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Ancestors of Josephine O'Connell

My maternal grandmother was Josephine O'Connell, born somewhere in Ireland, though I am not sure where.  Her death certificate here in the USA from 2 June 1964 says her birth was on 25 March 1893 and she was the daughter of John O'Connell and Kate (Cronin) O'Connell.  Other than speculation, that's all the information I have.  The only record I can find from here is a marriage of a John O'Connell and Kate Cronin on 16 August 1863 in Galbally & Aherlow, Limerick.  Now this marriage would be 30 years before my grandmother's birth if these were her parents.  Possible I suppose, but I am wondering how likely this is.  Grandmother Josephine emigrated to the USA about 1910 and I believe she did so without her parents, as there is no record of them residing here.  She married my grandfather, Stephen Taylor here in 1916.  He was born in the USA in 1893, but his ancestors were all from Knockavilla, Tipperary.

Attached is a copy of her death record.  Any help on finding Josephine's more probable ancestors than the two unlikely ones that I currently have is greatly appreciated!

Wally

canyonhiker

6 replies

Wally:

I searched on the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie but could not find a civil birth record around 1893 for a Josephine Connell/O'Connell. I also did not see her in the 1901 census with the parents you listed and I looked under Josephine and Mary Josephine. Are you aware of the names of any siblings and there approximate year of birth?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for the help Roger.  Unfortunately my mom never mentioned if her mother had any siblings.  I feel the birth year is probably reasonably accurate as I have a record of her in the 1920, 1930, and 1940 US census where she states her age as 27, 37, then 47 so either 1892 or 1893 makes sense.  The 1920 census says she was naturalized as a US citizen in 1916, though I've been unable to find any documents of that.  I was hoping if I could that it would give me more information, perhaps regarding her birth place.  The only record I have of her parents is that John O'Connell and Kate Cronin are listed on Josephine's marriage record as her parents.

Wally

canyonhiker

Wally:

I have a hunch that possibly Josephine was her middle name and she was baptized and civilly registered with a different first name. There were very few Josephine Connell/O'Connell birth records and all were for different parents. If you have time, you can search the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie for birth records for Mary Connell, Bridget Connell, Catherine Connell etc for 1892-1893, You can eliminate any records in Northern Ireland since she indicates she was from the Irish Free State (which is the current Republic). I did Elizabeth Connell/O'Connell and there were 27 records for 1892-1893 but did not see your ancestor. Hopefully she did not make herself younger whne she came to America because then her record will be under 1890-1891 or earlier.

By the way, I looked at all Catherine/Kate Cronin civil marriage records from 1882-1893 and there were 30 records none to an O'Connell/Connell.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger:

The latest news is that I have found a DNA connection to someone in the Winters / Tolan / McGrain (McGrane) family tree.  She lives in the UK and has built a tree based on her family.  In it, she has James Cronin (who may have also had the surname McGrane) married Anna Flynn, and their daughter was Kate Cronin, baptised 24 Feb 1845 in Effin & Garrenderk, Limerick.  This would be the Kate who married John O'Connell (no birth or marriage dates or locations).  It would make Kate 48 years old at the time of Josephine's birth, not impossible, but also I wonder if Josephine really was born in 1893.  Perhaps she fudged her age a bit (do women really do this?  LOL) and may have been born in the mid-late 1880's.  I guess all this is some bit of speculation without the actual documents to go along with it, though she does have the 1845 baptism record for Kate Cronin, which I have also been able to download from the NLI parish register.  The one thing I can't dispute is the DNA relationship.  More research also has me DNA related to a Hanley / Hanly family in the UK which looks to be from the same Winters / Tolan / McGrane tree.  More research is required on my end, I see.  I've been working on this since my mom passed away 9 years ago, and it would be fun to get some of the loopholes closed for my own kids and grand kids.  Thanks to you and everyone on this site for all the help I've been able to get!

Wally

canyonhiker

Wally:

I looked at older civil birth records for a Josephine Connell/O'Connell and no success. I also looked on the subscription site Roots Ireland for any Connell/O'Connell baptismal records with father John and mother with surname Cronin also with no success. Good luck!

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger, I guess the search continues.  I really appreciate your help!

Wally

canyonhiker

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