Researching O'Connor (Connor/Connors) Family in Doneraile

Dear COConnor:

 

Many thanks for your post to the Ireland Reaching Out message board.  We have a network of volunteers who may be able to assist you with your research and I have forwarded this query to them.  Please give them a week or two to reply and please let me know if you need any further assistance.  

Kind regards,

 

Jane

Dear COconnor:

 

If you will email me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com,I will give you volunteer details for contact.

 

Kind regards,

Jane

Hi there,

My grandfather was Michael O'Connor from Orange, New Jersey, born 1885.  His father was Patrick O'Connor (possibly Conners?) whom I believe was born in Doneraile around 1855.  He was married to Mary Ann Walsh of Buttevant, County Cork.  I think they both came to NY/NJ in the 1880s and I would love to learn more about them.  The research has been difficult.  I'm wondering if the Patrick noted above could be the same one?  Would love to hear any info you may have.

Many thanks,

Adrienne Morrow

Hi, Adrienne,

Thank you so much for messaging me! Given the dates related to our two ancestors named Patrick O'Connor, I'm afraid they might not be the same person. The Patrick O'Connor in my tree was baptized in Doneraile in 1824, while you mention the Patrick in your tree being born around 1855. I am by no means a professional geneaologist, I've found my information through obituaries, death and birth records, Findagrave.com and the Roots Ireland website. We may not be related through these men named Patrick O'Connor, but perhaps we are further back? Or maybe they are father and son? I did reach out to the Mallow Heritage Centre in Mallow, County Cork, they might be of help to you? They could not help me go back any further than John and Mary O'Brien (Patrick's parents) due to a fire that had destroyed documents. 

Would love to converse more about any findings where our paths might cross. Please feel free to email me carmencraker@gmail.com. Best of luck in your searching!!

Carmen O'Connor Craker

Hi COConnor,

I just ran across this post today. I think we might be related. My great-great grandfather, Michael O'Connor, was also from County Cork, and is believed to be from to be from Ballydineen, Doneraile Parish. We know he was from "near" Mallow. (Doneraile is certainly near Mallow.) In the 1990s my parents researched him and found records of a Michael Conners born (or baptized) on 19 Nov 1820. This Michael Connors was from Ballydineen, Doneraile Parish. His father was Timothy Connors. Interestingly, Griffiths Valuations for Ballydineen for 1833 shows a John Conners and Timothy Conners as holding land. (This site isn't allowing to post the link, but you'll find it if you Google Ballydineen Doneraile tithe appointment books.)  They're clearly related (although I'm not sure how) since one parcel is in both names (the other parcel is just in John's name). I suspect that John and Timothy were brothers. 

Michael O'Connor definitely immigrated to Philadelphia, as most of his children were born there, including my great grandfather, James Joseph (J.J.) O'Connor, were born there. The family later moved to San Francisco in 1858 or 1859 (he had a child born in San Francisco in December 1858 and is found in the 1860 Census on S.F.). However, it is believed that he emigrated from Ireland during the Famine, not as early as 1841. I believe that family tradition stated that he emigrated with a brother or cousin, although I couldn't swear to that. So, we may be distant cousins.

My family has tracked virtually all the descendants of Michael O'Connor but none of his ancestors or their descendants except for the above-mentioned Timothy Connors. Have you submitted DNA to ancestry.com or 23 and me? (I've submitted on ancestry.com. My daughter Brenda had submitted on 23 and me.) It would help both of us piece together and confirm our family histories if we show a match. Have you discovered any additional information since you posted?