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Colreavy-Gray Tulrusk Townland, Leitrim Co.

LeitrimMohill (Leitrim)

Hello:  I am the Great,great granddaughter of Thomas Colreavy (Gray in USA).  He was born in Tulrusk Townland, Leitrim County about 1829.  He immigrated to US about 1849 first to Pennsylvania where he married Catherine Anne Cresswell.  They moved to Stevens Point, Portage Co. WI.  Thomas died 29 Mar 1877.  His brother James born, Tulrusk, about 1830 also travelled this same path. James died in Stevens Point also 19 Dec 1894. His sister Ellen born about 1840 married Francis Maxwell 3 Mar 1859 (found in Ardagh/Mohill Parish records).  They moved first to WI then to DesMoines IA. She died 31 Mar 1910.  There is another brother Eugene who bacame a priest and also immigrated to US eventually going to DesMoines, IA was his last know address.  Patrick  a brother born around 1838 remained on the family farm in Tulrusk according to obituaries of Thomas and James.  Patrick married Anne McLoughlin (I think) and had 6 children-Margaret, Owen, Anne, William, Thomas and Patrick.  Patrick the youngest was born 1 Sep 1876, married Catherine "Katie" Moran (1877-1950), had 4 children and is listed in 1901 (with mother Anne and brother Thomas) and 1911 census (with wife Katie and 3 children  Location for this census is Tulrusk.

I have done extensive searches for the parents of Thomas, James, Eugene, Ellen and Patrick Colreavy but have been unable to find proof.  Facts I know 1857 Griffith Valuation has a Michael and Patrick in Tulrusk.  1834 Tithe Applotments has James in Tulrusk.  1796 Flax Growers has in Mohill Parish James, Edward and Owen Colrevy, and Bryan and James Calrevy. DNA suggests a relationship to a John Colreavy Gray who immigrated to Lanark, Portage Co, WI.--possibly a cousin.  Any information would be welcome especially on the parents of Thomas and his siblings,

Mary S

9 replies

Mary:

You have done a lot of research so I assume you know that the Mohill RC records start in 1836. I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and there were two Patrick Colreavy/Colravy baptismal records in 1839. (You had an around 1838 baptismal year for Patrick)

May 3 1839 parents John Colreavy and Dorothy Bohan

July 9 1839 parents EugeneColravy and Ann Gackian (likely Guckian)

The John Colreavy/Dorothy Bohan couple had six children from 1837-1844. The Eugene Colravy/Guckian couple only had Patrick post 1835 which points to this couple as the best candidate.

FYI Owen and Eugene are interchangeable.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Roger:  Thank you for your reply.  I had found the John Colreavy and Dorothy Bohan Baptismal Record but found 2 more girls (not your 6) that did not match the siblings in my Colreavy family.  I am intrigued by your Eugene Colravy and Ann Gackian (Guckian).  I also knew that Owen and Eugene could be the same person but was not really sure if this was a common occurence.  I will certainly investigate this further.  

Mary Stuart

The Villages, Florida

Mary S

Hi Mary & Roger, I have an interest in the area and indeed a friend Colreavy who first told me of the Colreavy / Grey enigma and it is also mentioned in McLysaghts Surnames of Ireland as an unusual variant of the name.

My Great Great Grandfather Carr, married a Rourke in 1857 and a Maria Colreavy was a witness, no idea if a relationship, however there were two books published locally about 10 and 5 years ago which contain a picure of a Maria Colreavy a school teacher, not sure of the year but looks about 1900, One of the books is not available and the other with a bit of a search, their size is a bit big though so could be expensive to post. The books are on the parishes of Gortlettragh and Mullaghbrack which do not cover your area I think, local studies in Leitrim Library may assist.

There are a couple of places that may interest you too, https://www.yourleitrimancestors.ie/ there are a few Facebook pages that might interest you also, you apply to join which should be no issue with a name like Colreavy as not sure it is found elsewhere to any great degree. The pages are Leitirm History and Genealogy; South Leitrim Gedmatch (your search is in south Leitrim) there are also two Mohill pages for old photos etc Old Mohill by Llyod Donnelly and another one by Mohill Leitrim Michaelk Reynolds. There are others but mainly photos.

