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McGowan's of Donegal

My Great Grandfather Cornelius "Neal" McGowan is my brick wall.  I have very little information/documentation for him.  It was said that he came from "Donegal" we do not know whether that is the county, city or where he emegrated from (Moville).   Neal came to New York City, USA some time before 1880 - the first documentation I have of him in the United States (Census)..  In 1880 he was married to Susan (Moan/Mowen) and had a baby son, Patrick (5 months old).  Patrick was born on January 16, 1880. Neal's age is listed is 30 - which would put his birth circa 1850.   I believe he may have immegrated in 1872 - I found a passenger list which lists "Neal" McGowan age 22 with a "Mgrt" age 28.  No relationship is stated. 

Susan and Neal McGowan ultimately had 13 children.  Several of their children's baptismal (Roman Catholic) records list "Mcgowan's" as sponsors/God Parents.  In 1882 a  Bryan and Mary McGowan, and  then in  1895 a James McGowan and Mary McGowan.  I did find a James McGowan who became a US citizen.  The address he gave matched where my GGF Neal lived.  I am now tracing "James" to see what family connection there is.  I tracked James back to Tawnytallon the son of John McGowan and Peggy Gilroy - they had several chilren - none of which matches my GGF Neal - however there is a gap in the births of John and Peggy's children where my GGF could have been born.

Based on Irish naming conventions, I believe that possibly my GGF Neal's father's name could be Patrick or Joseph as his first born son was Patrick Joseph.  I also looked for other siblings for Neal -  Bryan, Margaret and a Michael (as I found a Neal McGowan living with a Michael) .

I rently found found an Royal Irish Constabulary record for a Cornelius McGowan dated 1867 - where can I explore more information on this record?

thank you 

Movick

4 replies

Movick:

Welcome back to Ireland Reaching Out!

I searched on Find My Past and found little info on the Cornelius McGowan in the RIC. There appears to be a Cornelius in 1867 (record you located) and then another Cornelius McGowan (same service number) who was appointed in 1910. He was then reappointed and assigned to a barrack in Co. Roscommon but then deserted at some point. If you belong to Find My Past you should be able to find this information by exploring the RIC data set.

I checked the subscription site Roots Ireland and there is no baptismal record for Cornelius McGowan which is not surprising since most Donegal parishes have records starting post-1850. You mention Tawnytallan. Where is this info from? There is no official townland with that name. 

Have you located a death record for Cornelius and does it show parents names?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger.

Tawnytallon is a former name for the village of Mountcharles which lies c.3 miles North West of Donegal Town, Co Donegal. I hope this may be helpful.

Anthony

 

T Travers

Anthony:

Thanks!

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger and Anthony!

 

I do have Cornelius' death record - and unfortunately his parents names are not listed!

Thank you for confirming the RIC records - it appears that since the same service number is assigned, it cannot be my GGF Cornelius as he died in the U.S. in 1898,

And the search continues..................

 

Thank you 

Movick

Movick

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