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Request for help

Wicklow

Hello,

My name is Joe Kelley and I live in Massachusetts. Almost all of my great grandparents came to America (Philadelphia) from Ireland in the 1850’s and 1860’s. I have recently been working on ancestry.com and familysearch.org to learn more about the various branches of my family. 

From family records and stories, I know that my paternal great grandfather James Kelley (probably Kelly before arriving here) emigrated with his sister Bridget more than likely in 1855 on the ship Tonawanda embarking from Liverpool for Philadelphia. Records of the ship show a Bridget Kelly leaving on April 23, 1855 and a James Kelly on August 1, 1855. James was born in 1837 and Bridget in 1835. 

Another family story claims that James was from Rathbran in Wicklow where he grew up with a certain John Fedigan. After emigrating, they reconnected in the area of Philadelphia. John Fedigan become an Augustinian priest and one of the early presidents of Villanova college, now Villanova University. 

However my research shows that John Fedigan was baptized in the RC church in Lobinstown in Meath in April 1842. I can find no trace of a James and Bridget Kelly born of the same parents in any area of Meath close to Lobinstown, nor in the area around Rathbran. 

I have found a Bridget and James Kelly baptized in 1835 and 1837 respectively in the town of Schull in the southwestern corner of County Cork. I am not sure these are my ancestors, but it’s the only match I can find so far.

If you have any recommendations they would be appreciated. I still am interested in learning if James Kelly and John Fedigan may have lived for a time in Rathbran, and whether their families may have know each other. 

Many thanks. Stay in good health. 

Joe Kelley

Jtk190@yahoo.com

3 replies

Hi Joe,

You should check out the following records to see if your descendants are recorded.

www.nationalarchives.ie - Tithe Records 1823 - 1837 and www.askaboutireland.ie - Griffith's Valuations early 1850's.

They are Free Sites and they cover the whole Island. 

Regards,

McCoy

Joe:

Here is a link to the 1854 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Rathbran civil parish https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/wicklow/rathbran.htm There are a number of Kellys listed which does not mean anything since the surname is so common in Ireland but it least it shows the name was prevalent in the parish. 

Regarding church records, many RC parishes in Ireland particularly in the west of Ireland do not have records back to 1837 so the possibility exists that baptismal records may not be available.

I did look on the subscription site Roots Ireland in the Baltinglass records and found two records for a Bridget and James Kelly with the same parents.James Kelly baptized August 4 1833 with father James Kelly and mother Esther Keoh and Bridget Kelly baptized September 12 1830 with father James Kelly and mother Essy Keogh. 

They lived in Manger townland in Rathbran civil parish.

Many immigrants changed their year of birth when they came to the new country often to make themselves younger.

I would also encourage autosomal DNA testing.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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