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Farrell's from Limerick

Limerick

I've been searching for my great great grandfather Mathew Farrell (c1830). He dropped from outerspace into Buffalo New York around 1848 or so. He first appears in a Buffalo census in 1860 with his wife Mary (Doyle) Farrell and children Thomas, Bridget, Ellen, Pierre (Perry) and John. There were three more, I think. Mary was an infant who died. There was Michael that I could never track and a William (also known as Guglianas). Using the Catholic Parish records I thought I found Mathew in a Farrell family in Castlepollard Parish in Westmeath, but I do not match the DNA of one of the brothers descendents.

I believe that Mathew came to Buffalo with brothers. His daughter Ellen has a godfather named James, so I assume that James is a brother. Also, after Mathew's death in 1870, his widow lived for a short time in the home of Christopher Farrell, who I also assme is a brother. The family in Westmeath was of James and Bridget (Fagen) Farrell and had all three names...Mathew, James, and Christopher all at about the right time. There were two more brothers and a few sisters as well so it was a large clan.

DNA testing, however, has thrown us a curve. My brotherhas done the YDNA67 test and has a terminal SNP of DC63. This puts ourorigin more likely in Limerick, Tipperary, or Clare. There's no telling when they may have left, however...if they even did. Perhaps two or three generations earlier a Farrell moved from these counties elsewhere. I thought it was worth a shot to check in here though. I'll also post in Tipperary and Clare. My fingers are crossed that some of this rings a bell to someone.

BTW...Mathew's two eldest children, Thomas and Bridget were born in Ireland to a different mother. Mathew immigrated and Mary Doyle supposedly brought the kids over after he was established. He and Mary got married in Buffalo and had several more children.

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Hi Nancy

I checked www.rootsireland.ie/ for Mathew Farrell birth/baptisms 1830 + - 10 years in all 3 counties but not one came up!

There were 53 James & 1 for Christopher - in Limerick

Name:Christopher O'FarrellDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:10-Apr-1831Address:
Parish/District:ST. MUNCHIN'SGender:UnknownCountyCo. Limerick
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Thomas O'FarrellMother:Elizabeth Anderson

The above parents had 4 other children - all girls!! Anne Margaret, Mary & Elizabeth

Your Westmeath family looks good. Is dna testing infallible? It's not too far fromTipp to Westmeath

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

A couple of clues from a seasoned researcher:

Stage 1:

  • use wildcards in target names  - example I used Mat*
  • Mat(t)hew is uncommon name, so I left Year of Birth empty
  • specified Co. Limerick, as my father's maternal 3G-gm was Miss Anastatia FARRELL) from Shanagolden Parish. 
  • Quaint feature: Miss Ana.Farrell married John Madigan on 29th February 1832. Leap Year Day

Results of Mat* Baptisms were only four (4):. 1812, 1821, 1830 & 1843.

The PARISH for this 1830 Baptism was St. Mary's, Limerick City.

Baptism: 24 Feb 1830  (in that Parish)

Father:  Patk Farrell  (as written, abbreviation of Patrick)

Mother: Bridget McCormick

**a thought, Bridget (child) maybe named after her paternal grandmother.

Stage 2:

DNA is now useful.  Next task is to check if (any) of your DNA cousins have McCormick in their trees.

Note: DNA is erratic, and suffers from the False Negative effect.  (easy research statistics online)

My saying re DNA, and False Negative:  Yes means YES, but No means MAYBE

Stage 3:  If DNA-results of you & your known relatives + show 'McCormick' relatives or at least in their trees, then the likelihood you are on 'Target' increases.

 

Any questions, happy to help you.

Best wishes from Madigan-Farrell 

Madigan-Farrel…

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