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How to ID ancestors named Sullivan in County Kerry

Good family history, corraborated by US, Minnesota and Kansas State Census show that my GG Grandfather was JOHN SULLIVAN from Kerry, Ireland... no known record of from Which Parish or Townland.  Date of Birth, estimated from census records, could be either circa 1810 or 1826.

No record of his emigration in mid 1850's but family (him, wife and infant daughter Elizabeth) were in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, in 1855 and left to move upriver on the Mississppi, having a child, Catherine or Kate, in Illinois, USA ,along the way.  Arrived in Minnesota about 1857, got land and farmed in Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA.  Two sons, Daniel (no middle name) and John.  Eventually GGGrandfather John, spent last years with children who bought and farmed land in Jewell County, Kansas, USA until his death in April 1894.

His wife Mary, my GG Grandmother was is thought to have the Maiden name of Mary Anne Cunningham, again from County Kerry, Ireland.  No known parish or townland. US, Minnesota and Kansas State Census show that her birth year was either circa 1827 or 1831.

No record if they were married in Ireland or in USA.

Sullivan is SO common tghat it seems a big leap to assume one person over another.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Kevin Brennan, from Kodiak, Alaska

KBKodiak

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Kevin:

If Daniel was the oldest son then you could start with Daniel as a placeholder for the name of John Sullivan's father. It was not an absolute rule but in the 19th century the first son was named after the paternal grandfather in a good number of families. I can't tell if you used the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie to search for Co. Kerry church records (civil registration did not begin until 1864). When you search that site you will find a good number of John Sullivan baptismal records with father Daniel (and Daniel is a placeholder).

Cunningham was not a surname that was found in large numbers in Co. Kerry. When you look at the Griffiths Valuation head of household data, somewhere between 1-2% of all Cunningham households were in Co. Kerry. This is not say that Mary Anne was not from Kerry but the odds are that she was from another county. Doing a search, I found six Mary Cunningham baptismal records between 1825-1832.

Have you considered DNA testing? Possibly you will have matches with 3rd or 4th cousins on your Sullivan/Cunninham lines and they may have more info on the orgins of the family in Ireland.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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