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Searching for William Crowe 1837 son of Thomas Crowe

ClareKillaloe (Clare)

Hello from Australia. I am searching for information about William Crowe...

William Crowe (1837?-1931), farmer, was born at The Glen, County Clare, Ireland, son of Thomas Crowe, farmer, and his wife Margaret, ne O'Donnell. He was educated at the near-by town of Upper Kilbane, where he grew up with his maternal grandparents; he was still young when first his mother and later his father died.
Following the example of his uncle, Crowe migrated to Australia in 1855. After first landing in Adelaide, he sailed to the Western District of Victoria, and disembarked at Belfast (Port Fairy), before moving further east to Koroit where land was more easily available. Within two years he had purchased his first landa single acre (0.4 ha). On 20 April 1863 at Belfast Catholic Church, he married Catherine Aldworth, Irish-born daughter of a Koroit farmer; they had nine sons and four daughters.

I am not sure whether the Glen or Upper Kilbane are near Killaloe. I am visiting Thearea on the weekend of the long weekend 30 April to 2 May. I would appreciate any advice or leads.

Thank you

Rob

Robert Horwood

21 replies

Rob:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I found a baptismal record in March 1836 in the Killaloe RC parish records. See below. The blue link may not open for you unless you have a subscription to Find My Past. Here is a link to the parish register. http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0793 The name of the townland where the family lived is very hard to read and I don't want to guess. Here is a link to the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Killaloe civil parish and there were a number of Crowe records but no Thomas. http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/clare/killaloe.htm

The only Kilbane townland is in Killokennedy civil parish which is two parishes to the west of Killaloe.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

First name(s)WilliamLast nameCroweBirth year-Baptism year1836Baptism date? Mar 1836ParishKillaloeDioceseKillaloeCountyClareCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)TomFather's last nameCroweMother's first name(s)PeggyMother's last nameDonslonRepositoryNational Library of IrelandNational Library of Ireland linkhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634738#page/1/mode/1upRegisterBaptism

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Rob,

I happen to know the Kilbane area. The Glen is a fairly remote area just off what is known as the Gap road between Kilbane village and Killaloe. The road gets it's name from the fact that it goes through a gap between two hills - wonderful scenery but the road is narrow and steep - not for the faint hearted.  

The townland that Roger identified is possibly Glennagalliagh - that is nothing more than a hunch but that is the name of an area between Kilbane village and the Glen. 

I hope this is some help and if you want any more info or directions you can email me at jimvaughan@eircom.net 

Jim VaughanIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Roger and Jim, Thanks so much for your assistance. If this area is near an O'Brien's bridge near a church. it is probably right. The Griffiths valuation probably does not list the family as when Thomas and Margaret passed away, William was a baby and apparently lived with Margaret O'Donnell's sister, Sarah O' Donnell in Kilbahn. Sarah O'Donnell married  William Conway from Limerick. Does this still sound like to right area? I wonder if any Crowe, O'Donnell or Conway families still live in the area?        Thanks again for your advice.          Rob

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Dear Robert

I live in Adelaide; majority of my family (Quinlivan) came from Killaloe who immigrated in South Australia

I sincerely wish the very best with your forthcoming visitation to Ireland.  At Killaloe near St Flannigan’s Catholic Church there is a small shop called Whelan’s I highly recommend that you visit there during your travels. At this shop they sell various things including books by the fabulous Sean Kierse, "Land & People of Killaloe Parish" about 22.50 euros. Please beg borrow and steal (figuratively) this is a MUST HAVE book for any persons seriously trying to sort out their Killaloe families. Mr Kierse ingeniously reconciles the ALL the secular records of Griffith Valuations, and previously unpublished material from Limerick, their landlords and families. 

All the best on your quest.

Jeff

 

Jeff Fitzsimmons, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Rob:

I looked at the register again and I think Jim's suggestion of Glennagalliagh fits with the location shown on the register.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Roger, Jim and Jeff. Thanks so much for your assistance.                                                                                                      Jeff I will try to buy the book when I am visiting.  I wonder if our ancestors travelled to Adfelaide on the same ship?                                                                                                                 Roger I wonder why Margaret O'Donnell is named as Donsolon in the National Library of Ireland Records?  Also I wonder how to find out what happened to Sarah O'Donnell/ Conway? I wonder if they also went to Australia?                                                   Would it be possible to find out who Thomas Crowe and Margaret O'Donnell's parents were, or what they died of? Was there a famine at the time?

Thanks again for your help

Rob                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Rob:

The priest wrote down what he heard for the surname and my guess he heard Donolan for O'Donnell. The RC records for Killaloe parish start in 1828 so if Thomas and Margaret were from that parish, you won't find a baptismal record with their parents names. Death information was not civilly registered until 1864. The Great Hunger was 1846-1849 but there were smaller shortages of food and more localized before and after the 1846-1849 period.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger.

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Dear Jim, Roger and Jeff,

I have just returned from a fantastic trip to Ireland. I am very grateful for your help, without which I would not have found and visited the old broken stone houses probably inhabited by William Crowe and also tracked down 2 families of relatives we did not even know existed. Evelyn Whelan was an incredible link to people and the books I purchased from her have filled in some gaps in my family tree. Instructions for travelling to the Glen were spot on. What a stunning area! I must have spoken to 50 people in my search, from Killaloe, Kilbane, Bridgetown and Broadford, but it was all well worth it.

I spent many hours with the geneologists at the National Library of Ireland and using the search engines there. I cannot find a record of William Crowe's father, Thomas. I found a Thomas Crowe baptised 28 Aug 1838 at Kilrush Killaloe...perhaps a brother, although I believe the eldest boy is usually named after the father.

