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Henry Boyce (1821-1903)

Donegal

Hi,

I am looking for any information about Henry Boyce.  I believe he was born in Donegal in 1821, and I know he was married to Margaret (Mary) Duffy whose parents were William and Ann (Rose) McMonagle.  He migrated to Pennsylvania sometime around the famine and his oldest son was named Patrick (1854-1937) who was my great grandfather.  I have been unable to get a whole lot of information of him prior to him living in Philadelphia.  From some of my DNA matches I believe he was from the Fanad Peninsula area, but that's all I have. Any information or leads would be appreciated.  Thank you!!

 

Hi again!  I wanted to update this note since it's been a few years, and I have recently had my Big Y - 700 and am waiting for the final results in FTDNA.  While not fully complete I have gotten some Y-111 match results of people in my paternal (Boyce) line.  I reached out to one of my top matches and their line runs through Daniel Boyce (1823-1901) of Bohirril Park, County Donegal who was married to Eleanor Gallagher.  His father was also Daniel Boyce (1788-1868) and his mother was Anne from the same area.  I'm not sure whether this helps, however since it is Y-DNA results I do know that Henry is part of that line of Boyce's.

James T.

15 replies

James:

I will alert our volunteer who is originally from the Fanad Peninsula area. However, finding records back before 1850 is very difficult because very few parishes have records.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger.  

James T.

Hi James T.  

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!  

Unfortunately, when it come to researching the name Boyce, it is a surname that tends to be common enough throughout the whole of Co. Donegal.  Finding RC records prior to 1850 is very difficult in Co. Donegal. Only a few parishes have records pre-1850.  

The Parish of Clondavaddog (Fanad & Glenvar) RC records start in 1847 and the Civil registration of Birth, Marriages and Deaths did not begin until 1864. This would explain why you have been unsuccessful in trying to find records for your ancestor Henry Boyce and his family as of yet. 

1847-1870 Clonadavaddog - registers.nli.ie/parishes 

1847-1870 Clondavaddog - Ancestry.co.uk   Massmount Register 1847- Start Page 

1847-1870 Clondavaddog - Familysearch.com   Massmount Register 1847- Start Page 

 

You mentioned that some of your DNA matches are pointing toward Fanad. To try and help I am connecting a spreadsheet compiled from GEDMATCH https://www.gedmatch.com/login1.php 

I don’t know if you have uploaded your DNA to GEDMATCH yet but it certainly would be worth doing and comparing results. I you were happy to communicate back your Gedmatch Kit number I might be able to triangulate your results for Fanad persons known and failing that at least it will be up here for other families in County Donegal to check for you also.  

My Dads DNA Kit number: A252964 

Kind Regards Seamus Callaghan 

Clondavaddog Donegal, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Seamus,

Thank you for the quick response.  I actually did transfer my DNA results to GEDmatch about 6 months ago, however I have to be honest I am not that great with how to use it yet.  My kit number is KH1492542 I think I used "Winferd44" as my moniker on there.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do, I am all up for learning more about GEDmatch and if this helps someone else besides myself, I am all for it.  

Jay Boyce

James T.

Seamus,

I just looked up my one to many matches and your name is on the list and 15.6 cM's.  I think that means we are distantly related, but I am sure you know more than I.

 

Jay

James T.

Hi Jay, 

So sorry about the delay, I have been busily distracted the last few days but I have been coming back and forth to your query trying different things all the time. Thank you for sending on your Kit number, I was very surprised to see you coming up as a distant relation. There must be some far back connection to Fanad however because my Dads great grandfather and their ancestors before them as far back as we can go, were Callaghan, McElwaine, McGrenaghan and another Callaghan family and every one of the families came from Fanad. 

My dads had a great-grandaunt called Cecilia Callaghan (Shiela) 

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65656383/person/130058704410/facts 

Who got married to a John Boyce, (O’Boyce)  

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65656383/person/130058704328/facts 

And they lived in the Townland of Drumany, Portsalon, Fanad 

https://www.townlands.ie/donegal/kilmacrenan/clondavaddog/greenfort/drumany/ 

Some of thier family were buried in Massmount Cemetery, Fanad   

www.irishgraveyards.ie=Boyce Family buried in Massmount Chapel 

I cannot be sure this is the connection as I have no Dna for that family on ancestry that I know of, and there were no records for their wedding as it was just before 1850’s but my dad has a Callaghan uncle (age 96) who confirmed this family connection of marrage to the Drumany Boyces many times and it was also passed down as knowledge throughout the family over the years. 

