John Ruddy and Ann Lynch from Westport and Balla County Mayo
I have been unable to find my great great grandfather, John Reddy, Ruddy, in Ireland. Family lore says he was from Westport, County Mayo. He was born 1840-1844 depending upon source. He died in Cleveland, OH 1887. He married Ann Lynch 1845-death 1907 in Cleveland, OH. I did find a Baptism record for an Ann Lynch in Balla Parish, Alternated name Tuam, County Mayo. It appears on the map to be close to Westport. Ann's father was Bartly Lynch and mother Bridget Mally according to that record. I have been unable to find a marriage record either in Ireland or the US. John and Ann are in the US 1880 census with my grandfather and his siblings. I have a death record for John in 1887 however, there are no mother or father listed on the record. I am attempting to find Church records in Cleveland for a marriage since I can't find any civil marriage record. I don't really know if John and Ann were married in Ireland or in Cleveland, OH. Their first child, Patrick was born in l866 in Cleveland, Ohio. I found several ship's records for a John Reddy, but I have no idea if that is my John Reddy or not. I know he came to the US before 1866.
I found on another website that John had a 1/2 brother Michael Reddy 1850 Westport, death?? I was shown a US Civil War affidavit for a widow's Civil War pension from the widow of a Michael Reddy/Ruddy death in 1901. The person who showed me this document thought Michael had a brother John Reddy. In the petition, Mary Ruddy couldn't offer solid evidence of her marriage to Michael Ruddy by Father Michael Gallagher since he was dead and the Parish Church was destroyed by fire in approx. 1880. Perhaps that is why I can find no record of John Reddy, baptism or marriage? The petition said Michael's name was changed from Ruddy to Reddy by the military doctor. She said they had 15 children. The petition also said Michael immigrated to the US in 1852. I have no idea when my John Reddy/Ruddy immigrated to the US. On the 1880 census, the name was Jno Ready - so confusing! I know that is him since all the children are correct with ages etc.
If anyone can help me in my search for John Reddy/Ruddy from Westport, I would be extremely appreciative. I do remember my father, James Gilbert Reddy 1903-1960 mentioned the name Reddy was formerly Ruddy. Unfortunately, when he and other family members were alive, I was young and had no interest in genealogy and did not ask questions.
I am planning a trip to Ireland hopefully next year and would love to make connections with family members if anyone is still in Ireland. I was able to locate information on my grandmother, Mary Murphy Reddy who immigrated to the US from Achill Island as part of the Tuke Immigration Scheme of 1883. She and her mother, Mary Gallagher Murphy, who was widowed came with her 4 siblings through the generosity of Mr. Tuke. I have made contact with the Tuke Emigration Center and hope to visit the Center and find more family information there as well. Unfortunately, my grandmother Mary Murphy Reddy died when my father was only 2 years old. He and his brother were placed in St. Vincent Orphanage by his father James Reddy.
Thank you so much in advance for any assistance that anyone is able to offer me.
Kathleen Reddy Mueller, Ft. Mitchell, KY (Greater Cincinnati Ohio, USA)
