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Need help finding my Grandmother's Birthplace

Hello - I would like to find my Grandmother's birthplace as I would like to visit and see if I may still have relatives there. I would also like to know which ship she traveled to America. I have been searching Ellis Island records (ages don't seem to match up well, however) and am struggling with how to use the Boston manifests. I am not experienced at all - this is my first foray into genealogy.

Here is the information I have:

Margaret Dolan - DOB on tombstone in Noank, CT, USA is 20 April 1898. However, Marriage certificate lists her as being 20 years old at the time of her marriage to Elmer Baker in New London, CT, USA in 1916. Date of death- 21 June 1951.

Mother's name: Julia Dolan

Father's name: James Dolan

Sister's name: Ellen Dolan MacGlaflin (married to Charles MacGlaflin)(born Nov, 1984 died 25 Oct 1966 in Norwich, CT USA)

There may be other siblings, but I don't have that information.

My father (now deceased) used to say she was from Dublin, but then he would also say that she was from County Cork, so obviously, he had incorrect information.

I did find something at the following URL, however the ages of Margaret and Ellen would be incorrect if I had their birthdays correct: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Moyne/Brierfiel

Any help is much appreciated! Thank you!

nlbmkt@gmail.com

16 replies

Nadine,

The names Michael and Julia Dolan are very common and so tricky to search. However you might possibly have something with the 1901 census, if your information is that the mother’s maiden name was also Dolan. Ellen born 13.12.1889 had parents James Dolan and Julia Dolan nee Dolan. See:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1890/02439/1907403.pdf

Here’s Margaret born 15.9.1891, again at Brierfield (Stephens):

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02365/1883394.pdf

Here’s the family in the 1911 census. Parents married c 1870. They had 13 children of whom 10 were alive that year.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Galway/Moyne/Brierfield__Stevens_/474211/

What do Ellen and Margaret’s marriage and death certificates say about their father’s occupation? Was he a farmer? Do they all confirm the mother’s maiden name as Dolan?

I wouldn’t worry too much about the dates of birth not agreeing with the gravestone and marriage information. In the 1800s most Irish people didn’t celebrate birthdays and rarely knew when their date of birth. If officialdom asked for one, rather than cause a possible problem, they often just made one up. (And, in Margaret’s case, if she knew she was older than her husband she might have decided to adjust her age down for that reason).

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Elwyn,

First, let me say that I cannot express how pleasantly surprised and grateful I was to receive your response.  I never expected to hear from anyone so quickly!  

I do understand what you are saying about the ages not being exact - I read that somewhere else as well.  

I think I found another relative, which quite shocked me, as I had never heard of this person.  I found my grandmother (I believe) living with a sister in 1920 in New London, CT, USA with her 3 1/2 year old son (my uncle).  The sister's name was Mary Dolan Fitzgerald, 35 years old (born 1885 or possibly in 1884 since the census is dated Jan of 1920), immigrated to the US in 1906.  Naturalized, 1916.  I really feel that this is my family.  Now if I can figure out how to get US Naturalized information (I have already started to look for the "how"), I may have my answer as to where my Grandmother came from.  

Please take a look at the immigration document I found.  Alas, as you said, the names Margaret and Dolan  with parents James and Julia are very common and the town of birth here seems completely off.  However, the dates are correct.  

Thank you for your help!

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

Nadine,

You say that you found Margaret with a sister that you had never heard of, namely Mary. Well we do know that if the Brierfield Stephens family is the right one, then there was a Mary in it, of the right age. (She’s in the 1901 Irish census but gone by 1911 which fits with the immigration information you have). She was born 21.5.1884. See:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1884/02688/1989946.pdf

I’d be inclined to look for Mary Dolan’s marriage and death certificate, as well as her naturalisation record, again to confirm the parent’s names, father’s occupation and her place of birth. The more sources you have the better. Especially with common names like these.

What does it say on  Ellen & Margaret’s records by the way?  Is their father a farmer, and mother’s maiden name also Dolan?
I don’t think the passenger arrival you have found is the right one.  Father’s name is shown on the passenger list as Patrick Dolan. The townland of origin is Bunavan (Ahascragh will be the postal town).  Here’s that 1914 passenger, in the 1911 Irish census, with her parents who were Patrick & Margaret.  Definitely doesn’t fit with your family information.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Galway/Clonbrock/Bunavan/466727/

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Elwyn,

You are definitely correct that the 1911 census record you found is not my family.  On the passenger list, however, I could not see the father's name listed, but I am sure you are correct.  

On my Grandmother's marriage certificate, her mother's maiden name was indeed listed as Dolan - I thought the person recording the information was simply being careless.  It did not occur to me that Julia Dolan could have indeed been her maiden name!  Did I mention that her marriage license states her name as Margaret E Dolan, and that her age was 20 as of 6 November 1916?  On her sister Ellen's death certificate, my Great Grandmother's name is again listed as Jullia Dolan and that Ellen was born in November, 1894.  I cannot find anything at the moment that mentions my Great Grandfather's occupation.  I will definitely see what I can find through US immigration records.

