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Grinhams/Grenhams

Roscommon

Hi, I'm researching the Grinhams/Grenhams in County Roscommon, Parish of Moore. I've gone back to Daniel Grinham babt 1805and his wife Hanora Donlon b1807. They had at least 4 children. Thomas b1826, Patrick b1828, John b 1834 and Bridget b 1843. I don't have a marriage record for Danieland Honora and I don't have birth records for any of them. A letter written by Patrick vouching for his brother's age stated that the church with the records had burned and he submitted letters from the parish priests verifying it so I'm stuck. If anyone knows how I might be able to get around this roadblock, I would greatly appreciate your ideas.

Thank you,

Tom Grinham

tgrinham1@cox.net

6 replies

Tom:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

We have a parish liaison in Moore parish and I will alert her to your message.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger!!

tgrinham1@cox.net

Hi Tom, 

Sorry to hear you are stuck with your research but not sure where you can turn.  There are no catholic church records available for the parish of Moore until 1877. Burial records were recorded from 1922. As you may know, civil registration records are available for this parish from 1864 and are registered under the Civil Parish of Creagh.  The adjacent parish  has earlier church records. Perhaps you have looked at Drum Parish ( Church of St  Peter's , Athlone) for Grenhams. 

Another researcher told me that "Grehnam's  were recorded in the 1901 Census in all of Ireland, and that 57of them  were in Moore and another 30 in adjacent townlands"

Our history group had recorded inscriptions from Moore South, Kilbegley and Clonburren  graveyards. 

http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/moore-south/ro-moso

http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/kilbegley/ro-klbg

http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/clonburren/ro-clbu

You mention a letter from the Parish Priest and I assume this letter was from the Parish Priest  of Moore?  

Kind regards, 

 

Marie

Moore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Marie,

I have most of this information from a Declaration of Disability Pension that I obtained a copy of 20 years ago. I'm just reviewing it now and I can't find mention of a fire so I'm not sure why I had that in my head but John Grinham's age was in question. His brother Patrick wrote a letter verifying his age from memory saying he was sure John was born in 1834 and that it was in June because he remembered John's birthday was about a week before the village would celebrate St. John's day with a bonfire and merrymaking.

An affidavit was filed by John himself asking that the petition be granted on the evidence submitted "as I cannot obtain an official record as shown by the letters from the parish priests herewitin." These letters from the priests were not included in the documents I received however. It doensn't mention which parish. I just assumed it was Moore because US doctuments for John and his siblings state they were born in that parish.

Looking back at it now I guess I just assumed it was because of a fire and it stuck in my head. Maybe someone at the archives made a mistake and forgot to include the letters from the priests? I guess I could order another copu and see if they are included. What do you think?

Thanks for your help.

P.S. I have checked the gravesyards online and have found Grinhams/Grenhams not those of Daniel Grinham and Hanora Donlon. I will try looking in Drum.

tgrinham1@cox.net

Hi Tom, 

 

Nice to hear from you.  My query about the letter was to satisfy our own questions as I was wondering if there was evidence in  a letter from a Priest stating that there was a fire. I say this as we too have heard that 'records were put in the fire' but we do not know if this has any basis in fact. As Taughmaconnell, Ballinasloe and Drum have records from early 1800s we have assumed that there was a record book of some description in the parish church prior to the record book that exist from 1877. Thus the folklore around their loss always appeared plausible. I cannot ask you to retrieve the file to see if the letter exists as I imagine that would be very cumbersome and perhaps costly. Moreover, it will not throw any further light on your research as you state you have information that this family were from the parish of Moore. 

You mention that you will look up the records of St. Peters Athlone. I did come across a civil marriage record of a  Daniel Grenham (aged 35 years) married to a  Rose Hynes in 1866. Would he be a connection?  His father is also Daniel. Most likely your Daniel and Honora named a son Daniel in line with tradition.? This Daniel who married Rose Hynes is stated to be from Clonbeggane which is Parish of Moore.

Have you searched tithe applotment books and Griffits Valuation records? 

 

Kind regards, 

 

Marie 

moorehistorymarie@gmail.com

Moore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Marie,

The Daniel Grenham/Rose Hynes connection is an interesting one. I've done research on them because their son, Patrick J Grenham (whose name is spelled Grenham and Grinham on different documents) killed his wife in Cambridge MA in 1906 during a druken argument and was sentenced to 6 years in prison so I found it kind of interesting. His father, Daniel, was born in 1831 according to that marriage record and the children of Daniel and Hanora that I know of were born in 1826, 1828, 1834 and 1843 so he would fit right in as another son. 

All of those children were living in Cambridge and Roxbury and two of them, John and Patrick were still alive in 1906. A newspaper article said Patrick J Grinham's uncle Patrick had visited his house the day of the murder and said everything was fine and no one had been drinking. I suspect the uncle is my Patrick but have yet to prove it. I contacted the MA archives for the prison records to see if there were names and addresses of visitors but all they had was his incarceration and release dates.

I think he must have testified at the trial so I contacted the MA Court Archives three weeks ago to see if they had the names and addresses of witnesses so I can match up the address with where I know my Patrick was living at the time. I got a response the next day saying they would look for the records but I haven't heard back since then. I'm hoping to hear back soon. 

I also found another interesting Grinham family from Clonbeggane, Moore. A Michael Grinham and Bridget Donlon who I estimate were born around 1855 from the ages of their 6 children. I haven't been able to find their parents names though.

I will contact the National Archives and explain the missing letters from the priests to see if they can help me. If I get them I will certainly let you know and send you copies.

Thanks for your interest and help!

Tom

tgrinham1@cox.net

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