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Seeking Ulick Lynett / Lynott and Bridget O'Boil / O'Boyle from County Mayo - 1790s to 1830s

Mayo

Recently I have been trying to research my maternal great-great grandmothers family, all from Ireland. My wife and I will be visiting Ireland in July, and I would like to see areas that they lived in if I can identify them. Finding information about them in Ireland has proven to be more difficult than my limited genealogical skill and resources can master, so Im asking for help from local genealogists with more experience and information.

Ulick Lynett (sometimes Lennet, Linnet, Lynet, Lynot, or Lynott) and Bridget OBoil (OBoyle) came from County Mayo. Ulick was born about 1791 or 1792 and died 29 Mar 1878 in York, Ontario, Canada. Bridget OBoil was born about 1798 and died about 1868 in Canada. Ulick and Bridget were probably married around 1820 since their first child, Nicholas was born in 1821. Their next three children, Ann Catherine (1822 1865), Bridget (1825 after 1881), and Margaret (1832 to 1847) were born in Ireland. Their last three children (Jane, Daniel, and Sarah) were all born in Ontario, Canada. Based on that, I assume the Lynett family immigrated to Canada between 1832 and 1834 when Jane was born. Their daughter Bridget married my great-grandfather, Patrick Cosgrove, in 1841. The Lynetts and Cosgroves were all Roman Catholic.

According to the 1851 Canadian census, Ulicks neighbor was Patrick Lynett, who was eight years older. Patrick also provided the headstone for Margaret when she died in 1847, so Im sure Patrick and Ulick were related, perhaps brothers.

My information is based mostly on what I have found on Ancestry.com, but I have also searched FindingMyPast.com, FamilySearch.com, WeRelate.com, Google.com, and, of course, the message board on IRELANDxo.com. I find that Ulick Lynett is not as unique a name as I would have guessed. There are many citations for Ulick on genealogy sites, but the dates and places tell me they refer to a different Ulick. There are a couple of citations, however, that may be relevant.

The 1897 edition of Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland 1536 to 1810 by Vicars lists an 1808 will for Ulick Lynott of Galway town. He is not my Ulick but perhaps a relative.

Also, FamilySearch.com contains a record from Ireland Tithe Applotment Books, 1814-1855 for Ulick Lynotts tax assessment for 1815 from townland Ballinkinletragh, parish Kilfian, in County Mayo. My Ulick would have been about 23 in 1815 so it could be him, but I have no way of confirming his identity.

As mentioned above, Im looking for the town or Parish the Lynetts would have lived in, but any information about them and their extended families would be a wonderful addition to our family story. Who knows, maybe I even have relatives in County Mayo.

Thank you all very much for considering the request. I appreciate any help you can give me, and I look forward to seeing your beautiful country soon.

Thank you.
Michael Myers
Oregon, USA

wmm4hobby@gmail.com

7 replies

Dear Michael:

Many thanks for your post to the Ireland Reaching Out message board and welcome to the site!

I have checked some of the transcribed parish registers that are online through the Roots Ireland and while I cannot find any Ulick Lynott and Bridget O'Boyle family, I do see where both of  the surnames occur in the parish of Moygownagh, and where the Lynott name also occurs in the Kilfian parish and in the parish of Crossmolina.

Ironically, there is a Ulick Lynott born in 1882 in the parish of Crossmolina.  I am going to forward your query to a local volunteer in the Moygownagh area who may be able to assist you further.  He will reply to this post and he will be able to guide you further when you visit.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  You can contact me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com

Kind regards,

 

Jane

jhalloranryan@…

Hi Jane,

Thank you for your help. Even though we have not found the exact answer yet, your information is a big help. It at least gives me some possible locations to visit and feel like I am seeing areas typical of what my ancestors experienced. 

Thank you also for referring my question to your friend in Moygownagh. I'm eager to learn what he finds.

Now I am off to locate and learn about these parishes.

Best wishes,

Michael

 

wmm4hobby@gmail.com

Hi Michael,

Jane passed your genealogical query to myself, apologies for the delay in responding as I have been on vacation. 