Please don’t too excited with this as it is possible it might be a different connection as the name Duffy is another name common to and Donegal Fanad that might be a stong contender also. 

Although I was surprised with the gedmatch family DNA connection result, it is a pity there was no other recognizable connections to Fanad. I have attached it here also,  

KH1492542 *Winferd44 (J.Boyce) 

A252964  *L.Callaghan (Seamus Callaghan) 

People who match both kits, or 1 of 2 kits (select this from Gedmatch list) 

 

If you don’t mind, I will lhave a bette rook at other connections over next few days such as maybe ancestry DNA also. 

I will get back to you as soon as I can. 

Seamus  

Clondavaddog Donegal, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks again for all that work Seamus.  No rush and definitely no need to apologize at all, because this is further than I have gotten in a year.  I was lead to the Fanad area by a distant relative from Derry that had a great aunt Margaret who was married to James Boyce who passed during the famine.  While not confirmed to date they did get information from an 1857 valuation that they were living in Ballymagahy, Clondavaddog parish on the Fanad Peninsula.  He also advised there was a cluster of Boyce's at portsalon at Drumaney but again just a hunch with no confirmation.  I am not sure if that helps you or not, however I wanted to share that with you just in case.  Additionally, on my Grandmother's side of the family were Mullin/McMullen, McLaughlin, and GGG Grandparents were McLaughlin, Doherty/Dougherty, McDonnell, Campbell, and Harvey if that helps.  Lastly, I have the burial plot for Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia that Henry Boyce bought which has Duffy's, most Boyce's, and one odd burial for what I think is a relative but have never confirmed.  The persons name was Connor Baron, which is not a surname I recognize from a short list my Father created befor he passed. I have to send that from my other PC but will attach when I have the chance.  Currently I am "semi-retired" so if there is anything I can do to help you please let me know.  I look forward to hearing back from you.

 

 

I am pleasantly surprised we are connected, it was definitely une

James T.

Seamus

Sorry about the delay and unfinished response. I meant to say that us being distantly related was a very unexpected and pleasant surprise, especially since it's been so hard to connect with people who have knowledge of their history.

Attached are a few documents I received from a cousin in the U.S.. One is the Cemetery record of Henry Boyce which shows Conner Baron, William and Rose Duffy and Henry and Rose's children who had passed. Additionally I have attached a history of Rose/William Duffy who were the parents of Henry's wife Mary as well as their picture. I hope this helps.

James T.

Hi Jay, 

Theres are couple of things that you mentioned that did take my interest. -  

“a distant relative from Derry that had a great aunt Margaret who was married to James Boyce who passed during the famine.  While not confirmed to date they did get information from an 1857 valuation that they were living in Ballymagahy, Clondavaddog parish on the Fanad Peninsula.” 

As regards the relative that had a great aunt Margaret Boyce that lived in Ballymaghy, I looked this up and sure enough there was a Margaret Boyce as a householder in the Townland of Ballymagahy South.  

If you visit this sitelink below and add in the info below into its drop down boxs, it should bring up a short list of all the Boyce family names in Fanad. These are the Griffith Valuation documents from back in 1857 and the old maps for that era also. 

www.askaboutireland.ie/ griffith-valuation/ Name Search 

Name: Boyce,  

County: Donegal,  

Parish: Clondavaddog  

(Pic attached) 

 

1857 Griffith Valuation: Margaret Boyce – 1 x Small House  (House b)  Ballymagahy South (PLOT 1a) 

________________________________________ 

“Lastly, I have the burial plot for Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia that Henry Boyce bought which has Duffy's, most Boyce's, and one odd burial for what I think is a relative but have never confirmed.  The persons name was Connor Baron, which is not a surname I recognize from a short list my Father created before he passed.” 

