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Walsh family in Parish Gallen

OffalyGallen (Offaly)

Greetings!

 

My great grandfather Patrick Welsh/Welch/Walsh was born in Ireland about 1811, helped to build the Kingwood tunnel for the B&O Railroad 1849-52 in Tunnelton, West Virginia, then continued on there as watchman until he died in 1881. I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, but now live in San Diego, California, and for the last few years my daughter and I have been trying to trace Patrick back to Ireland.

 

A few months ago, I found an 1858 ad placed by Patrick in The Boston Pilot, a newspaper for Irish immigrants (see uploaded image), looking for his brothers George and Thomas. The three brothers, George, Thomas, and Patrick, were from King’s County, in the parish of Gallen/Gillen. In Gallen Civil Parish, the 1823 Tithe Applotment Books list only one Walsh: Mick Walsh, in the townland of Glyn. The 1854 Griffith’s Valuation survey likewise lists only one Walsh in Gallen: James Walsh, in Ballysheil and Cush East.

 

My guess is that James Walsh was another brother of my great grandfather Patrick, and Mick was their dad. So I am tracing James' family forward using church and civil records, hoping to find living cousins who can corroborate my theory by oral history or DNA. James Walsh lived in the townlands Ballysheil, Cush East, and Ballingowan Glebe. James died in Ballingowan in 1883, but his son John was still living there at the time of the 1911 census, with sons Paul and Thomas. Both James and his son John were lock-keepers on the Grand Canal at Ballingowan Glebe (Belmont, lock #33).

 

I've uploaded an image of part of my Ancestry.com family tree, and listed some of my sources below. If you know of any Walsh families who might have roots in the parish of Gallen in the mid-1800’s, or have other suggestions, I would be very interested.

 

Thanks very much,

--David Welsh, San Diego, California, USA, welshdk@ucsd.edu
 

1796 Flax Growers List (Fáilte Romhat)

Walsh: 2 matches in King’s Co.

  William Walsh, Killaghally or Wheery Parish [civil parish adjacent to Gallen]

  John Walsh, Killaghally or Wheery Parish

 

1823 Tithe Applotment Books for King’s Co./Co. Offaly (National Archives)

Walsh: 1 match in Gallen Parish, King’s Co.

  Mick Walsh, Glyn Townland, 1823

 

1844 Land Valuation Books for King’s Co./Co. Offaly (FindMyPast)

Walsh: 2 matches in Gallen Parish, King’s Co.

  Dr. Walsh, Quarto Book, Cloghan, 1 Feb 1844

  James Walsh, House Book, Cush East Townland, 1844

 

1851 Landed Estates Court Rentals (FindMyPast, Ancestry)

Walsh: 1 match in Gallen Parish, King’s Co.

  James Walsh, Ballysheil Townland

 

1854 Griffith’s Valuation for King’s County/Co. Offaly (AskAboutIreland.ie, completed 1855)

Walsh: 2 matches in Gallen Parish, King’s Co.

  James Walsh, Ballysheil Townland, plot #6, 2 acres

  James Walsh, Cush East Townland, plot #4, 10 acres (including vacant house)

 

1821/1831/1841/1851 Census Fragments for King’s County/Co. Offaly (National Archives)

Walsh: no matches in Gallen Parish, King’s Co.

 

1876 Landowners in Ireland for King’s County/Co. Offaly (Fáilte Romhat)

  James Walsh, Cush East Townland, 16 acres, surveyed 10 Feb 1873 - Nov 1875

 

Church Marriage Records for Walsh in Gallen Parish (RootsIreland)

Michael Walsh & Judith Daly, Gallen, 2 Nov 1809

James Walsh & Catherine Ryan, Gallen, 19 Apr 1844

 

Civil Death Records for James Walsh in Parsonstown/Offaly (IrishGenealogy, RootsIreland, FamilySearch)

James Walsh, Ballingown, Banagher, d. 1 Aug 1883, 63yo, widower, lock keeper

  cause of death: phthisis [TB?], 6 months; informant: John Walsh, son, occupier, Ballingown

  Ballingown = Ballingowan Glebe Townland, borders Ballysheil, Gallen Parish, Parsonstown Union

 

Civil Death Records for Catherine (Ryan) Walsh in Parsonstown/Offaly (IrishGenealogy)

Catherine Walsh, Ballingowan, Banagher, Parsonstown, d. 19 Mar 1882, 62yo, married, farmer’s wife

  cause of death: phthisis [TB?], 6 months; informant Margaret Walsh, daughter, occupier, Ballingowan

 

Baptismal Records in King’s County with parents James Walsh & Catherine Ryan (RootsIreland)

Pat Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 10 Mar 1850 [record missing, cut out of page]

James Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 3 Feb 1851; sponsors Carol Coghlin & Mary Jacuan

Peter Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 6 Oct 1852; sponsors Timothy Mathias & Mary Healy

Margaret Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born Jan 1857; sponsors Michael Duffy & Mary Lynn Fahy

