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McCarthy from County Clare - sisters Elizabeth and Bridget

Hello, I would truly appreciate help finding my great great grandmother Elizabeth/Eliza McCarthy's family.She married my great-great grandfather, last name of Russell, and they had my great grandfather, James Martin Russell, in 1864, in Illinois. Elizabeth had a sister, Bridget, who also came to the States in the late 1850s/early 1860s.Both sisterslived in Illinois, and it is believed their husbands worked building the railroad in that state. My great grandfather listed both of his parents as having been born in Ireland, but there are no place names, towns, parishes, etc., mentioned. I've found out from Bridget McCarthy Cain's obituary that the sisters came from County Clare, but I don't know which town or parish. If you can help me find McCarthy's in County Clare that might have information, that would be wonderful! I'm looking both for my McCarthy family and for my Russell family (I don't yet know the county for my Russell family). Thanks very much! Robin

IrelandXO member

10 replies

Robin:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

You really need to know the parents names of Elizabeth and Bridget to help determine where they came from in Co. Clare. McCarthy is overwhelmingly a Cork and Kerry surname but there were 80 McCarthy head of housholds in Co. Clare in the mid-19th century (based on Griffiths Valuation data). They were spread over a number of parishes. See www.askaboutireland.ie for the Griffiths. Do you have a death record for either sister which might show parents names?

The Co. Clare library has a lot of good genealogy info.

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm

Let us know if you can find the parents names.

Roger McDonnell

 

 

 

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Thank you for this information! I haven't been able to find a death record for Elizabeth, but I'll check again regarding her sister Bridget, in case there is information re her parent's names.

My family was in County Clare several years ago, on vacation, because I wanted to drive through Ireland. I had no idea at the time that one of my Irish relatives came from that county. We stayed in Doolin. The area took my breath.  My father's entire line are Irish American, and I really want to find my relatives.

Thanks again. I'll check the Griffiths link you posted as well.

Best,

Robin

 

IrelandXO member

Hi Roger,

I checked yesterday with a distant cousin of mine - her great-great grandmother was Bridget McCarthy Cain, Elizabeth McCarthy's sister. The sister's parents were named John and Mary. Hope that helps - please let me know any next steps I can take.

Best,

Robin

 

IrelandXO member

Robin:

If you go to the Griffiths link I provided above and enter John McCarthy Co. Clare, you will get six records. I would focus on those areas for your search. Possibly you can look at the RC parish registers for those civil parishes and see if you can locate the baptismal records. If you need help determining the correct RC parish from the civil parish, let me know.

I noticed you were in Doolin a few years ago. There were three Russell brothers in the Doolin area who were famous traditional Irish musicians. Miko Russell was the most famous. See this link. http://www.michorussellweekend.ie/therussells.html

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Will check those records and see what I can find. Fingers crossed.

Nice to hear about those Russells being well-known musicians!

I can't find much of anything about my great-great grandfather, which has been frustrating. I've finally decided to go the DNA route, and hope I can find my family that way. My brother is going to take the test.

Thanks so much for your help. I'll post a note when I've looked through the McCarthy records.

Best,

Robin

IrelandXO member

Robin:

I have tested my DNA with Family Tree and Ancestry. I assume your brother will take the autosomal test. 

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Yes, I just purchased the Ancestry DNA kit for my brother, but have also ordered one for myself as well, to give us more of a chance to find relatives. I'd love to find Sinnott, Metcalfe and Carroll names, for instance.

I'd always thought we needed to use my brother's DNA to follow the male line. Is that still the strongest way to find the male line, or does it not matter any longer? Autosomal DNA testing - does that render the male-line DNA necessity a moot point now?

Best,

Robin

IrelandXO member

Robin:

I have taken the Y-DNA  test with Family Tree and the autosomal test with both Family Tree and Ancestry. The Y-DNA test tracks your strict father's line and I have had some success determining where in Mayo my McDonnells originally came from. (from at least 1837 they were in East Mayo near the Roscommon border but originally they were from West Mayo and one of my ancestors moved east).

However, I think the autosomal kit is sufficient since it will track matches on both your paternal and maternal lines. Some of your matches on Ancestry will have fairly good trees but I have found that many of my matches keep their tree private. Not helpful. 

I prefer Family Tree to Ancestry because there are good analytical tools available on Family Tree.

Once you get your results, I would also upload your raw DNA data to www.gedmatch.com  Gedmatch is a volunteer run site where individuals can upload their DNA data to see if they match anyone who tested with Family Tree and 23 and Me and loaded their data to gedmatch. This is a good way to expand your match pool.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Roger

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

I will definitely upload the Ancestry DNA tests to gedmatch.com. As I understand it, I can upload them to Family Tree DNA for a fee, so I'll do that as well.

I spent the morning going through the parish records avaialble on the six John McCarthys listed in/on Griffiths. The two parishes that look most promising are Kildysart/Killadysert, because they have so many McCarthys listed in their baptismal records (to include John, Mary and Brigid/Bridget MacCarthys) and perhaps Clooney, which has baptismal and marriage records for the years that would work for the McCarthys in my family, but are illegible.

Hoping the parishes don't mind being contacted directly.

Best, and many thanks again!

Robin

IrelandXO member

Hi I've just seen this and wondering have you any update on your findings,I've read through ur conversation and I'm wondering are your relatives from the Irish travelers community because if so this is why your having so much difficulty finding them x

 

Nelly New

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