I just learned that my 2nd great grandfather, Martin McGreevey, was from County Roscommon. I found his will which tells his parents were Richard and Catherine McGreevey. He is said to have been born in 1833 in Boyd parish. I suspect that is a typo error as I can only locate a Boyle, not Boyd. He also lists siblings: Richard, Mary, Catherine, Winnie and Margaret. All of these siblings emigrated to the USA. I do not know if/that the parents emigrated, too.
Tom,
Attached is a record for Boyle parish in Co. Roscommon.
I did not find a record for Martin McGreevey in www.rootsireland.ie ; - Subscription Site.
You can access those records on the NLI - Free
Who was the solicitor who had charge of the Will.
Regards,
Tom:
The baptismal records for the RC parish of Boyle go back to 1793 with some gaps early but starting 1814 records are available continuously. As McCoy points out there are no Martin McGreevey baptismal records in Co. Roscommon and there are no McGreevey baptismal records in Boyle with a father Richard.
Based on the absence of records in Boyle, there is a good possibility that the family attended a nearby parish which does not have records back to the 1830s. The parish just to the east of Boyle is Ardcarn/Cootehall and the baptismal records for that parish start in 1843. I searched for baptismal records in Ardcarn and there are two possibilities.
John McGreevy baptized May 7 1843 father Richard McGreevy mother Catherine Toughran Here is a link to the actual parish register entry
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633862#page/7/mode/1up
Roots Ireland also had a June 3 1846 baptismal record for an Eleanor McGreevy with father Richard McGreevy mother Catherine McGreevy. Note: I could not find this record on the parish register.
There are a few other records of interest. The Tithe listings for 1834 for the civil parish of Ardcarn show a Richard McGreevy living in Drumsillagh townland leasing 11 acres of land http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587398/00…
Roots Ireland also had a February 2 1824 marriage for a Richard McGreevy to a Catherine Taghran Note mother's maiden name for John McGreevy. The parish was Croghan/Killucan just to the south of Ardcarn/Cootehall parish. Marriages were held in the bride's parish.
In conclusion, there is evidence that Richard and Catherine married in Croghan in 1824. They had a number of children and lived in Drumsillagh townland in Ardcarn civil parish and baptismal records are available for the two youngest children. I note that the will did not show John and Eleanor as siblings.
Let me know what questions you have.
Roger McDonnell
Thanks to you both for spending the time to try to help me. There is a lot here to absorb. The Will for Martin is from Mower County in Minnesota, USA and is hand written. Some of the writing is not so clear. I suspect the place name Boyd is an error or spelled incorrectly. But it definitely says County Roscommon.
I am in the process of trying to track down those siblings in the US. One sister, Margaret, lived in the same town as Martin. Another, Mary, is said to have stayed in New York which is where Martin intitally emigrated to and got married and had 7 sons. Interestingly, the will provides for money for each of these siblings in the form of saying a Mass to pray for "the repose of their souls", which leads me to believe that they all predeceased him. I suspect they may have been older than he was.
This McGreevy group has been my main Irish brick wall. I have been researching this family for over 10 years. I have submitted my DNA to a Roscommon group on numerous DNA platforms. I am thrilled to have gotten to this point and so thankful there is a place like this which such great folks as yourselves who help others so willingly. Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Tom
Hello Tom,
There was a Martin McGreevy Died 18th Feruary 1913 age 80yrs. Father Richard McGreevy. Mower County Minnesota, U.S.A.
Minnasota State Census 1885 Mower, Adams. Martin Gravy age 52yrs Born Ireland (Head) Alice Gravy born Ireland (Wife) age 55yrs Thomas Son Born N.Y. age 23yrs. George Son Born N.Y. age 19yrs. Patrick Son Born N.Y. age 17yrs. Samuel Son age 13yrs.
There are often spelling mistakes made on documents back in the day because of accents and lack of education etc. The proof is in the Gravy. LoL.
Alice Gregory Born abt 1830. Kells, Meath, Ireland. Father John Gregory 1783-1867 Co.Meath Mother Anne Gregory maiden name Bellew. 1791-1879 Navan,Meath, Ireland. Anne's Parents Patrick Bellew Mother Mary McGrath.
Siblings Of Alice: Christopher 1817-1895 Mary 1818-1897 Samuel 1826-1889 Sarah (Kelly) 1831-1910 Charles 1834-1910. (Information from Roots Ireland, FamilySearch, FindMypast, MyHeritage).
I hope this information is of Help. Stay Safe
All the Best
Peter C.