Good Luck

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Pat:

I appreciate your response.  I am specifically looking at Colreavy families from 1825 to 1845 when my ancestor and his siblings were born.  I did run across a Maria Colreavy as a witness in a few records.  I also had a Marie Duffy and Jacobi (James) Colreavy in a parish record as parents of Patrick(1840) and Ellen(1844).  The dates seem to be in the correct time frame.  I did look at the one weblink you sent "Your Leitrim Ancestors."  Again I found a few records of interest.  I found a Patrick DOB circa 1830 Mother is Mary??.  The DOB is too early but all the information on wife and children are consistent with the Patrick that is the brother of my Great,greatgrandfather.  So this makes me think my Marie Duffy maybe correct.

I will also check into Facebook.

Thank you so much for your help.

Mary Stuart

The Villages, Florida

Mary S

Hi Mary: I also am the great-great granddaughter of Thomas Gray (born 1829) via his son Albert, who married Elizabeth Smuillen and had a daughter Anna (my grandmother) in Portage, Wi. I'll keep working on this in my spare time but I too was confused who Thomas's parents were. I had found a Mary Ann Gray (James' first wife)  but also saw James married Jane Crystal and she came with him to the United States. Still trying to sor out this information, so I am not sure it is correct. I found most of it on Ancestry.com. Good luck, Judy Prieve

 

jprieve88@gmail.com

Hello JPrieve:

Sorry I missed your message.  I will tell you that Jane Crystal popped up several times.  I have her married to John B Colreavy Gray.  They immigrated and lived in Lanark not far from my Thomas Gray and his family lived.  Jane would have been an Aunt to my Thomas Gray.  John B Colreavy Gray is a brother to James Colreavy father of Thomas.  It took me a long time to finally realize that more than just a few trees had Jane wrong.  It has been so long I do not remember specifics but what I was finding that Jane would have been only 10 when my Thomas was born.  sorry to be so slow.  Mary

Mary S

Hello JPrieve:

Sorry I missed your message.  I will tell you that Jane Crystal popped up several times.  I have her married to John B Colreavy Gray.  They immigrated and lived in Lanark not far from my Thomas Gray and his family lived.  Jane would have been an Aunt to my Thomas Gray.  John B Colreavy Gray is a brother to James Colreavy father of Thomas.  It took me a long time to finally realize that more than just a few trees had Jane wrong.  It has been so long I do not remember specifics but what I was finding that Jane would have been only 10 when my Thomas was born.  sorry to be so slow.  Mary

Mary S

Hello JPrieve:

Sorry I missed your message.  I will tell you that Jane Crystal popped up several times.  I have her married to John B Colreavy Gray.  They immigrated and lived in Lanark not far from my Thomas Gray and his family lived.  Jane would have been an Aunt to my Thomas Gray.  John B Colreavy Gray is a brother to James Colreavy father of Thomas.  It took me a long time to finally realize that more than just a few trees had Jane wrong.  It has been so long I do not remember specifics but what I was finding that Jane would have been only 10 when my Thomas was born.  sorry to be so slow.  Mary

Mary S

Hi Mary: I am still perplexed as to who my great-great-great grandfather Thomas Gray's (married to Catherine Creswell) parents were. Jane Crystal would be too young, yet her name is on the tombstone with John Gray. Are Jonh B. Gray (Colreavy) and James John Gray (of Colreavy) the same people? Did John or James have two wives (Jane Crystal and Mary??) Or, are they brothers? Then, Thomas' parents were James and Mary or Marie Josephine Duffy maybe? See https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/90448761/person/332315… he later marry Jane Crystal? Then, I see this:  https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/161936075/…; which seems to indicate John B. Gray and Anna Mary Gray in 1863 in Wisconsin. Going in circles here. LOL. Thanks

 

jprieve88@gmail.com

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