Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

John Chambers

CavanBailieborough (Cavan)

JOHN CHAMBERS - looking for information on my great grandfathers Irish heritage. He was born in 1839 in Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland. His parents were Robert CHAMBERS & Susan McKELVEY
John migrated to Australia married there and had 10 children.

It is understood in our family that half the Chambers young men (2), John & William, came to Australia in the company of two McMinn brothers. The McMinn's being old family friends from the same district or village, Baillie Borough in Ireland County Covan. The other half of the Chambers brothers travelled to America. Mr John Chambers married in 1867 to Miss Susan Johnston from Lisball, Ireland. In our possession is an old wooden trunk that was used by Susan to bring her belongings to Australia. On it can still be read... Melbourne... Southern Ocean... Susan Johnston

manzfamily@hot…

6 replies

Hello Rob, I had a look at the Cavan Records for Roots Ireland and also surrounding counties, there were no children of a Robert and Susan found in Bailieborough or elsewhere, in the perios checked 1830 to 1850, there were some children born to a Robert and Ann is Leitrim, neighbouring county but not close to Bailieborough, I did find some McKelvey or slight variant name in Kells in Meath, this is not far from Bailieborough across the county line, max distance is 7 miles I think or about 12km.

I assumed they were Church of Ireland as that is what returns and their website indicates they have records for the period. I also searched McMinns in the same period and they are in a place called Ashfield, this is near Cootehill, also Drung, this is the north of the county while Bailieborough is in the south but they could be still well known to each other. 

I checked McKelvey marriages also but no Susan or indeed one in Cavan, RC but not a Robert or Susan from 1815 to 1845. There are 9 Robert Chambers got married but none in Cavan or Meath, mostly in Armagh or Down.

There are two private Facebook pages dealing with genealogy in Cavan, one Cavan Genealogy and IGP's Cavan Genealogy, apply to join and ask, McMinn is an usual name.

Regards

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Rob, a recent query similar to yours came up, same result. However the people were Presbyterian and that is why we cannot find records. If you are aware of the religion it would indicate if there are records and where.

Regards

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Rob, me again, came across a website on another Cavan query. www.bailiepublications.com ; google if link does not work. I got a warning the site was not encrypted and not to enter personal info.

The site looks genuine and mentions records of the 1st Presbyterian church from 1740 I think.

Good luck

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Just saw this query, and there are still Chambers families living at Billis, which is near both Bailieboro and Virginia, Co. Cavan.
Mc Kelvey is rare in Cavan, more common in Co. Down at the moment.

nigel Mc Hugh

Hi John

 

Maybe my McMinns are the brothers who came to Victoria, Australia in about 1860s.  There were 4 brothers David, John, Thomas and William who came on two ships with their mother Martha HUGHEY.  There were all from Corbeagh, Cootehill, Cavan.  Any help?

Janine

Janine McMinn

Hi

i am descended from one of the McMinn brothers who came out with the Chambers and the name appears a few times in marriages between the 2 families.

I had wondered if all 4 boys and their mother came together. Good to know they came 2 x 2 ..still cannot find them?

I think I have also discovered the other brother James who went to the U S having married an Eliza McCaig…or McKague?

I have DNA matches to James family.

ssesen

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.