Greetings,
My name is Timothy O'Neill and I am trying to trace my family history. The only inofrmation I have is my grandfather, also named Timothy O'Neill was from Valencia Island and emigrated to New york City probably around 1905 or near that time. He was born around 1883 or 1885. Any information is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Tim
Timothy:
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
www.irishgenealogy.ie ; is a free Irish government site. They have Co. Kerry church records up to around 1880 but under the Civil Records TAB, they have images of birth records from 1864-1916 plus marriage and death records for certain years. I located two Timothy O'Neill civil birth records in 1882 and 1884 and it looks like the parents are the same so likely the 1882 Timothy died young and the 1884 is your grandfather. However, the 1901 census shows him as 18 which would correspond to 1882. Let me know if this is the correct family.
Roger McDonnell
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Kerry/Valentia/Kilbeg_…
Dear Mr. Roger McDonnell,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm not sure if this is my grandfather but I believe it may be him. I have his birthday on a union membership card as July 30,1885, born in Valencia Ireland. But that was when he was 57 years of age after living a long time in New York City, so memories can change. I looked at the 1901 Irish census and it lists a Timothy as 17 years of age, which, as you say, would make his birth year as 1884. I notice in the 1901 census that the house is listed as 36 in Reenard (Caher,Kerry). Would this location be near Valencia Island? I see in the 1911 census that it appears the mother and father and one son (William) had moved to 17 in Reenard (Caher, Kerry). Again, would people refer to these locations as Valencia Island? On the records of Ellis Island, New York there is a Timothy O'Neill, who arrived on the Adriatic on May 16th 1907 at the age of 23. It is listed that his last place of residence was Valencia Harbour, Ireland. Again that goes back to the 1884 date. Technically he would not have been 23 until July. However, I'm not so sure things were that precise on Ellis Island in 1907. Another interesting note, I did see another Timothy O'Neill, age 23, arriving in Ellis Island two weeks earlier on April 27th, 1907 on the Lucania. This Timothy O'Neill listed his last place of residence as Cahersiveen, Ireland, I believe this is very close to Valencia, so I don't know. If my grandfather did arrive in 1907, that would agree why he wasn't listed on the 1911 census in Reenard.
Thank you again for your time, quick response and your help. My ultimate goal would be to apply for Irish citizenship, which would be a very proud moment for me and my family. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Sincerely yours, Tim O'Neill
Hi Tim!
The 1884 birth record that I provided was for a Timothy born to Timothy and Ellen and he was born on Valenica Isalnd. I provided a link to the 1901 census for that family on Valencia Island.
The other Timothy which you found in Reenard would be a different Timothy and Reenard is on the mainland not the island.
The house numbers in the two censuses have no meaning or value. When the RIC constables went house to house in a townland, the first house visited was House 1, the second was House 2 and so on. The 1911 constablevisited the houses in Reenard in a different order. The family did not move.
So I would focus on the Valenica Island Timothy O'Neill.
FYI- Good luck on getting your dual Irish citizenship. I got mine about twenty years ago.
Let me know if you have questions.
Roger