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Searching for Sweeney/ Foynes

Laois

My g.g. grandparents were married in Maryborough in Feb 1867. Peter Sweeney was about 30 and Catherine Foynes was 25. When they married they showed Peter's father as James and mother was possibly Mary. Catherine's father was James Foynes and mother may have been Catherine. Two of Catherine"s siblings may have been Margaret and Thomas. Margaret may have married a Henry Johnson and moved to Canada around 1872.

In 1877 Peter and Catherine moved to Toronto with their 5 children, most of whom I have found baptismal records for. They had one additional child born in Canada, my g. Grandfather Joseph.

Looking for clues to their lives in Ireland and to family left behind. I have done my DNA through Ancestry and have matched with someone who lives in Portlaoise but our trees so far offer no clues. The DNA match does not appear to be random as she has also matched with several people that I have a known connection to.

Would love to know if any further trace of these families has been left behind after all these years.

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Hi Colleen,

The marriage record is on rootsireland.ie/ but has no more info to what you have posted:

Date of Marriage:24-Feb-1867
Parish / District:Maryborough
County:Co. Laois
Husband
WifeName:PeterSweeney
CatherineFoynesAddress:Ballinaguague
KilminchyDenomination:
Occupation:Herd
CottierAge:30
25Status:Bachelor
Spinster

Husband's Father
Wife's FatherName:JamesSweeney
JamesFoyneAddress:
Occupation:Herd
Weaver

This is the only Laois baptism for Peter with father Francis - IF he was born in Laois

Name:Peter SweenyDate of Birth:00-Jun-1827
Date of Baptism:
Address:
Parish/District:PortlaoiseGender:
CountyCo. Laois
Denomination:
Father:James SweenyMother:Mary Grey

Annoyingly there are no Kings / Offaly records in the 1851 Irish Census 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

 

Dear Colleen: 

Many thanks for your query to the Ireland Reaching Out message board.  I have forwarded your query to one of our local volunteers who may be able to assist you.  Please give them up to a week or so to reply. 

Kind regards,

Jane

jhalloranryan@…

Colleen:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I looked on the 1901 census and also reviewed civil death records and did not see any evidence of James and Mary Sweeney or James and Catherine Foynes after the 1867 marriage. Is it possible they were all deceased prior to 1864 or did they also emigrate?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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