My great grandmother, Winifred Frances Reany (Reany Reaney Reney) born 1862, possibly Roscommon, possibly an orphan, daughter of William and Catherine has stumped me for years. She did land in Providence, RI, USA, married Henry Carson and raised 5 children, but where did she come from?
Carolyn:
Just to confirm, was Winifred Roman Catholic?
I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland for all of Ireland and the only Winifred Reany baptismal record was in December 1844 in the RC parish of KIlbride in Co. Roscommon. The parents were Luke Reany and Catherine Reynolds.
I checked the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Roscommon and there were only four Reany (and variants) in Co. Roscommon but no Luke.
Have you taken a DNA test?
Roger McDonnell
Old Stone Bank Signature Book, Vol. 8, 1873-1875, Providence, RI (Ancestry.com) shows an 1873 entry for Winifred. She states she was born in Roscommon and that she is 18 years old…thus born c1855.