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Roger Sweeney

Greetings:

I am seeking the birthplace and hopefully relatives of my Great Grandfather.

Andrew Joseph Sweeney
Born: 25 March, 1855 or 1856 (possibly in County Sligo or County Mayo), Ireland. His parents were Roger Sweeney & Nora Gilmore. (No dates or places)

Andrew emigrated to the United States around 1870 and later earned his U.S. citizenship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 5th, 1876.

On June 21st, 1893 he married Mary Elizabeth Kelleher, whose parents, Daniel Kelleher and Margaret Meehan are thought to have come to Philadelphia from County Cork, Ireland. My grandfather, Austin Joseph Sweeney was born on January 9, 1901 in Philadelphia. 

I have some documentation (Naturalization papers, application for marriage license, death certificate, etc.) but all say only IRELAND as his place of birth. 

I have done Ancestry DNA and GEDMatch

I thank you in advance for any help you might provide.

askerwhat@yahoo.com

6 replies

SM Sweeney:

I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find any baptismal records for children of Roger Sweeney and a wife with the surname Gilmore. This would indicate that Andrew and any siblings where baptized in a parish that does not have records back to the 1850s.

I then looked awas leasing land at that timt the Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Mayo (1855) and Co. Sligo (1858) and there were only two Roger Sweeney records. (This presumes your Roger Sweeney was leasing land at that time).

Roger Sweeny Glenmullynaha West townland in Kilbeagh parish in Mayo

Roger Sweeny Cloonacool townland Achonry parish in Sligo.

The Cloonacool RC records start in October 1859 and the Kilbeagh records start in 1847 (Charlestown) or 1853 Carracastle.

So I would lean towards the Sligo record as an area for research.

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

SM Sweeney:

I searched the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie for death records for Roger Sweeney/Sweeny in the two registration districts (Swinford and Tubbercurry) which relate to the two Griffiths records. I did not find a Roger Sweeney record but did locate an 1871 Honor Sweeney record in Cloonacool. She was a widow. Either Roger died before civil registration started in 1864 or he died 1864-1871 and the family did not register the death.

Roger

fifth record      https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger, thank you so much for your efforts.  I appreciate it.  Much of what you mention confirms my research as well.  Andrew emigrated to the US in 1871, so it makes sense that he might leave Ireland after his father's death.  He was only around 17. 

My hope was to locate a possible sibling of Roger's.  Any ideas on how to go about that?

Stay safe and healthy!  Sharon

 

askerwhat@yahoo.com

I was just chatting with my dad and he said that his father's delayed birth certificate specifies the birthplace of his father (Andrew Sweeney). If it's accurate, this would mean that Roger would have been in this area in 1856 when Andrew was born. The one thing that perplexes us is that it says: SLIGO(H) COUNTY MAYO IRELAND. We don't know what the 'H' refers to, and we don't know why he would have listed two counties unless he just wasn't sure where he was born. Anyway, I've attached it so maybe you can take a look and provide your thoughts. Again, thank you very much for your time and efforts. Sharon

askerwhat@yahoo.com

Sharon:

I don't think Andrew was sure where his father was born which resulted in the Sligoh Mayo. Maybe he thought Sligo was part of Mayo.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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