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Looking for the Barnes of Meath

Meath

Hi if anyone can provide some suggestion or help I would be grateful. My GG father I believe came from Meath to the USA Kings County New York about 1868. His Name was John Barnes, His wifes name was Eliza Fagan Barnes. They had their first child Mary about 1868 in the USA. This information I have from the 1870 census.

I have a record of a John Barnes being baptized in Meath, Killbride Mount Nugent in 1842. Since I do not have any records of John and Elizabeths immigration to the USA or the marriage records from Ireland. I am not certain that this is the same person. I cannot find them leaving Ireland or arriving in the USA which makes this so difficult. Family legend has it that John was involved with some "troubles" with the British and perhaps did not leave under the best of circumstances. I assume if this is true, it may make things more difficult.

That is my situation, any suggestions would be so graciously appreciated.

James S Barnes

Gichen

6 replies

James:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

First question would be the religion of John and Eliza. I did not find a civil marriage record for the couple at the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie ; RC marriages were civilly registered starting in 1864. Non-RC marriages were civilly registered starting 1845. From 1845-1863, the site only has the index record. and as I indicated I did not find a civil record in the 1864-1870.

I also did not find a church marriage record on the subscription site Roots Ireland.

Roots Ireland had an 1833 baptismal record for a John Barns and also a record in 1851 which I discounted. I did not see an 1842 record but you have another source.

You won't find a ship departure record in Ireland. 

Can you find John's parents names from a death record or other source?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much Mr. McDonnell ! I was raised Catholic so I assume my GG father was also. I believe my GG fathers name was James and his wife were Margaret McGuire. No luck finding John's parents records. Since I am not certain if I have the correct John.

I am so thankful for your observations and help.

James S Barnes

Gichen

  A correction my last post was not clear. From my research (I believe) my great grandfather John Barnes baptized in 1842 his parents were listed as James and Magt. McGuire. I have no other records of his parents. But I believe I found the correct John because his age and one of the witnesses at his baptism was named Comiskey, fast forward 50 plus years later my family had living with them a Comiskey. So, this is the link that gives me the assumption that it is the same John. Perhaps that is a little weak connection, I am not sure.

Gichen

James:

My prior search on Roots Ireland was focused on Co. Meath and as it turns out the 1842 record was shown as Mount Nugent Co. Westmeath. Mountnugent parish covers area in Westmeath, Cavan and Meath and the parish register does not provide a name for the townland where they lived. The 1842 John Barns had an older sister Mary 1840, a younger sister Anne 1845 and a younger brother William in 1851. Are you aware of siblings to your John Barnes/Barns?

I  agree that the Comiskey connection makes sense.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Jim:

If you have the Ancestry World subscription, it gives you access to Irish church records. If you have the basic-- no access.  I just checked and there were no Barns/Barnes marriages in Mount Nugent parish for the three children: Mary, Anne and William. Death records were not available until 1864 so you can't tell if they died young, stayed in Ireland or emigrated. You could put there names iand date of births nto Ancestry and see if you get some info.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger.

Gichen

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