Just before you sent on the cemetery documents I was reserching the name Barton as it is quite similar and coulkd have been a typo on the document. However after seeing the document now its pretty much sure that it is Barron which is a name I am not familiar with in Clondavaddog but but common in southern Donegal.  

I have attached a few screenshots...to help you search more about Boyce families around the Portsalon and Fanad as a whole.  

Thanks for posting the photos and cemetery documents, they are excellent.

Seamus 

Clondavaddog Donegal, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Seamus,

It's been a while and I hope this response finds you and your family well.  I was recently invited to the East Galway Black 47 Project by Martin Curley and after doing 1-2 kit match with some of his immediate relatives (i.e. Sister, Aunt, etc.) your Father's kit seems to be coming up as a match for multiple people in his list.  While the original thread was thought to be Henry Boyce there are two other surnames that are coming up on all three of our lists and are on my Paternal side.  Doherty which was my 3rd great Grandmother (Margaret Doherty (1827-1900) who married John McLaughlin (1827-1893), and Duffy.  Margaret Duffy (1829-1867) who was married to Henry Boyce.  I hope this type of message isn't out of the ordinary since it is covering two different Counties, however I was hoping this was the best way to get back to you.  Take Care!

 

Jay

James T.

Hi All,

It's been a while and I just want to update everyone on some of my recent efforts. I had my Big Y FTDNA done (R-BY158509) for my Paternal line and found an Ancestor who had Boyce's from Bohirril Park, Donegal (George Boyce (1861-1923) or William Boyce (1869-1838) whose father was Anthony Boyce (b 1823) who was born around the same time of my Henry. We both also have a connection with the Boyce and McHugh families from the Tullagh/Carrigart area, that I believe goes through James "Owen" Boyce and his wife Mary. While so far I haven't found where my 2nd GGrandfather fits in I would be interested in any family history if anyone has some. Thanks again to all in the group!

Jay

James T.

Hi James George Boyce was my great grandfather and William Boyce was my great grand uncle

Dee

md21@sky.com

Hi Dee,

Thank you for posting. I apologize about not getting back to you sooner. I am not on this site too often. However you have peaked my interest. By chance were both George and William born around the 1860's in Bohirril Park/Fanad area? And their father was named Anthony? I have done a Big Y paternal test in FTDNA, and a Y-111 match for me is someone from a line that has those relatives. Additionally, I have spoke with persons who live near me who immigrated in the 1900's with the same surname, who I share DNA with their 3rd cousin. From my research so far, it appears my Boyce relatives come from Fanad, Rathmullan, Bohirril Park, Mevagh, Tullagh/Carrigart, and Stranorlar. It appears that I have common DNA with Michael Boyce's (1765-1832) from Stranorlar, who moved to Canada immediately after his death. While I have distant matches in Ancestry of about 8-10 cM's, I believe I am probably connected to one of Michael's brothers, but it's hard to find famiy member records mid 1700's. But I am pretty sure around that time most family's had on average around 10 children.

As Seamus alluded to as well in one of his previous responses, what does make it harder is that I have a pretty good number of Donegal surnames on my Father's side. To the point where I believe I match Seamus's father in multiple ways (Duffy/Boyce), and a other families as well thorugh Boyce, Doherty, and McLaughlin....to the point where both sides of the family I am related. Interesting and frustrating, however I believe my Big Y dna results show my family was from Donegal before surnames.were created. So I am ancient gaelic, not norman as many may think hearing my surname.

I will be happy to share any information if you think it may help you. If you are on GEDmatch/Ancestry/FTDNA/MyHeritage please let me know and I will help you any way I can. And I would love to hear what your research has uncovered as well.

Kind Regards,

Jay

James T.

Hi James thank you for replying, I am on Ancestry, you will find me on Keane family. My mother was Mary Josephine (known as Mollie) Boyce . I need time to digest your message and get back to you but doubt I will be of much help as you seem to have done a lot of research yourself.

Best wishes

Dee

md21@sky.com

Dee,

I am jboyce30 in Ancestry. If you could shoot me a message, just in case it's hard to find you, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

James T.

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