntocher, Dumbartonshire around 1876
Robert who was born in Duntocher, Dumbartonshire around 1878
John James who was born in Whiteinch, Lanarkshire around 1881
Annie who was born in Lanarkshire 28 September 1883
Agnes who was born in Partick, Lanarkshire around 1887

Robert Telford passed 28 JAN 1897 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Ellen Telford passed 16 feb 1919 in Partick, Glasgow

Annie was my Great-grandmother.
She married William Devine in Glasgow 13 July 1906.
After his death at Gallipoli, she married Robert Murray.
Annie passed on 7 February 1950 in Glasgow

William Devine's father, James Devine, was born in Ireland around 1856 to William & Margaret Devine (Gormley), according to his death certificate.
James Devine passed on 01 October 1918 in Govan Glasgow

I am still trying to find the tie in with the Devines in Antrim

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Kerry Driscoll on October 1, 2014 at 2:52pm

I have a couple of brick walls and would love it if anyone can make suggestions.  My ancestors left Ireland at a terrible time in history and I am slowly finding their reverse journey. They became early settlers in the newly forming colony in New Zealand - which was a very brave thing to do. I will only post one in this post. This one is my GGG grandfather, William Higgins, who came out to NZ as a fencible in 1849. I cannot seem to find any record of him in Westport, and the term Oughan is probably an old Irish name of a town land, but I am finding it hard to locate. I don't know if any records exist back as far as he was born, I can't locate any online.  I would like to know more of his family, and where they went if possible, and particularly if there is still family in the area. Before he left Ireland he married Margaret Compton (or Crampton) in Athlone in 1847 and one child 'Bridget' known as Delia was born there before embarkation for the 'colonies'.  His marriage states that his father was Richard (a tailor) and hers was Henry (a carpenter). Other names of their children were Henry William (mine), Ernest Joseph, John, Maryann, Margaret and Ellen. Although he got married in a C of E church, and served in the British army, he was clearly Catholic and helped form the new Catholic church in Onehunga, Auckland, NZ. He was also one of the first burials right by the church door.  From what I can ascertain he was born around 1806 in Westport, Mayo, and joined the army. He served in Portugal amongst other places. His attestation papers have his birth place as 'Oughan, Mayoe' and he was in the 60th Foot regiment, Reg number 282, place Birr, Kings.  

Permalink Reply by Alice on October 1, 2014 at 11:21pm

Although having reached it is a blessing in itself, my brick wall is my 3rd great grandfather, Timothy O'Brien and grandmother, Mary Fitzgerald, of Lahard, Co Cork.  I am thankful to have found baptism records for their son, John, my 2nd great grandfather.  The address for his baptism was listed as Lahard, which was a huge break.  I also have their marriage record, which lists their church as Aghada, RC.  I have found no birth or death record for either Timothy or Mary.  

Mary went to America with her children and is listed as head of household in 1860, in Massachusetts, without her husband.  John may have arrived earlier, around 1855.  I think I've found Timothy in 1833 in the Tithe Applotment Books, along with Michael and Patrick O'Brien who may be his brothers (listed as Townland of Lahard, Diocese of Cloyne, Parish of Inch, County of Cork).  Griffith's Valuation also lists a Michael O'Brien in Lahard, Inch, Ballytibbot, and Ballykenefick, and a Johanna O'Brien in Lahard.  I'm new to using Griffith's, so would someone help me with the year for this record?

Other children, in addition to John (who married Catherine Burke), are Mary (m. William Foley), Catherine (m. Thomas Haley), Patrick (m. Ellen Hoare), Timothy, Edmond (m. Nellie Fleming), and Elizabeth (m. J. J. Shea).  All were born in Ireland and lived in Somerville, Mass. after leaving.  I'd love to find relatives, so hopefully someone will connect with these names.

I would love to know what happened to my 3x great grandfather during this tragic time in Ireland's history.  I can make an educated guess, but I want to complete his story if I can.  All these names and lives are new to my family and I.  I found each one through backtracking census reports and related (ha) information from my O'Brien grandmother.  

Permalink Reply by cp on June 6, 2015 at 7:26pm

Alice- I would like to connect with you.  I too have been researching OBrien's in Lahard and may have some information you will find interesting.  Cannot figure out how to message you on this page. i am getting a message that we need to be friends.  if you know how to, please "friend" me so we can email each other.  thanks, CP

Permalink Reply by Kim Hathaway on October 23, 2014 at 8:36am

I had a black sheep in the family from Co. Galway on the border of Roscommon.  Family lore is that he was involved in the Rising or civil war afterwards and had to leave Ireland. Came to join the sisters in Boston and then disappeared.  All I have is his birthdate and 1911 census information.  Any thoughts on locating him?  The Irish relations back in Galway have no clue my grandmother met him and is now 96, but doesn't remember much about him. 

How can I find out about his involvement in the conflict in 1916 and the Civil War?

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Lisa Shea Megna on October 29, 2014 at 10:57pm

The infamous "brick wall" we all seem to hit at least once! Oh who am I kidding, I've hit a few depending on which family line I'm researching. I resolved a HUGE 8 year brick wall a few years back just by being persistant and continually posting on those darn forum walls EVERYWHERE. I finally hit gold when a cousin I knew nothing about decided to research our family and read my post. Long story short, I had what she needed and she had what I needed and I was able to relaythis information to my father before his passing. You see, he never knew his dad becasue he died of TB when he was only 4 years old. He didn't even know that his father was born and raised in Ireland. What a shock when I produced his fathers birth certificate. What a rewarding day that was!

