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Genealogy Help - Surname: LYONS County DONEGAL - Emigrants to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA

Hello - I joined this on the advice of another amateur geneologist.

Into the void, I guess, but stranger things have happened in tracking down my family. Short and sweet, I'm Mark Alan Lyons, from Livonia, Livingston County, New York, USA, seeking any help my Lyons heritage from Ireland. I've researched my family tree back to Ireland, broke through the generational log-jam of my great grandfather's history, and have the Lyons documented well in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in the US. It appears they all emigrated in late 1840's. I didn't want to spring for the "overseas" membership for Ancestry.com, as I suspect searching for Richards, Johns, and James will get me a whole lot of hits, and little substance. Any help appreciated, and I'd be happy to try and return the favor. Thank you in advance!

I am looking for information on the Lyons Family of County Donegal, Parrish of Killaghtee.

John Lyons B: 1790, Ireland D: 1861-1869 Lake Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Three sons, all born in Ireland:

1. Richard Lyons (Sr.) B:1811 Ireland D:8 Feb 1892, Buried:Presbyterian Cemetery (a.k.a. Bethany Cemetery) , Jackson Center, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA - my 4th great grandfather.
2. John Lyons B:1822 D:22 Jan 1872,Buried:Presbyterian Cemetery, Jackson Center, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA. John married a Jane Lyons in Ireland, who is listed as being born in Ireland on the US Census of 1850.
2a: Jane Lyons, maiden name unknown, B: 31 Mar 1813 D:15 Aug 1888, Buried: Presbyterian Cemetery, Jackson Center, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA.
3. Robert Lyons B: 1824 or 1826, D: 30 Dec 1903 Buried: Presbyterian Cemetery, Jackson Center, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA. Robert married an Emma Elizabeth Kee in Ireland.
3a. Emma Elizabeth Kee (or Key) B:1823 in Ireland D:1892 Buried:Presbyterian Cemetery, Jackson Center, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA.

It appears the family all came over and settled in Mercer County, Western Pennsylvania in the 1840's. And I think they had some money. Both Robert and John have farms listed in Lake Township on an early 1860's map of Mercer County. Their Dad lived with them until he passed.

What led me to County Donegal was an e-mail from a far branch cousin. He quoted a Philadelphia Court naturalization record:
"Another family ancestor is Rober Lyons (or Lyon) and his wife Emma Elizabeth Key Lyon who came from Ireland, perhaps in the 1850-1860 time frame." (I think it was earlier; both his Dad and two brothers are listed in the US 1850's census in two seperate households).
" LYON, (X) Robert #386 Nat:(Naturalized) 7 Oct 1853 Wit: (Witness) John LYON Int: (Declaration of Intent) 25 Mar 1851. Robert was born in County Donegal, Ireland, a subject of G.B.&I., emigrated from Londonderry in May 1847 to Philadelphia in May 1847, age 20, resident of Lake Tp. 2-4." There is a record of a Robert Lyons: Arrival Date22 May 1847, Age: 21, Gender: Male, Port of Departure: Londonderry, Ship: Margaret Hugg, Ship Type: Bark, Port of Arrival: Baltimore, Destination: Philadelphia. (National Archives' Series Number M255 Microfilm Roll Number5 List Number 48)

I found another clue consistent with County Donegal. Mary Elizabeth Lyons Sidley, Robert's 3rd daughter out of 5 siblings,lists Robert's birthplace as Northern Ireland in the 1930 Census, and her mother's birthplace as England.

Griffith's Valuation has a listing for Robert Lyons in Donegal County (ref: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation)
1. 1. Robert Lyons, Town of Dunkineely, Main Street, Landlord William McNeely. Parish of Killaghtee, County Donegal.

Griffith's Valuation has 2 listings for Richard Lyons, Robert's brother's name, in Donegal County (ref: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation); same parish.
1. Richard Lyons, Town of Salthill Demesne, Landlord Thomas Doherty, Parish of Inver, Donegal County
2. Richard Lyons, Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house and land.
This (No. 2) is the same as Robert's address.

