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Dempsy and Carane family of Abbeyknockmoy

Does anyone know anything about the 
Demps(e)ys of Abbeyknockmoy? 

I am descended from a Sarah Dempsey (great great grandmother) born in Ireland in the 1820's who migrated to Liverpool, England sometime between her birth and 1851.  

Sarah was born in Ireland as per 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 Liverpool census returns.  The other clue that I have is when she married William Pritchard in Liverpool (Xmas 1857) she named her father as Peter Dempsey.  Sarah and William had three children before marriage and two more after. 

On Roots Ireland I have found a possible Dempsey family living in Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway. 

Sarah Dempsy baptised 24 August 1823.  
Father =Peter Dempsy and 
Mother = Margaret Carane. 
Sponsors were a Mr and Mrs Connelly.,

Griffiths shows in the Parish of Abbeyknockmoy and townland Glennaveeel, a Peter Dempsy as the occupier of House and Land of just over 4 acres and sharing over 3 acres of mountain with four others.

It would be wonderful if anyone can help me eliminate or confirm this as my family.

Thank you, 

Mags

newmagsb6@gmail.com

4 replies

Mags:

I don't think you can confirm or eliminate the Dempsey Abbeyknockmoy family at this point.

Many of the RC parishes in Co. Galway do not have records back to the 1820s. Also, Peter Dempsey the father of your Sarah may have been deceased before the 1855 Griffiths or not leasing a large enough plot to be included in the Griffiths. By the way. in the Griffiths there is another Peter Dempsey in Moylough parish just to the north of Abbeyknockmoy.

Have you considered DNA testing? Possibly you will have matches with 3rd or 4th cousins who have info they may help confirm Abbeyknockmoy parish as your home place.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Roger

Thank you very much for your prompt and helpful reply. 

It makes me realise that it is not going to be an easy journey when the records are so sketchy. On the other hand your local knowledge is welcome and i will have a look at Peter Dempsy in Moylough and see where that takes me.  You just never know! 

You have also made me think I should  look at Liverpool records more closely with fresh eyes searching for more clues. This may lead to Co Mayo as I've noticed that several families living in the same street as William and Sarah were from that County including the witnesses at their wedding, John and Bridget Quigley from Westport. Also from Mayo, a Peter Dempsey born c1834 whose father was Michael Dempsey .  I'm now thinking he may possibly be a cousin.

Presumably it's possible that during the famine and as a result of evictions whole groups of people from the same place migrated together to the same destination.

Thank you for your suggestion about dna.  I have actually had my dna analysed but am finding it a job and a half sorting out my matches into family groups! So far no luck with Irish connections but it's early days and there's always hope!

Thank you for your time

Mags

newmagsb6@gmail.com

Mags:

All the best with your research! Let me know if you have further questions.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you.

Mags

newmagsb6@gmail.com

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