My great grandfather, John McGeever, was born in Mayo around 1845. He migrated to Connecticut in the1860's.
The Irish birth records I found for the 1840"s are limited and I have not found his records.
There were a number of McGeever families from the Swinford area. So that's a possibility. Any help would be appreciated.
Jack
It would be helpful if you provided more details such as where in Mayo that John was from, who his parents were, if he had siblings and their names,
did he marry in Ireland, have children etc. Birth /Marriage/Death records only began in Ireland from 1864,
there are parish records if you know the parish he was from but otherwise it is difficult to trace beyond 1864.
Jack:
You commented on another message and mentioned Swinford as his home place.
The RC parish of Swinford (KIlconduff) has baptismal records back to 1822 but there is a 15 year gap period from 1826-1841 where there are no records available. So if your John McGeever was born earlier than 1845 then maybe the baptismal record is not available. Also, some of the nearby parishes have records starting later than 1845. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0133?locale=en
I also searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and there are no John McGeever baptismal records in Co. Mayo in the 1840s/1850s.
Do you know his parents names?
Roger
Thank you Eileen and Roger for your responses to my recent McGeever Ancestry post. Since writing my first post, I found more information from a relative who told me he actually visited Carracastle in 1995 and found the baptism records for my John McGeever c1848 at St.James Church. He also said he was introduced to a Kitty McGeever Higgins who was in her 80' back then. Kitty took him to the McGeever homestead which was within a few miles of the church. He was not sure if the area was called Fauleens. I plan to contact the parish priest to find out if he can find the birth records before I plan to make my visit to Carracastle during the week of July 13th of this year. More background info on my great grandfather. John McGeever did not get married until after he migrated to the US. His father was also John. I do not have his mother's name.
I also checked the NLI records and found that their birth records for the Carracastle area started after John McGeever was born. However, I may find a sibling born to John McGeever in those records.
Jack:
Yes, the Carracastle baptismal records start in 1853 and marriages in 1847. The priest will not have any earlier records and civil registration started in 1864.
Fauleens townland is southwest of the church about 1 and 1/2 miles. The only McGeever baptismal record in Carracastle is an 1858 record for a Michael McGeever baptized February 21 1858. His parents were Michael McGeever and Mary McDonnell. The family was from Cloontia which is a small village in the other direction from the church so not likely your family. Information from Roots Ireland.
The 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Fauleens did not show any McGeever households. There was an Andrew Geiver/Geever. Is this your family?
Roger
Jack:
Hope this link works. It is the April 13th newsletter for Carracastle church. Priest info on top. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=carracastle%20church%20newsletter
Roger