You may run into the sand in terms of trying to go much further back regarding your ancestors - Lynott and O'Boyle are indeed well attested surnames in Moygownagh and Kilfian areas. The early 19th century Catholic Marriage registers exist for Kilfian Catholic Parish but not for Moygownagh - while it is the reverse in the later 19th century! Also beware that the Kilfian and Moygownagh CIVIL parishes are very different to the Catholic parishes - which confuses a lot of people. 

Here is a link to the Catholic Parish of Moygownagh where you can also find a map of the Catholic Parishes of North Mayo. www.moygownagh.ie

Have you any other placename mention in Mayo of any of the people you have listed - even the children who were born in Ireland? Anything at all could give an indication of their original parish.

I do have better news on places to visit when you arrive - The ruins of Carn Castle (featured on the Moygownagh website) (and I mean ruins!!!) is actually the site from which all Lynotts in Mayo ultimately descend from - and your Ulick is no exception. I can explain more - but for now I can tell you that the original De Lynot was granted the lands of Carn in Moygownagh sometime in the late 13th century and subsequently built a castle there which remained in the Lynotts possession (it was always known in the documents as 'Lynotts' Castle") until the early 17th century. Also the Lynotts feature in a very famous poem by Sir Samuel Fergusson 'The Vengence of the Welshmen of Tirawley' set in and around this castle.

Anyway - we may be able to extract some info to see where Ulick came from - or even his wife.

My best

 

Liam 

 

 

Moygownagh MayoIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Michael

I forgot to say but the Ulick Lynott you found in Kilfian parish (Ballykinletteragh) does not appear to be your ancestor. He seems to have been married to a Bridget(?) Foody with children born in the 1820s but none with the names you mention. 

Liam

Moygownagh MayoIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Liam.

I appreciate your help with this request. Even negative results are progress. It is one less lead to run down. Your information confirms what I have suspected based on my limited research. My ancestors were in Ireland just a little too early to be easily found. They predate the advent of routine census taking and may only be documented in things like family bibles or parish documents that may or may not exist.

At least I have some ideas for places to visit. Carn Castle sounds like a very interesting place to visit. I have always been interested in archeology. This combines archeology and genealogy.

Thank you again for your generous assistance.

Best wishes,

Michael

 

 

wmm4hobby@gmail.com

 

Michael:

Three years too late but better late than never.  

We share Lynott surname along with my cousin in Ballina.  Her GGG grandfather is Ulick Lynott.  Her name is Mary Lynott Kilcullen and we would love to touch base.  Her Lynotts were from Scullibeen in Crossmolina but Ulick was believed to be from Kilfian Parish and town Ballykinlettragh.  These towns are all within walking distance and the majority of Lynott familiies were in this small rural area.  My GGG Grandmother was from Ballaghamuck of which, again, is within walking distance and we believe she was the sister of Ulick.

My GGG Grandmother Bridgett Lynott married Samuel Johnston of Fortland who was, I believe, a protestant minister.  That is how I was able to locate records back to late 1700s.  Most all of her children migrated to Montreal and she as well after her Samuel Johnston passed away.  I see your ancestors ended up in York but did they originally immigrated to Montreal prior to York? 

The Lynott clan was a large landholding clan in 1500s-1600s before land seizures.  An historical family in North eastern Mayo.  Most are clustered around Crossmolina and North.

My Mom passed away 6 years ago but loved her life in Portland.  Oregon is a gorgeouos.  I miss visiting.

I would be happy to send you an invite to my tree and I am sure Mark would.  My email is apaulburke@gmail.com.  I hope we can connect the ancestor dots.

Cheers,

Paul

 

apaulburke@gmail.com

Hello everyone! I am b.1991 Alexandrea Jean Lynott and descendant from b.1798 Alexander J. Lynott of County Leitrim, Ireland. Anyone seeing this that has Lynott lineage, I have created a Facebook group House of Lynott. Please join it! I am also posting as a newbie to this site wanting to connect lineages with you all as well!

Alexandrea Lynott

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