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Seeking Informatin on the Frank or John Campbell family from Cavan.

Cavan

I have been searching15 years for informtion on the family of my great grandfather John Campbell b-ca 1852 Ireland, d-1889 Brookline Massachusetts, USA. The only clue is from his 1877 marriage registration where he listed his parents as John Campbell and Mary Dalton. There have been no clues as to his county or parish of residence or birth. His wife and 5 children were Catholic so I am only guessing that he was Catholic too. Recently I stumbled across a reference from Cavan pension request files listing the dates 1841 and 1851 which noted a John Campbell, son of John Campbell and Mary Dalton, who lived with his grandfather Frank Campbell. Due to a computer glitch I have lost the source citation so can't seem to find it again. Apparently the request was denied (?) with a note saying he or they "hadn't lived with [Frank Campbell] the grandfather for 4 years". The dates on the report precede the birth of my g-grandfather so its unlikely that he was the one seeking the pension. However it could have been a request by his father another John Campbell. The couple could have been residing with Frank Campbell during tht time period at some point. The on ly reason that I think this could be a legitimate clue is that one of "my" great grandfather's grandson s was named Frank. Thats it- the only faintly hopeful clue in all these years. There are so many by the names here that winnowing out "my" John Campbell without any further provable clues has been fruitless. No one has responded to any of my other family messages and Ive been a member for a couple of years. I so very much hope someone from Cavan may be able to dig around a bit and send me some information, family notes or a relevant parish, something I can research further. Even if its only to eliminate this family group from my long list of "maybes". Thank you in advance for you random act of kindness.

jclose2@cfl.rr.com

3 replies

Jody seeking:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Here is a link to the record you once had http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/reels/c19/007246724/007246724_00985.pdf

The Old Age Pension Act was passed in 1908 and implemented maybe 1909-1910. You had to be 70 years old and there were certain annual income requirements. Many potential applicants did not have any proof of age but at that time the 1841 and 1851 census records were available at the Public Records Office in Dublin. The 1841 and 1851 censuses were later destroyed in the 1922 fire at the Records Office during the Irish Civil War. Some of the pension applications and related proofs were not destroyed and these records are available on the National Archives site.

Here is how I interpret the document: It appears the pension application was filed February 24, 1910 but possibly the year was 1918. The applicant was John Campbell and his parents were John Campbell and Mary. John Campbell indicated that he was born in Ballyhugh townland in Drumlane civil parish in Co.Cavan. The clerks searched the 1841 and 1851 censuses and found the family (John Sr. and Mary) and they were living with John Sr's parents Frank and Mary. They did not find the applicant John Campbell in the 1841 census but he was listed in the 1851 census as 4 years old so born 1846-1847.

Unfortunately, your John Campbell died 19 years before the Old Age Pension Act was passed so the record above is a different John Campbell.

I also searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland but did not find any Campbell baptismal records with parents John Campbell and Mary Dalton.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so very much for searching for me and for the  background  information..  I am pleased that our conclusinos  agree - but  terribly disappointed  that  my great- grandfather  continues to elude  us. I would so like to tell his story and  something of his origins  to honor my father and grandfather (both deceased) ; there are  literally dozens of  young descendants in the ensuing  6-7 generations that followed for whom it would be something to treasure. While I know my grandfather's father could not have been any of the characters in the Cavan story,.  I am still not convinced they aren't related but how to tell??  Its the only bit of evidence Ive found  that even comes close.    I have searched and searched  but. I will have to go back to the Boston archives and scour further  for  a clue of some kind. My John Campbell married Annie Ahearn. I found her parents marriage registry ( 1850) Co Cork and although the surname Walsh is even more numerous than Campbell, I have traced my Walsh relatives from Co Waterford , but this ancestor completely stumps me. My great grandfather died  vey young -aged ca 37, my granfather was only 11 yrs old at the time.  Hence there was little time for him to  learn much of his heritage  from his father.  I am searching  for living  descendants of my great grandmother  's Ahearn family who might have inherited some bit of memorabilia that would offer a clue.  Maybe there is a family bible somewhere.  In the meantime our John Campbell  will remain one of the thousands of anonymous Irishmen who came to America in those troubled times, lived and worked and died,dragging the  US  up  into better times literally building America,  by their labors. He is buried at Holyhood Cemetery on Heath St in Brookline, Ma.      

  Thanks againyour   efforts are geatly appreciated.                             

jclose2@cfl.rr.com

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