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Sheridan/McGaharan (and spelling variants)

CavanScrabby (Cavan)

Hi, I am researching my family history and have found that I am related to Denis Sheridan and Rose McGaharan who were married in Scrabby on 19 Feb 1833. I have also found the baptismal records of many of their children: Charles (30 Mar 1834; Mullinalaghta); John (17 Apr 1836; Mullinaghta); James (20 Jul 1838; Mullinaghta); Patrick (19 Mar 1841; Mullinaghta); Mary (25 Aug 1843; Mullinaghta); William (15 May 1846; Lough Gowna). In the late 1840s they moved to Dublin where at least one more child was born (Bridget; 1 Jun 1851 in Baldoyle, Howth). I have been unable to find the baptismal record of my ancestor - Ellen Sheridan who according to family records was born around 1848 in Dublin. I have also been trying to find information on Rose McGaharan in particular and the various spellings have made it more challenging as she is recorded as McGaharan, McGaheron, McGaghian, McGahern, McLoughlin, McGahan. Denis and Rose's daughter - Ellen Sheridan - married Patrick Cheevers in Dublin (30 Apr 1871) and migrated to New Zealand in 1875 with two young children. Based on what I understand to be traditional naming patterns in families, I suspect that Rose McGaharan was the daughter of a James McGaharan and Ellen ? I would be grateful for any information/suggestions for potential research. I realise the records are limited but so is my own knowledge of the records and of Lough Gowna and Scrabby fullstop. It looks like a beautiful place. Thanks and best wishes, Astrea

 

 

 

 

Astreanz

3 replies

 

 

Hi Astea,  

I have a subscription to Roots Ireland, I searched it but did not find Ellen's baptismal certificate.  The records may not be transcribed or may be missing, so keep an eye out on their site for such records.  As you have it I did find Denis & Rose's marriage cert in Mullinaghta.  That part of Co,. Cavan is close to the Longford border so you have to keep an open mind as to which county they may be from as this parish was formerly known as Scrabby and Colmcille East. It was formed about 1832 from part of Killashandra Parish, Cavan, and eleven townlands in eastern Columbkille Parish, County Longford. (Colmcille is a variant spelling). There are two chapels: Church of the Holy Family in Scrabby, and St. Columba's in the townland of Cloonagh, Columbkille Parish, County Longford. The eastern portion of Columbkille Parish is called Mullinalaghta by the residents. Lough Gowna is a village on the shores of Lough Gowna in County Cavan.

As you went through the baptismal records of the children, did any of the McGahern family appear as sponsors?  Chase them up you never know where they lead to.

According to Family Search the records that they have available are 

Baptisms 1833-1920

Marriages1833-1871, 1877-1906

Burials 1833-1860  

Go through all the records on https://genealogy.nationalarchives.ie  see if you can find any reference to either of them in the records  

Also contact: Genealogy Centre Contact Details
Cavan Genealogy
1st Floor, Johnston Central Library, Farnham St., Cavan 
Tel: +353 (0) 49 4361094
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net
They charge a fee but hey may have something that is not available elsewhere.  

You could write to the parish in Scrabby and ask the secretery or priest to publish your request in their parish bulletin, you never know what turns up.  I wish you the best of luck.  Regards Carmel

 

 

 

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Carmel, Thank you so much for your reply and for clarifying things for me - especially with regard to details on the Parishes in relation to Counties over time. Thanks also for the encouragement to keep going with my research - looking out for records that may become available, and for the links and sources of potential information to follow up on. I have recorded the names of the baptismal sponsors of the Sheridan children and have been wondering where to start with following up with them (where to start). I'm not sure if sponsors were typically adults or children and also the relatedness? I also subscribe to Roots Ireland. Many thanks for your assistance and best wishes from New Zealand, Astrea

Astreanz

Hi Astrea,  

The sponsors could be anyone, catholics were often baptised the day they were born, so they could have been close neighbours, older siblings and relatives.  I doubt they would have had time to send for people from distant areas unless they were women who had already come to help with the confinement.  It is difficult to find women, partiularly as they are not very often noted on marriage certs as mothers.  

 

Regards Carmel

 

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

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