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Help requested with my brick walls

I have been working on the genealogy for the parental (McDonnell/McDonald) side of my family and am now stumped in several areas. Here is a summary of what I found so far: My great grandfather was born Michael McDonnell in County Mayo, Ireland, in November 1862. His father and mother, Patrick McDonnell and Bridget Malone McDonnell, were also born in Ireland. He was born in either 1840 or 1843 and she was born in 1845. They emigrated to the US in 1862 where their last name was changed to McDonald. They lived in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, once they reached the US. I do not know where they departed from nor where they arrived. I am unable to find their names on the ships’ manifests I found online. 

Patrick’s father was James McDonnel who was born in July 1829 according to my research. I believe James’s married Mary Laffy in 1843. From what I have found online, James’ father was also named Patrick, and his mother was named Mary. I found evidence using Griffin’s Valuation that James and his son Patrick both leased land to farm in Liscarney, County Mayo, prior to Patrick departing for the US. I also found James’ Church Baptism record showing his address as Teevenish in the Parish/District of Aghagower RC parish. This record shows Patrick and Mary as his parents. The Sponsor/Informant was James McDonnel (Patrick’s brother?). Please note that the spelling of the last name varies between 1 and 2 Ns and 1 and 2 Ls throughout my research. This is where I hit a dead-end. I cannot find any information on my 4x great grandfather, Patrick. Additionally, I cannot find any information on other children James and Mary had. 

Any help you can give me to remove my roadblock, is appreciated. 

KathleenMKramer

11 replies

Hi Kathleen!

The RC baptismal records for Aghagower parish start in 1828. There is a gap in records from March 1836 until March 1842. Marriage records start in 1854, https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1037?locale=en

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and could not locate a baptismal record for Michael McDonnell or for Patrick McDonnell in any Mayo parish.

The Griffiths data for Mayo was from 1855. If Patrick was born around 1840, he would not be listed in the Griffiths.

If Patrick was born in 1840, James would not be born in 1829 and married in 1836. Was 1829 a typo?

Have you taken a general DNA test?

Let me know what questions you have.

Roger McDonnell

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Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger. You caught my obvious error regarding James' wife. Please see additional information below.

Obviously, I'm having a heck of a time with all the common first and last names in Ireland. Let me try to respond to your findings and also correct my misinformation.

As for Patrick McDonnell, I was able to find a Church Baptism Record for him at Rootsireland.ie. The baptism date was 27 Feb 1844. I will try to attach a copy below as I've never done it before. His last name was spelled McDonell on the record.

I also found a Church Baptism Record for James at Rootsireland.ie and another location of which I don't remember (it is a hand-written record). I'll attach the first one here due to size restrictions. His last name was spelled McDonnel on the attachment here. I'll post a second reply with the handwritten record which is also spelled McDonnel.

I'm embarrassed that you've shot so many holes in my research! I know you are correct about the marriage date for James. I found another Marriage Record for James and Mary Laffy dated 23 Feb 1843 in Rootsireland.ie. Is it possible that one is correct?

I now understand that Patrick would not have been in Griffiths data because he was too young. Is it possible that Patrick is actually James' father? My ancestors repeatedly used the same names for their children which makes research incredibly difficult. It also seems that the McDonnell name was quite popular (with various spellings) so that really complicates things for a novice like me!

KathleenMKramer

Apparently, the handwritten copy is too large to attach here. I'm sorry, Roger.

KathleenMKramer

Kathleen:

We implemented a new web site a few days ago and have a number of issues which need to be corrected. One issues is that the responses are not in date order.

I don't intend to find possible errors with your research. However, it is very rare that an RC baptismal record would show the married name of the mother. I have to believe that the McDonnell shown for the records for Patrick and James represents the maiden name of the mother.

Also, why can't we find a baptismal record for Michael? Aghagower records are available for 1862. Is it possible he was born in America? The other possibility is that he was baptized in a parish that does not have records for 1862.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Kathleen,

My Great Grandmother Sarah McDonnell was born in County Mayo. I went onto the NLI website and painstakingly went through all the RC parish registers for County Mayo. Many Patrick McDonnells and Michael McDonnells. I found my ggrandmother’s baptismal record and my 2xggrandparent’s marriage record (Mark McDonnell and Catherine Fox). I wrote down all the McDonnell’s that I found, and have been trying to decipher. You are so right about how difficult it is with so many common first names.

If you haven’t yet exhausted searching on the NLI website, then I would be happy to share whatever I have with you.

Happy New Year,

Margaret

KingstonCarney

KingstonCarney, I haven't spent much time on NLI at all. If you don't mind sharing the info you already have, I would be grateful. Please let me know the best and easiest way for you to get it to me.

Thank you!

Kathy

KathleenMKramer

Roger,

I went back through some paperwork I have for Michael. On my copy of his certified death certificate, it reads that Homesville, PA , as his place of birth. However, someone crossed that Homesville and wrote Ireland.

Word of mouth through my family has always been that Michael was born in Ireland. Regardless, I'm going to see if I can find records in Homesville, PA, that relate to him.

KathleenMKramer

Kathleen:

I don't know if you have access to Ancestry but I would try to find the 1900 census for Michael and see if Ireland or Pennsylvania is shown as his place of birth.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Kathleen,

My email is moptop60@hotmail.com

This would be the best way for us to communicate.

Margaret

KingstonCarney

Roger and Margaret,

My apologies. I've been under the weather and am finally feeling better.

First to answer Roger: According to the 1900 Census, Michael was born in Ireland.

Now to answer Marget, I'll send you an email shortly. I'm getting online for an Ancestry webinar momentarily.

Thank you both for all your patience with me.

Kathy

KathleenMKramer

KingstonCarney,

I sent an email to your email address. Please let me know if you received it. It was sent on January 15th.

KathleenMKramer

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