Thank you so much Pat for replying to my query. I will follow up your suggestions. My McGuire ancestors left ireland and came to Canada early 1840s. Pat came as well but returned to Ireland, and settled. I have no idea where he settled, or who he married. Yes, he did have a brother Andrew born in Drogheda as well.
He had two sisters born in Duleek, 1833, 1834 (Frances) but no church records survive, one of these was my ggg grandma. (Sarah 1833). In addition to Andrew there were 3 other brothers all born in Ireland but no two sources agree as to where and haven't been able to locate proof..James. George and Francis. (it seems weird that James and Frances McGuire she would name a daughter Frances and a son Francis.......but her daughter Sarah did the same thing)
In 1927 my great aunt and uncle went back to Ireland looking to see where their mother (Sarah) had been born and went to Duleek., to find out family history . Aunt Gene kept a diary and this is what she recorded
We roamed through the old church yard to see if we could see a Jas McGuire - none there. I went up the tower and then saw "the Garbela Road, my dear old mother's birth place.
I found out the spelling should have been Garballagh and is now called Navan Road. The old church tower, or the cemetery I do not have a name for, and apparently there was no tombstone or marker. Not sure if any burial records survived. James probably died 1834-1841. His widow married 2nd William Lee not sure when or if in Ireland or Canada.
Now here is the sticky part........Sarah and her siblings raised their children in the knowledge that Francis Johnston, the Architect and his wife Anne Barnes were their grandparents. Every book or article I have read on him states he died without issue. ........
In the last Will and Testament that Francis Johnston wrote in 1828 he made the following bequest...(he died in1829)
I bequeath Arthur Williamson of Paradise Row 50 pounds sterling AND I also desire that 150 pounds sterling may be put into the hands of the said Arthur Williamson which he is to pay to Fanny McGuire, who now lives at Annesbrook, near Duleek, in whatever way he judges most conclusive to her benefit and her own receipt to be a sufficient discharge for the same.
And no relationship was given.(I found this Will about 15 years ago).
Going back to the Diary of Aunt Gene.....they talked to the Sexton at St. George's Church in Dublin (Church of Ireland),and he related the following story he was told as a child and provided name and address of a man who could verify the story) and apparently there was a Breach of Promise Suite, the father launched on behaf of his daughter and won. She refused the money, he disowned his daughter and she eloped with a Roman Catholic named James McGuire, who died in Duleek and is buried there.
As an aside, the money he won that his daughter refused was used to purchase a Peal of Bells and after his death, his wife donated to St, George's Church and when it was decommissioned as a church, donated to another and was rung in 2000 for the Millenium.
I also located the Will of Anne Barnes Johnston and no mention was made of a daughter.
When I found the records of Patrick and Andrew in Drogheda, it was the first proof I had James McGuire and Frances/Fanny Johnston.were a couple who had married.
As an FYI Frances Johnston McGuire Lee was born in Co, Armagh either 21 June 1791 tombstone or 21 July 1794 - plaque in church in Canada
I am sorry that I have rambled on and most think my story is nonsense, but I thought you might appreciate it and if you have any suggestions, I would welcome them.
Sincerely yours, Patricia O'Brien