Again, I cannot thank you enough for all your help.  As soon as I discover more information, I will get back to you.

Sincerely,

Nadine Baker

nlbmkt@gmail.com

Dear Elwyn,

I traveled to the National Archives and did find a few interesting things.  First, I found a page two for the ship's manifest that I provided to you.  It shows that this particular Margaret Dolan went to stay with her sister Sara in Roxbury, MA.  The family you found for me has a sister named Sara as well.  Also, you mentioned that the document states that her father's name was Patrick instead of James.  But I am wondering  - could that Patrick have been an uncle?  The manifest states that an uncle paid for her passage.  Would you kindly take another look and let me know what you think?

Lastly - and this is disappointing - prior to 1922, when an immigrant married an American citizen, they were automatically naturalized.  This means that there are no naturalization documents for my Grandmother in the National Archives, since she married my Grandfather in 1916.  Sigh....  And I really thought I had a good lead!

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

I have looked again at the 1914 passenger list for Margaret Dolan but to me it’s pretty clear that the nearest relative information says “Father, Pat’k Dolan, Banavane, Ahascragh.” (And we know there was such a person in Bunavan who had daughters Margaret and Sarah).

We know there were at least 2 Dolan families with daughters Margaret and Sarah (very common names in Ireland). I think the 1914 passenger record is clearly for the one from Bunavan whose father was Patrick, and not James. You ask if Patrick might be Margaret’s uncle. Well it could be, but it’s not what the passenger list says.

Remember that not every passenger list has survived and that there are also transcription errors so some information hasn't made it on-line accurately. That could be why you can’t find your Margaret.

If you remain unconvinced, try researching the migration of Sarah from Roxbury to see when she arrived in the US and who she named as her next of kin.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Elwyn!

I apologize for taking so long to get back to you, but I was moving from Connecticut to Florida.  I am still far from being settled, but at least I canb take a little time to get you up to date with my findings.  I had to join the Connecticut Society of Genealogists to see my uncle's birth certificate, but when I was finally able to get those credentials, I was pleasantly surprised to see my Grandmother's birthplace listed as County Galway! I was so excited!  Now....if I can only figure out which Dolans in County Galway!  I am hoping to visit there this summer and would definitely appreciate any assistance from you.  I think that my Grandmother came from a large family and I can't help but think I must have some relatives there still.  It would be wonderful to meet them.  

I will do more research, per your suggestion, about Sarah.  I must admit, however, that getting settled into my new home is taking up a large amount of my time, so it may take awhile.  In the meantime, I would definitely appreciate any information you come across.

Thanks for all your help!

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

I had a look in the current phone book for Galway. I didn’t see any Dolans in the Brierfield area, though since many people these days are not listed that doesn’t mean there are none there.

Brierfield Stevens is just off the N63 between Galway & Roscommon. Why don’t you go there and knock on a few doors. Local knowledge often cracks these problems.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn,

I won't be there until August, but I'll take your suggestion.  Just a question - why did  you mention the Brierfield area in particular?   

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

Nadine,

Brierfield (Stephens or Stevens) is the name of the townland where what appears to be your family lived in 1911, and earlier. There are a couple of other Brierfields in the area, nearby. But yours were in Stevens at that time.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Elwyn,

I am now trying to plan my trip to Ireland and am not certain how much time I should spend searching for possible family members.  Is there any way I can try to contact people from the US prior to my trip?  What if everyone emigrated and I have no relatives there after all?  I would hate to waste precious touring time since everything sounds so beautiful there!  I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

 

Thanks.

 

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

There's no-one listed in the current phone book for that area. However as I said previously that doesn't mean too much as not everyone is listed these days. I think the only answer is to go and knock on a few doors in the area. Locals willbe able to tell you if there is anyone of that name around these days. And in any case you'll get to see the area where your ancestors lived.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I will give it a try.  Thank you Elwyn.

Nadine

nlbmkt@gmail.com

Dear Elwyn,

I am happy to report to you that I found my family on my recent trip to Galway!  The information you provided to me, combined with that of Christy Keating at the Cobh Heritage Center, the church caretaker, Gerry Finn at Parish Abbeyknockmoy, and finally, a wonderful Brierfield woman named Olive Crowe (what a wealth of knowledge she is!!) did the trick!  My family and I are now connected and plan to stay that way.  We are so happy!  Can't thank you enough!!  

Nadine

 

PS - I have some other files for your information in case anyone else comes looking.

nlbmkt@gmail.com

Delighted to hear it worked out so well. 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, my name is Fiona and I have just come across this post.  My mother is Teresa Dolan and her Grandparents were James and Julia Dolan from Brierfield Co. Galway.  Her father was Patrick Dolan, Margaret Dolan's brother.  You can contact me re email fionaohara@hotmail.com 

Fiona O'Hara

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