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Seeking Arthur O'Malley and Margaret Holleran info??? Arrived US approx 1865

Mayo

My great grandparents were Arthur O'Malley and Margaret Holleran. My first verified info on them is in Pittston, PA in 1865. Arthur would have been born in 1840-45 somewhere in Mayo, I surmise. I can't find a marriage record for them in the local Catholic church, so assume they may have married in Ireland before departing for the new world. Their first child, my grandfather Patrick, was born in 1865 in Pittston. I believe Margaret's father was John Holleran and her mother was Mary Kane (both born in Ireland, but emigrated). I do not have similar information about Arthur. A man named Patrick O'Malley is also found in public records in Pittston around the same time and may have been Arthur's brother. Several of the same men acted as pall bearers in the funerals of Patrick and Margaret (Holleran) O'Malley. One distant DNA relative of mine in Ireland suggested that Arthur's father may have been Michael O'Malley from Mayo. Any info would be helpful ... thanks!

Pat O'Malley

5 replies

P. O'Malley:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and found only one possible baptismal record in 1846 for an Arthur O'Mally in Mayo. See transcription below. I located the record in the Aglish (Castlebar) RC parish and the father was shown as Michael. One caution is that a good number of Mayo RC parishes do not have records back to the 1840s. Also, I'm concerned that someone born in January 1846 has a son in America in 1865. I did not find any baptismal records for siblings including Patrick.  I also did not locate a marriage record.

The only possible Margaret Holleran baptismal record I located was also in Mayo in 1846. See below. One flaw is that this Margaret was not RC. The father was John and the mother was shown as Mary Holleran. Normally, the maiden name was show but was this Mary also a Holleran or did they show her married name.

In summary, you have two possible leads but I don't have a high degree of confidence that we located the correct records.

Roger McDonnell

Name:Arthur MalleyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:25-Jan-1846Address:
Parish/District:Aglish RC parishGender:MaleCountyCo. Mayo
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Michael MalleyMother:Jane RyderOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Not Recorded LuddenSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Ludden

Name:Margaret HolleranDate of Birth:24-Apr-1846
Date of Baptism:07-May-1846Address:BallinaParish/District:KILMOREMOYGender:FemaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Church Of Ireland
Father:John HolleranMother:Mary HolleranOccupation:Carpenter
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Unknown UnknownSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Unknown Unknown

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks, Roger, for the tips ... I don't think this was my Arthur, because I think he was born around 1840 or 41 ... in an 1880 US census Margaret states her age as 35 and Arthur as 40, although this could well be a guess or approximation.  He listed his surname as Malia.  I suppose that this could be my Margaret, since the father is John and the mom is Mary, but I'm sure it was not usual to have a "mixed marriage"  ... perhaps that's why we can't find a marriage record ... maybe they eloped to America and were married by the ship's captain !!! or maybe they never officially married, though I can't imagine that was the case.  Would you be able to check my grandmother O'Malley's parents?  They were John Noone, born in Ireland, presume Mayo, abt 1834, and Winifred Brogan, abt 1841.  Thanks again!

Pat O'Malley

I can check further records but I'm confused. If Arthur O'Malley and Margaret Holleran were in Pennsylvania and had their first child in 1865 in Pittston, I assume subsequent children including your O'Malley grandmother were born in Pennsylvania?  Also, you indicate that you grandmother O'Malley had parents John Noone and Winifred Brogan??

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Sorry for the confusion.  My paternal grandparents were Patrick O'Malley (b: 1865 in Pittston to Margaret Holleran and Arthur O'Malley, both born in Ireland, presumed Mayo), Patrick's wife (My paternal grandmother) was Winifred Noone, born in Pittston around 1870 to Winifred Brogan and John Noone, both born in Ireland, presumed Mayo ... these were the two I asked you about.  On my maternal side, the great grand parents were Cecilia Hines and John Walsh,  Michael Tierney and Anna Barrett.  All were born in Ireland in the 1830s and 40s.  We have no information on which towns or cities.  Any info on any of them could give me a new lead.  Thanks for your help!

Pat O'Malley

I did further searches on Roots Ireland and did not find a marriage record for any of the three couples you mentioned. Either they were married in parish that no longer has records for the period when the marriage occurred or they married in America.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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