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Looking for Margaret (nee McDonnell) McKenna from late 1800s

Good morning all,

I am looking for genealogical information about one of my ancestors.

Margaret McDonnell was born around 1856. I do not know when she passed away, but she appears in the 1911 census as being 56 years old.

Her father was probably named Patrick, but I have no information about her mother. I believe Margaret had three siblings, and the names of two of them are John and Katherine.

Margaret married John McKenna (Sr) in 1874. They probably lived in or near Gallarus in Kerry.

I was able to identify all NINE of her children through the 1901 & 1911 censuses: Patrick, Mary, Katie, Dennis, Nell (or Ellen ), Maurice, Margaret, John James, and Thomas. Their birthdates range from about 1877 to about 1896.

Margaret's ancestry has been a blank page in my records, and I would love to know if anyone out there can help me fill it in.

Thank you and have a great day!

fumblepdi

3 replies

Christopher:

Gallarus townland is 492 acres in size and is in the civil parish of Kilmalkedar. I looked at the 1874 civil marriage record and Margaret's father was Patrick but there was no indication whether Patrick was alive or deceased in 1874.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1874/11233/8118526.pdf

Patrick McDonnell was listed in the 1852 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing living in Gallarus. 

The RC records for Kilmalkedar RC parish go back to 1807   https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0652

However, the records for Kilmalkedar RC parish do not appear on the subscription site Roots Ireland and I'm not sure if the records are on the subscription site  FindMyPast.ie   

My suggestion is that you scan the parish register starting in 1850 and see if you can find McDonnell children with father Patrick.

I will also contact a volunteer who lives in the area.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Christopher:

I decided to scan the register myself and there is a September 30 1853 baptismal record for a Margaret McDonnell with father Patrick. The mother appears to be a Moriarty. I then went to the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie and they have her name as Ellen Moriarty. I did find a January 23 1842 marriage in the parish for Patrick McDonnell and Ellen Moriarty. Besides Margaret, I located a Michael baptized October 10 1856 (father shown as Peter but I believe that is a mistake), Bridget baptized December 17 1848 and a child baptized December 26 1858 but no name shown (I could not locate the record).

Likely there were children after 1842 and before Bridget but no record showed up, however, the register is difficult to read and sometimes records did not make it to the register.

Roger

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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