Also listed at this address are the following people; I don't know if or where Anne Lyons and James Lyons fit into the family, or where a Shane branch might be:
3. James Lyons, Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house, offices, and land
4. John Lyons, Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house, office, and land
5. Anne Lyons, Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house and land
6. William Mount; Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house, office, and land
7. Richard Walker; Ballyederlan Township (Dunkineely), Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house and land

John Lyons, besides the listing in Dunkineely, has three property listings, all adjacent, in Tullinteane and Corkermore. It looks like this could have been the family house, with a "mountain" behind the house (shared jointly with his neighbor) and farmland across the street (in a separate parish), based upon the Ordnance maps.
8. John Lyons, Tullinteane, Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house, office, and land, 8 acres.
9. John Lyons, joint tenancy with William McCoy (neighbor), Tullinteane, Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; Mountain, 47 acres.
10. John Lyons, Corkermore, Landlord Marquis of Conyngham, Parish of Killaghtee, Donegal County; house, offices, and land, 181 acres. This is on the border of Corkermore, just across the road from the house in Tullinteane. Other tenants listed are James Lyons, John Lyons Jr., John Lyons {Shane}, and James Lyons {Shane}.

Thank you for reading. I hope it helps another Irish branch of LYONS.

Best Regards - Mark

IrelandXO member

10 replies

Mark:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The Griffiths Valuation survey was conducted in Co. Donegal around 1857 after your ancestors left Ireland. There were 75 Lyons records in the Griffiths for Donegal almost all in the southwest paart of Donegal from Inver parish west thru Killaghtee and out to the farthest southwest parish Glencolumbkille.

A better source for research would be the Tithe records from the 1820s and 1830s  http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

This link has 43 Lyons records although there are likely some duplicates. There are three John Lyons records (the 1790 John would likely be the one listed) -- two in Killaghtee parish and one in Inver parish.

Likely the family was Church of Ireland in Donegal and unfortunately records for the parish back to your period of interest were destroyed in the 1922 Public Records Office fire in Dublin.

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing and you are also eligble for a Y-DNA test which tracks the pure Lyons paternal line.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger! - I knew the timing of relying on the Griffith's Valuation was problematic, given the emmigration date for Robert. Based on Wikipedia, County Donegal's valuation was completed in 1858. Although I read elsewhere that timing might be suspect, as Griffith's does list names of people that died earlier in the famine. Do you know how Griffith handled property that was fallow or abandoned? I'll have to read up on my Irish history.

Searching for John Lyons in Ireland is like searching for John Adams in America; they're everywhere. In fact my son Jack's lacrosse coach was John Lyons (unrelated), but everyone assumed we were.

I will take a look at the Tithe records, thank you! I suspected documents going back in time might be tough to find.

RE: Church of Ireland, I would be curious. My great grandfather Harry Lyons married Mary Sullivan of Irish descent. Her brother became a Roman Catholic priest, and my great aunt Sr. Francesca Lyons became a Roman Catholic nun for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Family "legend " is my granfather eloped and got married across the PA/NY border because he married a Protestant...

I'll post an update if I get any good leads. Again, thank you for your response, and enjoy your holidays. - 

Warm Regards - Mark

 

IrelandXO member

Mark:

The RC records for Killaghtee start in 1845 and too late for your interests. (In general, RC parishes in Co. Donegal have records starting later than most counties. Not sure why).

Here is a link to the parish register for 1845-1880. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1007

Regarding the Griffiths, from my reading the Griffiths was a tax survey so only "occupiers" of holdings were listed.

Happy holidays to you also and let us know if you get more info.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Mark

I found your post online quite interesting. My gg grandfather Alexander Lyons was born in Donegal I believe in 1799. His obituary in 1892 says his age of 93 and that he was a native of county Donegal. One relative of mine thought it was Ramelton where he came from. The numerous Canadian census records put his year of birth around 1803. The names of some of his children were Jane, John, Matilda, Alexander, Richard,Thomas, and James.

