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William Fegan (born 1 April 1827)

Cavan

I am at a loss to find any information regarding William Fegan who supposedly was born in Cavan.  I believe it is Cavan because the terrible handwriting of his US Naturalization Form says "Cever," and Ancestry, Family Search, and other sites use that translation.  It's quite disheartening to come to a dead-end so soon.  My own research has not found any birth records, but his marriage to Mary McLaughlin names Patrick Fegan as his father and Elizabeth (Leahy or Leavy) as his mother.  Needless to say, I would be extremely grateful for any information provided. Thank you!

Gerri Fegan

gerrifegan

4 replies

Gerri:

I'm going to assume that William was Roman Catholic.

More than half of the RC parishes in Co. Cavan have baptismal records that start later than 1827 so likely he was baptized in a parish that no longer has records back to 1827. (Many parishes "lost" their earlier parish registers).

I did search the subscription site Roots Ireland but was not able to find a record for William. I also searched for baptismal records for any children of the couple you listed but there were no records.

I did check the Tithe listings from the late 1820s and there was a Patt Fegan in Lisnageer townland in Kildrumsherdan civil parish and a Pat Fegan in Ahalackan townland Anna gelliff civil parish. There were also some Pat Fagan records. So you have some leads on where the family may have been from.

Have you considered DNA testing?

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much, Roger, for all your work on this! I am currently looking at other DNA matches who are linked to Patrick.  I did come across a New York passenger list that matches his naturalization date.  He married one year later here in the States and moved to Watertown, Massachusetts.

I'm going to check those tithe listing you recommend as well.  Do you have a specific database you use for that?

My very best to you,

Gerri Fegan

gerrifegan

I've got the record. Thank you.  I will keep it in my files in the hopes that it is he.  Still digging for some birth records.

Thank you again!

Gerri

gerrifegan

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