Dear Halfpint:
Many thanks for your query to the Ireland Reaching Out message board and welcome to the site!
Your ancestor sounds very interesting and if you haven't done so already, please consider creating a profile for him on the XO Chronicles tab located at the top of the page. Many of our members read the profiles and often, there are others researching the same families. It can be a great way to collaborate and share information with others.
As to your search, the Roots Ireland database has 2 entries for a John Melia. They are below:
1. Name:John Meilia Date of Birth:
Date of Baptism:13-Oct-1832Address:
Parish/District:KILCUMMIN OUGHTERARDGender:MaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John MeiliaMother:Bridget WalkerOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Thomas MeiliaSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mrs Clarke
2.
Name: John Melia Date of Birth:
Date of Baptism: 06-Apr-1838
Address: Not Recorded Parish/District: KILCUMMIN OUGHTERARD
Gender: Male County Co. Galway
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Father: Matthew Melia Mother: Bridget Melia
Occupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1: Michael Walsh
Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2: Catherine Walsh
Notes:
Neither entry is for Dunmore. The Roots Ireland website is a subscription site.
You might also check the Civil Records at Irish Genealogy if you believe that John Melia remained in Ireland, (or some members of his family). The Civil records began in 1864 and many of the images for births, marriages and deaths are online. The link for that site is below:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
Have you checked the Census Returns for 1901 and 1911?
The link for the returns is below:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
There is an entry in the 1911 Census for a John Melia living as a boarder in Knockaunnagat townland, Dunmore South, Galway with the Michael and Kate Kelly family.
If you have further information such as specific dates, names of parents, siblings, where John may have lived, etc. that would be very helpful. In the meantime, I'll pass on this query to several volunteers for their assistance.
Thank you for your interest in Ireland Reaching Out. If you have any further questions, please email me at: jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com and I will try to assist further.
Kind regards,
Jane.
