Donna,
I do not have a tree on Ancestry, as it barely existed when I started my family ancestry work in 1984. As I have re-started my genealogical research after some years of putting children through college, I registtered for Ancestry only in the last two months and was going to follow up on your lead about the 1910 census. I had input all my data into a program called Brother's Keeper and stored it on 3-1/2 inch floppies. I recently looked into updating the software and, yes, Brother's Keeper still exists. But I do have a print copy which I can scan and email to you, if you like. Similarly, I would love to get your information on the descendants of Patrick Browne in the U.S. You will see that my tree stops exactly where yours did, with Patrick Browne.
I have taken the Browne ancestry in Granard back to 1796 and have traced other contributing lines, as well as my mother's family. All in all I have about 1000 individuals in my database. I have spent days at the National Archives in Dublin as well as pouring over microfilm at the local "Family Histroy Library" (i.e., Mormon Church library) here inthe U.S. I haven't found any horsethieves, yet.
When I visted Granard in 1984, I asked the local priest, Cannon Gilfinnin, if he would let me do research in the Parish Registries. He said "sure," leaned over, opened a drawer, and took out three leather bound books, one for Baptisms, one for Marriages and one for funerals, all hand-written, going back to 1796, recording the activity as it occurred in chronological order. I about choked. How was I to read through 200 years of chicken-scratch writing? Then he leaned over the other side of the desk, winked, said "or you can use this" and plopped a fresh computer printout on the desk. He had received it just that week from the National Government in Dublin, which had asked parishes to send in their registers for the dual purpose of training people how to use computers and to preserve the records. I looked at it and noted that the records were alphabetized and arranged by father's name and mother's name, thereby putting entire family's records back together. I said "this is great, can I photocopy the pages and leave?" To which he replied: "What? Do you think this parish can afford a photocopier? You can transcribe what you want. Just pull the door closed when yuo're finished!" Then he unceremoniously rose and left me alone with the books and computer prinout. Why he trusted me not to take them, I don't know. Anyway, two hours later, I finished transacribing all of the Browne family records. There were so many Browne families in the parish, it took me years to figure out who was related and who was not!
The relic is a copy of a book of poetry by Oliver Goldsmith. It was said Goldsmith had based "The Deserted Village" on scenes around Grandard, so the people of Granard were very fond of Goldsmith. My dad's first cousin, Fr. Raymond Browne had found it at Browne's Crossraods and gave it to me, as he and I were the "family historirians." (Sadly, Fr. Ray died in Roscommon about six months ago.) The frontispiece has a drawing of an American doughboy and it was sent to one of my grand-uncles at Browne's Cross from a nephew in New Yorek City, with a New York City address, which I think was Patrick Browne's address. The building that was there has since been removed. I'll dig out the book and tell you exactly what the inscription says.
Here is my contact information. If you would like me to send you copies, let me know.
Frank Browne
Francis J. Browne, Esq., P.C.
1700 Bedford Street, Suite 204
Stamford, CT 06905
p:(203) 967-9995
f:(203) 359-9331
fjbrownelaw@gmail.com
