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Martin Family, County Galway

Galway

Hello! Searching for my Martin family of County Galway has caused me much frustration. There is very little information about them once they came to the United States and their names are so common among Irish immigrants here. One thing is consistent, though. My great-great grandfather Edward Martin is always listed as coming from County Galway. He was born about 1833. He married a woman named Mary Ann Holleran (spelled several different ways, depending) who is listed in her death record here as coming from County Killkenny. Family lore is that they were married in Ireland, their eldest daughter Ellen (Ella) was born in Ireland, then they came to the USA and their next child (Bridget) was born in Massachusetts about 1862. I'm trying to get an idea of how to procede with looking for Edward in Ireland because I have very little experience. Any suggestions you have are most welcome. Thank you.

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Mary B.:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Not all Co. Galway RC parishes have records back to 1833. I searched on Roots Ireland and they had an 1835 Edward Martin baptismal record plus two in 1836. However, without having his parents names, you can't confirm any of these records. I did not find a marriage record anywhere in Ireland for a Martin marrying a Holleran. Also did not find a baptismal reocrd for Ella with the parents names you provided.Have you located the 1880 and 1900 US census records for the family?

You may want to add Edward's story to our XO Chronicles site https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

You may also want to consider autosomal DNA testing.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much, Roger. I appreciate your searching and your reply. I do have the census records from the US. There is great inconsistency with respect to years of birth, etc but I suspect that's not uncommon. In some places Mary Halloran Martin is listed as having been born in Kentucky but I'm wondering if the gave the info to the census taker as Kilkenny and he just didn't record it correctly. My English and German ancestors have been very cooperative with clear records. I fear this Irish family will always cause me problems! 

 

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