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Cahalens, Cahaleys in Cavan?

Cavan

It is told two brothers came from Ireland and worked the ships until they earned ther permanent passage to America. I know of James Cahallens who married Rachel Howel (sic) in 1761 in Salem, New Jersey. He was a Yeoman, a farmer, on his Bond for marriage, and we believe there was another brother, George or John. George lived in New York, and John lived in central N.J. Census always mentioned IRELAND.

My DNA is 96% Ireland/ British Isles. Further family lore says they came from an area in the Caha mountain in Southern Ireland but that cannot be ascertained by us.

If anyone can lend a hand, please let us know. We are visiting Ireland in 2014 and I'd love to visit the place of my ancestors. I am Don and I am 62.

Our family name is pronounced Ca-hail'-ey in Southern Indiana on down to Georgia and South Carolina. In te North of North America, it is pronounced Ca-hail'- A . The Spelling and pronunciation varies quite a bit.

Thank you. d_cahala@yahoo.com

dcahala

2 replies

Afternooon

I'm not sure how much help I can be to you as the year you refer to is so early and parish records generally do not go back that far. The Caha mountains are near the townland of Fehanagh which is in the Civil and Roman Catholic Parish of Tuosist. The Roman Catholic records for that parish, for example, begin in 1844, quite early as records go but still not early enough for your purposes. I did check the 1901 Census quickly, on the basis that if your ancestors were from Kerry that they didn't all emigrate (or perhaps they did, we don't know!). There are some Cahalane's mentioned on the Census but it would not be possible to say for sure, if they are descendants of your Cahallens. Perhaps someone can suggest another avenue for you to check out. At the very least it is a lovely area to holiday, if your stay permits

Best of luck

Mrs Doyle

IrelandXO member

Thank you. That's very good information to have, Mrs. Doyle. I must say I have been stumped on this for many years, tryng to get past James and Rachel's bond in marriage in New Jersey back in 1761. That is about as far as I have gotten since about 1998 or so. Cahalane is a posbility, so I should look to that spelling back here and in Ireland. The spelling of my family name is vast- even in the ssame generation it can be different. I'm told they wrote the name by the way the pronounce it at the time.

I should also look further into the DNA listings  too.

But thank you so much for doing the looking up for us.

I pray I will find something before we come, but on way or another, I vow to have a good time while in Ireland!

Bets Wishes

Don and Jeanne Cahala

dcahala

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