Ciaran [Kieran, male?] Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 1 Jan 1861; sponsors John Ryan & Mary Kennedy

Ann Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 23 Nov 1862 [twin?]; sponsors Lawrence & Anna Healy

John Walsh, Tisaron & Galen Parish, born 23 Nov 1862 [twin?]; sponsors Lawrence & Anna Healy

 

Civil Death Records for children of James Walsh in Parsonstown/Offaly (IrishGenealogy)

James Walsh, 23yo, d. 1874, Parsonstown District, quarter 1, v. 3, p. 506

 

1901 Census for children of James Walsh in Gallen Parish (National Archives)

Patrick Walsh, 50yo head of family, tailor, married, born in King’s Co.

  house 48, Cloghan Town, Gallen Parish, Cloghan District, King’s Co.

  wife Ellen 50yo, no children, 3 lodgers

John Walsh, 44yo head of family, lock keeper, married, born in King’s Co.

  house 5, Ballingowan Glebe Townland, Gallen Parish, Cloghan District, King’s Co.

  wife: Kate, 38yo house keeper, married, born in King’s Co.

  3 sons: James 13yo, Paul 9yo, Thomas 7yo

  2 daughters: Mary 16yo, Kate 11yo

 

Civil Birth Records for children of John Walsh in Gallen Parish (IrishGenealogy)

Mary Walsh, Ballingown, b. 27 May 1885

  father: John Walsh, lock-keeper, Ballingown; mother: Catherine Cleary

James Joseph Walsh, Ballingown, b. 1 Jan 1887

  father: John Walsh, farmer, Ballingown; mother: Catherine Cleary

Catherine Walsh, Ballingown, b. 2 Nov 1888

  father: John Walsh, lock-keeper, Ballingown; mother: Catherine Cleary

Paul Walsh, Ballingown, b. 7 Apr 1890

  father: John Walsh, lock-keeper, Ballingown; mother: Catherine Cleary

Thomas Walsh, Ballingown, b. 1 May 1892

  father: John Walsh, lock-keeper, Ballingown; mother: Catherine Cleary

 

Baptismal Records for Catherine Cleary in King’s County, predicted age ± 5 yrs (RootsIreland)

Catherine Cleary, Birr & Loughkeen Parish, baptized 14 Dec 1862; parents John Cleary & Mary Carroll

 

1911 Census for Walsh in Gallen Parish (National Archives)

Patrick Walshe, 70yo head of family, tailor, married 12 yrs, born in King’s Co.

  house 29, Ferbane Town, Wheery or Killagally Parish, Ferbane District, King’s Co.

  wife Ellen 73yo, no children, 2 boarders

John Walsh, 56yo head of family, lock keeper & farmer, widowed, born in King’s Co.

  house 2, Ballingowan Glebe Townland, Gallen Parish, Cloghan District, King’s Co.

  2 sons: Paul 19yo, Thomas 18yo; 1 daughter: Katie 20yo

 

 

 

 

welshdk@ucsd.edu

14 replies

Hi David

Welcome to IrelandXO. The following records appear to relate to the family post 1911.

Paul Walsh death 1957, Lock Keeper, Daughter Josephine present

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1957/04400/4145459.pdf

Name:  Josephine Walsh 

Event Type: Birth  Event Date:  Jul - Sep 1942

Event Place:  Birr, Ireland

Registration Quarter and Year:  Jul - Sep 1942

Registration District:  Birr

Mother's Maiden Name:  Buckley

Volume Number:  3

Marriage Paul Walsh & Margaret Buckley in 1934  https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1934/08956/5241594.pdf

Gerard, Parish Liaison Lackagh

Fabulous! Thank you so much! This is really helpful, and with your inspiration I was also able to trace Paul's sister Mary forward another generation using civil records. 

Once I have potential living cousins identified, how would you suggest looking for them? Local churches? Facebook? Are there websites for finding living people in Ireland, like there are in the USA, e.g. https://www.familytreenow.com ?

Thanks again, 

--David Welsh, San Diego, California, USA, welshdk@ucsd.edu

 

 

 

welshdk@ucsd.edu

Hi David

Can be quite difficult due to privacy regulations in Ireland.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp&n…;  Has Births to 1919  (100 year rule). Marriages to about 1945. Deaths to 1970 are quite useful as often give next of Kin if they died at home.

https://www.rip.ie/mbr/login.php ;   Free registration, records from about 2006 to date.

https://www.eirphonebook.ie/ ;            Telephone Directory

Regards

 

Gerard, Parish Liaison Lackagh

Thank you! I was also thinking of contacting local churches and the current lock-keeper. --David Welsh

welshdk@ucsd.edu

David

Hello and Welcome

Have you tried

https://www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/a-river-to-hel…

https://www.waterwaysireland.org/about-us/archive

https://csorp.nationalarchives.ie/search/index.php?category=27

https://www.iwai.ie/lock-keeper-contact-numbers/

With regard to living people have you done your DNA - there is an Offaly DNA Genealogy group on Facebook.