My most recent brick wall is locating where my great grandmother and grandfather are buried in Kenmare, Ireland. I have their death certificates and the last places where they resided, but have come up empty on where their last resting place is. If anyone is familiar with Kenmare, Co. Kerry or lives nearby, I would love some insight. I been in contact with the church, or should I say, I have contacted the church , they just haven't responded! I will be traveling to Ireland this May 2015 and will be in Kenmare for one day and would truly love to visit their graves. Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated and maybe one day I can recipricate!

Permalink Reply by Beth Golden on December 21, 2014 at 6:45am

Thanks for asking! My MARTIN, JAMISON and LITTLE ancestors lived in Dromore and Dromara, County Down.  Who were the parents of Joseph Martin, Elizabeth Jamison and Alexander Little?

What I know:

Joseph Martin, b. ca. 1810 probably in Down, was a weaver and married Elizabeth Jamison and had the following children:

   Elizabeth Jamison Martin, born 1830, Dromore, Down; married David Little, 1 Oct 1856, Presbyterian Church, Dromore, Down; died 16 Aug 1898, Oakland, Garrett, MD (my 2nd ggm) David Little is the son of Alexander Little. Both David and his father were blacksmiths.

   Thomas Martin, born Jun 1833, Ireland; married Ellen Adair Graham, 1871, Oakland, Garrett, MD; died 1917, Oakland, Garrett, MD

   George W Martin, born 15 Apr 1834, Dromore, Down; died 4 Sep 1898, Benwood, WV

In Dromara

After Elizabeth Jamison Martin's death, Joseph Martin married Mary Adair on 1 Aug 1836 in the Presbyterian Church, Dromara, Down. Mary Adair, daughter of James Adair, was born in 1810 in County Down. Joseph Martin and Mary Adair had the following children:

   Joseph Martin, born Apr 1839 in County Down; married Sarra M Martin, 1868.

   Mary Jane, born about 1840 County Down

   John Martin was born about 1844 in County Down; died in WV.

They all came to the US in 1856 and settled in Oakland, Garrett, MD.

I've checked ancestry.com, PRONI, familysearch.org, Ros Davie's rootsweb site, Raymond's County Down site, numerous forums, etc.

Thanks for any assistance - hope to find new cousins!

Permalink Reply by Jenna Fennell on January 8, 2015 at 10:49am

Brink Walls are all I seem to have right now.  I'll only post one for starts.

Looking for Fennell Family originally from Birr, Kings County or Parsonstown. (this is known from the obituaries of the four members I've tracked to the US.)

Father  - William Fennell b. abt 1789 Ireland d. 1867 New York City(death annoucement found in San Francisco Catholic Monitor - yes I have a copy)

Three known sons:  

Michael Fennell b. 1819 Ireland  d. 11/8/1874 San Francisco, CA

Martin Fennell b. 1830 Ireland   d 11/19/1899 San Francisco, CA

and Thomas Fennell b. 1839  d. 9/2/1892 San Francisco, CA  (Thomas was natrualized in Seneca NY, however I've not been able to find this doc.)

These son's all immigrated on Montreal, Canada then to San Francisco, CA where they lived and raised there families.

I do know that Michael married Ellen Lee in Eglish Parish: 1840 and their first child Ann Fennell was baptisted in Eglish Parish 1841.

Martin Married Anne Murray, also from Birr, Kings County per her obituary.  They married in San Francisco, CA  4/11/1859 at St. Mary's Catherdral.

I'm not able to find any record of them in NY or Ireland at this point.

Any suggestions or findings would be appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Jack Cayton on March 9, 2015 at 4:18pm

I've been researching my Cayton/Caton paternal line for a number of years and have a solid paper trail back to the 1855 U.S. census for Cattaraugus County NY.  Census records show my GG Grandfather John born in Ireland about 1831, and his wife Mary around 1829.  The 1900 U.S. census indicates John immigrated in 1848; Mary in 1846. Those dates cannot be confirmed. 

I have located just one reference to Mary's maiden name; her son James' death certificate lists her as Mary Crowley.  Based on birth dates of children, John and Mary were probably married in the 1851-1853 time period but again no records have been found to confirm a date. The correct surname is somewhat in question.  Census records used a number of variations with Caton the most probable and is the spelling shown on death information and on a real estate transaction.  Cayton begins to be the accepted usage by some of the children after 1900. DNA testing (three companies) has yielded no results. 

John and Mary probably first lived in Chemung or Steuben counties, then moved (as shown on census records) to Cattaraugus, Niagara, and finally Orleans county where they died in 1903 and 1904.  Records indicate John was illiterate, a common laborer, and likely moved to follow work, either railroad construction or the later work on the Erie Canal; one record has been founded documenting pay in May 1900 for work on the Erie Canal near Albion. I have been "boots on the ground" in all the enumerated NY counties and continue to work the major on-line resources.  I certainly would appreciate any and all suggestions. 

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