Just thought I would post in case you made a family connection. My gg grandfather settled in New Brunswick Canada in 1835.

lyonrjl@aol.com

Hello Mark and Stuart,

My ancestors are from Killaghtee Parish, and our history is inter-mingled with that of the Lyons, Wilson, Connyngham, Reid, Currigan and Walker families of that area. My family is McNeely, but there seem to have been many McNeely/Lyons marriages, soI would be happy to share any information I have with you.

Stuart, may I ask who your grandfather Alexander Lyons was married to? I'm trying to sort out a link to a Wilson/McNeely family connection in Carleton County, New Brunswick, and can't figure it out. I'm now wondering if there is a connection to the Lyons family.

Catherine McNeely

cmn2@magma.ca

Mark--I cannot help--but you have seemed to help me. I think (Robert Lyons B: 1824 or 1826) is my great-great-great grandfather. Peace.

tlyonspj@gmail.com

Hi Catherine sorry for the late reply. My Alexander Lyons was married to a Martha Matilda Doherty. Cheers!

lyonrjl@aol.com

Mark, I have recently discovered this message board and am responding to your last posts a bit late. I will share a couple of things but first I'd like to know Mark if you have obtained a GEDmatch kit # yet? If so, please share it. Mine is XP2748861.

I am searching to build information on my Lyons family as well, also from West Cork to Kerry and Donegal region. The last and oldest known Lyons is Daniel, who was born in 1791 and baptized the same year or following at St. Marys in west Cork. I don't have any evidence of parental names. I do know that Daniel however had a son named Florence, Michael, John, Thomas, Jerry, and a daughter Nannie. Daniel was married to Elizabeth Hagerty, born 1800. In 1852, the lot of them migrated to America from Tralee on the ship New Brunswick. The ship was destined for NY and records show they landed there. Soon thereafter, most, if not all moved to Ohio, around the Greenfield Highland County area.

I am struggling to break through with parent's names for Daniel, as well any siblings.  I'd love to hear back from a fellow "Mark Lyons" and wish you all the best. Anyone else that could provide assistance would be greatly appreciated.  By the way, my wife and I are heading to IE in a few days and will be standing at the Cliffs of Mohr.  Would be nice to visit relatives. while there....   Feel free to connect by email - markslyons@gmail.com.

 

Mark

Lyons

Hi Mark and others

My Cassidy ancestors were neighbors of your ancestors in Tullenteane.  In fact Francis Lyon witnessed the Marriage of Samuel Cassidy and Alicia Long in 1860

My great grandfather, Michael Cassidy, came to Texas about 1854, according to his obituary.  He came with a brother (or close relative) named Sam Cassidy.

I have been unable to find their parents.

DNA results connect me to
Michael Cassidy who married Ann Dobbin
William Cassidy who married Elizabeth Long
Sam Cassidy who married Alicia Long
Edward Cassidy who married Jane Jenny Dobbins
Samuel Cassidy who married Esther Dobbin

All of these seem to be uncles, aunts, cousins. 

Do any of you have Cassidys in your trees...particularly a Mike born 1828 - 1834 with no death date (my Michael died in Texas in 1888)

Suzanne

roundfile222@g…

Hello , I have discovered:

Alexander Richard Lyons1803-1892 (born in Donegal,Ireland)married Martha Matilda(Doherty)Lyons 1807-1894 they had 4 children: Jane 1833-1912, Alexander 1840-1910, Matilda 1837-1925,and James1848-1932. They arrived in NB,Canada in 1826.

Matilda(Lyons)Moody married James Moody1828-1878 born in Ireland. They had 7 children: Alexander Moody,James Moody,Richard G. Moody, Thomas Lyons Moody, Robert John Moody, Matilda A. Moody, and Jane Victoria Moody.

Robert J. Moody married Sarah Elizabeth Pollock1880b.their children: George Stirling Moody, James Eldon Moody, Chester Pollack Moody, Mary Mildred Moody.

Mary Mildred Moody is my Grandmother. She married Kenneth Lindsay Harding,had 3 children: Robert Lindsay Harding,Kenneth Chester Harding and Mary Birnie.

Kenneth Chester Harding(my Dad) married France's Katherine Harding, their children: Donna and Denise.

Thanks, Donna Christine(Harding) Iddings

diddings

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