Americanized as Dolan.

What is your great grandfather's first name? Where in America did they live?

His name was Thomas S.(don’t know what the S stands for). He emigrated to Erie, Pennsylvania USA, and lived there his entire life. He and Bridget had 4 children—John 1867-1891, Margaret 1869-1950, Thomas H. 1872-1952, Daniel 1875-1894.

Hi, Is there any chance that Thomas married Bridget in Ireland? And could his name have been Thomas Nolan instead of Dolan? There is a 12 Apr 1866 record in the civil registration index as well as the church records index on www.irishgenealogy.ie for a Bridget Dee, father is Thomas, a laborer and a Thomas Nolan, father is Cornelius, a blacksmith marrying in the RC Chapel of Ballybunion, Listowel, Kerry. It gives Thomas' townland as Moybella and Bridget's as Ballyconry. I don't know if these are your relations...I know it's a long shot! A number of Ancestry trees show their marriage in Ireland, but that doesn't mean they are who you are searching for. Marriage records in the US for that time period are hard to come by I've discovered in my own searches. Additionally, the immigration records are challenging as well for that period in time.

Carolyn: Thank you for all your help. No, I’m pretty sure Thomas and Bridget were married in Erie, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1866. I do have a church record from St. Patrick’s Church they’re indicating as much. It’s only a guess of course, but based on Irish naming pattern, I have been going on the assumption that Thomas’ father’s name was John—given that was the name of his first born son.