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Mystery of my Grandmother - Christina Donegan

Fermanagh

I am looking for a death record for my grandmother - Christina Donegan (nee mcmahon) from Newtownbutler, Fermanagh. She was born on 18/03/1897 in Donagh to John James McMahon and Sarah Jane Maguire. Siblings were Margaret (maggie) John Francis, Mary C and Charley. She married my grandfather on 31/07/1917 in Belfast (Patrick Donegan). I cannot find a death record of her anywhere. She is supposed to have died of TB in 1925 but I have found no records to confirm this. It would be great if anyone had any information about Christina or her parents. John James Mcmahon was a national school teacher and worked in Kilturk School in Donagh

MaireadD

8 replies

Hi Elwyn, yes, this is Christina, living with an aunt and uncle in 1901 and 1911. This is the only death I can find as well and it doesn't fit. I don't think she died in 1925, she may have left, or gone into an institution. She had just had my father in October 1924, she may have had post natal depression and in those days they just locked them up.

 

MaireadD

You can check deaths up to 1970 on the GRONI website, and beyond that if you contact them directly. Perhaps she was still alive post 1970? If she died in an institution she would still have a death certificate. The institutions records are likely to be closed though. Most of those sort of records are closed for 100 years.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Mairead, I am familiar with the Donegan name and Newtownbutler and would like to see if I can be of help to you. Would you know where Christina was livng when she had her last child, and when Patrick her husband died? 

 

 

paseo

Elwyn,

I'm so sorry I haven't replied sooner. I have just saw your mesasge, must have missed the notification. My understanding is that her and Patrick were living in Killyroo when my father (her last child) was born in 1924.  Patrick died in February 1959 in Enniskillen. All help would be gratefully received as I have hit a bit of a brick wall. 

There is also mystery in her childhood as she appears in the census 1901 and 1911 living with her aunt Margaret Rooney in Keeranmore Armagh Manor at the age of 4 and 14 when the rest of the family were up in Belfast. 

I've also discovered she had two further siblings Agnes Sarah and Patrick who both died in childhood. 

Hopefully hear from you soon. 

Mairead 

 

MaireadD

Mairead,

I can confirm that The Valuation Revision records (which go up to 1929) list Patrick Donegan as living on plot 4 in Killyroo up to 1929 (and presumably beyond). That was a 27 acre farm. Elizabeth Donegan had some land next door on plot 5. Presumably a relation. 

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/Val12B/Search.aspx

Patrick’s death is on the GRONI site, registered in Enniskillen on 27.2.1959 aged 69.

An Elizabeth Donegan died 25.5.1957  aged 73, regd Enniskillen. No sign of Christina. Indeed there were only about 4 Donegan deaths registered in Enniskillen between 1924 and 1959.

Hopefully paseo may be able to help.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Mairead, Sadly I have not found Christina's death  - yet!  I am also gong through the Donegan families to see if I can decipher where Patrick comes from as it may help with graves and headstomes - where he might be buried, and where we might find Christina burued. Do you know who Patrcik's paretns were?

 

paseo

Hi Elwyn, 

Patrick's parents were Francis and Elizabeth Donegan. They are both buried in St Mary's graveyard in Newtown along with 2 of their sons, - William and John, 2 of their daughters Mary Ann and Elizabeth and their grandson Francis and grand-daughter Maura. Francis and Elizabeth lived in Kilnakirk, Newtownbutler. 

Francis died 22/12/1924  and Elizabeth 1937 

I don't know why Patrick didn't get buried with his father and mother as there was obviously room as the grandchildren were buried with them. 

Thank you for helping me with this, I do have a lot of information but where Christina and Patrick are concerned all roads lead to nowhere. 

Mairead 

MaireadD

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