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Looking for info on The Maguires/Mcguires of Gortnagrace, County Donegal

DonegalUrney (Donegal)

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for information regarding Patrick Maguire, a farmer in Gortnagrace, which is a few miles south of Castlefinn. Birth date is unknown but he passed in 1894. I have found his entry in Griffiths Valuation and his will in the PRONI system. Known children are Patrick Mcguire (wife Sarah), who inherited his farm in Gortnagrace, and Elinor who married one Patrick Barron in neighboring Drumdoit. Patrick (the son) began spelling his surname with a C rather than an A, not sure why. Both Patrick Mcguire and Ellinor Barron can be found in the 1901 and 1911 censuses and had large families. One stumbling block is the parrish records (Urney) have never been digitized.

Does anybody happen to have any information or contacts involving the Gortnagrace Maguires/Mcguires or even the Barrons from Drumdoit? Thanks for any help!

Nathan Maguire 1

3 replies

I left out one other known child of Patrick Maguire's - A daughter named Mary Ann who also married a fellow from Drumdoit. Her husbands name was Charles Doherty. Again, they appear in the 1901 and 1911 census.

So, known children of Patrick Maguire (?-1894) are: Patrick Mcguire, Gortnagrace, born c.1866      Ellinor (Mcguire) Barron, Drumdoit, born c.1849      Mary Ann (Mcguire) Doherty, Drumdoit, born c.1855

I suspect another son named John, similar in age to Ellinor (spelled Eleanor on marriage certificate), but I have not been able to prove this.

Nathan Maguire 1

Here’s a link to Patrick McGuire’s death in 1894. He was aged 78.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

Sadly, the local parish records don’t go back beyond 1856, so you are unlikely to find any record of his baptism.

Regarding the different spelling of the surname, in the 1800s people didn’t bother about exact spellings and they varied all the time. In earlier time you often find it spelled M'Guire too. They are all common versions of exactly the same name. The changes were rarely a deliberate decision to alter the spelling. They were either the whim of the person recording the information or the family themselves just weren’t bothered. It’s very common to find variations like that. Don’t rely too much on ages in official documents either. They were often just guesses.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank You Elwyn! I believe you've led me to his wifes first name, Ann. She would be right there below Patrick Mcguire - They apparently died three days apart. Amazing.

Nathan Maguire 1

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