Lockkeepers mostly work now for Waterways Ireland but if you do a general search for Lockkeepers in Ireland you might have some luck there.

 

Geraldine

 

 

 

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, Gerard and Geraldine, for the very helpful leads and interesting links! From Waterways Ireland, I got the phone number of the delightful current lock-keeper Alan Wynne, who knows the Walsh family still living in the lock-keeper's cottage at Ballingowan/Belmont, and agreed to put me in touch with them! He believes this family served as lock-leepers there 1803-1964. I hope to learn more soon!

So, with your help, I have traced James Walsh, the only Walsh listed in the 1854 Griffith's Valuation in Parish Gallen, to his living descendants. If my great grandfather Patrick Walsh was indeed from Parish Gallen, born about 1811, how likely do you think it is that Patrick and James were brothers? Do you agree that a DNA match may be the best evidence for this? 

Regards, --David Welsh, San Diego, California, USA, welshdk@ucsd.edu

 

welshdk@ucsd.edu

Hello David and sorry for not replying sooner.

That is great news that Alan Wynne knows the Walsh family and will put you in touch with them.

It is great that you have traced James Walsh to his living descendants but I do think that DNA might link you to more decendents in the Offaly area.  

If Patrick was born in 1811  he could easily be James's brother.

I am going to read through all your message at the weekend and try to link them up.  The only thing that jumps out at me is the Cush and Belmont are a good few miles apart.  The Cush is in Lemanaghan Parish and Belmont is in Gallen Parish, that is not to say they could not have moved to work as lock keepers on the Canal in Belmont.

Also there is a group on Facebook called Pullough Golden Oldies and I might post your query there, if that is ok with you.  The Cush is beside Pullough.  Its actually called 'The Cush' and is a very small area near Pullough and Ferbane.

Anyhow I will come back to you

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for your reply, Geraldine! Since my last message, I have been in contact with the Walsh family descended from James Walsh of Ballysheil & Cush East in the 1854 Griffith's Valuation. One still lives in the lock-keeper's house at Ballingowan Glebe (near Belmont). Another lives on or farms the same plots of land occupied by James in 1854. Birth/marriage/death records also document the connection. So I am quite certain that this family is descended from James. DNA testing is pending to see if they are cousins of mine.  

I believe "The Cush" you refer to is different from Cush East, which is in Gallen Parish. Ballysheil is adjacent to both Cush East and Ballingowan Glebe. See the townlands database here.

We also hope to find more information about the Walsh lock-keepers in the archives of Waterways Ireland, although we might have to wait until the pandemic subsides for that. 

As for the earlier generation of the Walsh family in Gallen Parish, I found on RootsIreland.ie a new census substitute "Landholders King's County 1824", which lists Michael Walsh and Thomas Walsh in Noggusduff. Michael also appears in the 1823 Tithe Applotment Books in Glyn, but Thomas is very interesting, because my great grandfather Patrick's first son was named Thomas. If Thomas is Patrick's father, that would fit with the naming convention at the time, I believe.

Any further suggestions would be most welcome! Thanks for your help!

--David Welsh, San Diego, California, USA, welshdk@ucsd.edu

 

 

 

 

 

welshdk@ucsd.edu
Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Geraldine: Sorry, your reply dated 8 Dec appears blank. Did you intend to reply? Thanks, --David Welsh

welshdk@ucsd.edu

David I have a first cousin a Priest in San Diego - in Magnifica San Diego

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Geraldine: Could you please suggest how best to find other Walsh DNA relatives in Co. Offaly? Unfortunately, I am not a match to the Ballingowan/Belmont lock-keeper Walsh family on AncestryDNA, so I would like to explore other possible relations in Co. Offaly, especially those named Walsh and/or with roots in Parish Gallen. I've joined the Facebook and GEDCOM groups for Offaly DNA, but I'm not sure how to proceed from there. Thanks very much! --David Welsh, San Diego, welshdk@ucsd.edu

welshdk@ucsd.edu

Hello David you uploaded your dna to Gedmatch.com did you get a kit number

If so when you log into gedmatch on the right hand side DNA Applications - at the bottom of this list Ancestor Projects and you pick the Offaly one.  When it has compared the kits to your kit it will give you a list of names who you match with.

Then you 'snip' the results and post them in the Offaly DNA group.  (if you dont have the snipping tool you can download it

My kit number is A054058 if you want to run yours against mine.

Let me know how you get on 

Geraldine 

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Geraldine: Thanks for the tips. I ran the comparison with Offaly DNA group members on GEDMatch, and the closest match is only 11.9 cM. I don't see any Walsh surnames in trees of any of my closest matches, either. I'm beginning to wonder if the Boston Pilot newspaper ad was misleading. Perhaps there was another Patrick Walsh in Tunnelton in 1854, and my Patrick Walsh was not from Parish Gallen, Co. Offaly after all. I will keep looking! Thanks for your help! --David

welshdk@ucsd.edu

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