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Looking for Ahearn (Ahern)

GalwayLoughrea (Galway)

Letter of Introduction

Hello

Please bear with me

My name is Edward Glenn Rubybefore age 8, I was Edward Robert Sustersic, Jrbut thru AncestryDNA and FTM YDNA I guess my birth genetic last name would be Ahearn.

I was adopted when I was 8 years oldnow I am 65. I was taken away from my birth family in Johnstown PA when I was 6 years oldspent a year and a half on a foster home farm in a nearby town of Ebensburg. Tried to keep my memories alive. I would lay awake at night and say my name over and over and remember my young memories. I thought that the memories of my birth family for the first 6 years were true. SoI grew up as an adopted child thinking that I was Slovenian and half or so Irishuntil two years ago.

My adoptive family, the Rubys, were a great couple who sacrificed a life of peace and tranquility to adopt two of the five brothers who needed a home. I could not have asked for a more loving family. I was raised in a mill working-class family in a working-class neighbor. Went to a great high school in Western Pennsylvania and then to college. Got married in 1974 to my first wife and moved to Orlando, Florida. Moved to New Smyrna Beach, Florida in 1988 and have been here ever since.

This brings us to why this letter

My main reason to have contacted any of my birth family at all was to let my birth family know that I did OK. Things worked out. Stuff happens and I had no ill will to anyone. I just wanted to let them know in person. Im sure having all the grandchildren for two families ripped away at one time must have been heart-breaking.

So, over the last 10 years or so I have been using the internet to find all the information I can about my adopted family genealogy. Ironically, my wife and I are BOTH adopted childrenshe has no desire to find her roots as she was adopted as a newborn. Two years ago, I started on my birth families genealogy. Everything was moving along fine until I had the bright idea to do a DNA test to see where all my birth family came fromDaniels from Ireland and Sustersic from Slovenia.

I decided to use the Ancestry DNA test since I had used Ancestry as one of my search programs. Spit in the tube and waited patiently for 5 weeks for the results to come in.

My birth mothers side is somewhat knownbirth father is questionable if the Ancestry DNA test is accurate. This has really thrown a screwball into all my research. Thought this would be easy. But no

Ancestry Autosomal Results: Ethnicity Estimate:

Ireland/Scotland/Wales 64% Munster, Ireland

Great Britain 23%

Europe West 11%

Low Confidence Regions

Scandinavia 1%

Europe East < 1%

Iberian Peninsula < 1%

So, I then took the Family Tree Maker YDNA test to find the male side truth.

Oh Crap! Not what I was expecting.

Turns out that I had no Slovenian ( Sustersic ) in mejust lots of Irish / English. Also, after comparing with other DNA samples it turns out that I am directly linked to an Ahearn or Ahern.

My birth father turned out to be not who I thought or was told. So, I send out a letter like this as an introduction to anyone that may be related.

I believe that we may be in some way genetically related. I understand that this may not mean anything to you, but I did want you to know. Thank you for your time in reading this. If you do want to respondeither way...I understand.

My life truth at 65: While the truth may hurtat least it is the truth. I have had little truth and lots of unknowns most of my life.

I want to find out my genetic Irish roots. Family names: Ahearn, Sullivan, Shea, Murphy, McSweeney

The Irish YDNA in my genetic genealogy leads to:

William J. Ahearn (Ahern)

Born: 12/28/1853 Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland

Lived in Boston most of life.

Died: 10/1/1919 Philadelphia, PA, USA

Any help or direction would be forever appreciated,

Thank you,

Edward Ruby

Edward Ruby

4 replies

Edward:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Just to let you know that I did read your very interesting story and wish you luck in your search for your ancestor information. I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find any William Ahearn baptismal records in the Eastern side of Co. Galway which includes Loughrea.  Ahearn was not a Galway surname in the 19th century. It was found mainly in counties Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary. All of theses counties fall into the province of Munster which was listed in your Ancestry DNA results.

Roots Ireland had five William Ahearn 1853 baptismal records but none in the month of December. Emigrants did not always have the correct year of birth on US records.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

 

Thank you for taking the time to help. I will look in that direction. Cannot find any of his relatives,,,,brothers or sisters,,,either. But will look in the other parishes. I do not add anything to my family tree that I cannot document. He may of lied about his birthplace also. His naturalization papers say he was born in Loughrea...but who knows. Hope that I can help others.

Ed

Edward Ruby

Hi Ed- William Anthony Ahearn b.sept 1,1868 Spiddal Co.galway. F. William Ahearn( Court clerk) M.bridget toole.   Not exactly corresponding to your information. Also Stephen John b.jan 6,1870 and joseph b.march 11,1867. Same parents.                                           liam Irwin.

Liam Irwin

Hi Ahearn in my tree County Cork actually my great grandmother
She married Shea

Dianna

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