I found a record for Margaret O'Donnell baptised 19 June 1808 St Michael's Limerick City. This could possibly be William's mother. More interestingly, I then found Margaret O'Donnell baptised 16 Oct 1809 same church, with the mother recorded as Mary O'Donnell née Conway. Margaret's sister, Sarah, married a William Conway. I wonder if this is  pointing to a connection or if it is a coincidence? Both of these were found on Find My Past.

Thanks again for your amazing assistance. Please keep me posted if you hear or find any more about the Crowes or have any thoughts on the O'Donnells.

Kind regards

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Rob:

Thanks for your feedback on your fantastic trip.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Rob, I too have Thomas and William Crowes from Co. Clare but I don't thin they are in your line. However I can give you some information about the early origins of the Crowes if your interested. I have written a paper which is in the current issue of The Other Clare. If you are unable to access the journal I'm expecting a pdf copy soon and can forward it to you. Regards, Phil Crowe

Rob, I'll upload the journal article to academia.edu when I get the file and you'll be able to access it there. Will let you know when this is done.  Phil

IrelandXO member

Dear Phil, I would love to receive any information about the origins of the Crowe name or family tree as I am still searching for definite information. Thank you. Kind regards Rob

 

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Hi Robert & Philip

I been transcribing in a relational database the Killaloe Registers nearly finished Vol 1 & 2 of Baptisms of 3 and half way through the marriage records.  The Crowe or Crow familes have extensive listings in either as martial parties and/or witness; likewise with baptisms and sponsors. You have probably already got or been given the info, leave me a message if need any help:; kind regards: Jeff

Jeff Fitzsimmons, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Jeff, You're doing great work transcribing those records. I'm not sure what you mean by a 'relational' data base. Perhaps you're doing more than just listing the names. Sounds interesting. I don't think I would be related to any of the Crowes in Killaloe. My ancestors conformed to the Established Church some time before 1700 so are in the Church of Ireland registers. They lived mostly in and around Ennis. I'll upload my paper to academia.edu when the pdf copy arrives and you'll be able to access it there if you're interested. Phil Crowe

IrelandXO member

Hi Philip, I have created a Microsoft Access relational Database which uses multiple tables linked into to key tables for baptisms and marriages, in short without sounding too boring the way it works is the one record of surname i.e. "Crowe" feeds any record Baptism or Marriage database to minimise errors in transcribing the registers. The other major key advantage is that because it has all predefined tables this majorly speeds up the transcription process. At the end of the project you can sort in any or multiple fields, which gives geographical groupings and family structures. I have a lot relatives that came from the Killaloe Parish that migrated to South Australia in the 1800's; although majority didnt come out all at once there was a gradual migration from the 1840's through until the 1860's and ulimately a family community of people from Killaloe resided in South Australia. The ultimate purpose to create a tool that would help people sort out their histories. My families are Quinlivan, Cain, Storen, Coffee, Meers, Ryan, Glesson, Skehan & O'Briens. The irony is that 6 years ago I paid a lot of money to have a researcher go through the Killaloe registers and I am so grateful to be able to complete the task.

I keep in mind your Crowes paper; I accept all knowledge/histories.

All the best with your research. Kind Regards. Jeff

Jeff Fitzsimmons, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Rob and Jeff,  I've written a paper on the origins and history of the Crowes of Co. Clare.  It's published in the current issue of The Other Clare.  I have uploaded it to academia.edu. You can access it there if it might be of interest. You have to subscribe to the site but it's free and there are no obligations.  See what you think.  Phil

IrelandXO member

Hi Phil, thanks so much for giving me access to your work, which I will read with interest. Kind regards, Rob

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Hi Phil, I found your paper to be most interesting. I had read a little about Thomas Crowe, agent of the Wyndham estate. I think my ancestors are from another line, but I'm not sure. I was wondering if you found any mention of the Crowes from the Glen. I think I am related to Rev Tim Crowe 1864 and Rev Patrick Crowe 1855, Sister Margaret Crowe 1859, Sister Bridget Crowe 1861 and Sister Honorary Crowe 1863 of Classagh, the Glen. I also wanted to ask you if you can email me at rhorwood4@optusnet.com.au as I have a few more questions? Thanks again for making your work available for me to read. Kind regards Rob

 

 

 

 

Robert Horwood

Hello from Australia,

I'm still looking for information about the Crowes, O'Donnell's and Conways of The Glen/ Kilbane area.

I have changed email addresses.

My new address is horwood424@gmail.com

Thanks

Rob

Robert Horwood

Hi,

I remember reading this story a little while ago and wondered if I might find a link.

Now I know my Crowes are from Glenaglagh - the name of the mountain to the north-west of Killaloe and on the western edge of the parish- easily findable on Open Street Maps it has its own red triangle.

There is only a track road to the south of it called the gap road.

I have three Crowes of interest here and have posted about them earlier today on the Killaloe Parish section. I also have a lot of other Crowes from this particular townland. The other Crowes in Clare near Kilrush and Newmarket are slightly removed from the  Crowes in East Clare at present in my research though there are commanalities of naming patterns leading back to north Clare origins of Crowe and Phil's historical knowledge.

There is an extensive tree on geogities that gives a lot of Crowe descendents from Ballykildea a townland adjacent to Glenagallagh and many crowe families went from there to Port Fairy in Victoria Melbourne and their descendants are too numerous to count (There are several froups of Crowe researchers in Australia). I have just spent about three days working through it because I had just finished with the four main characters that are a starting point for this huge tree. Perfect for my ambitions to find 'people bridges' that link Ireland to other lands.

http://www.geocities.ws/mleddin64/Crowe/IrishHist.htm

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/g/l/o/Ed-Glovak/index.html

http://www.geocities.ws/mleddin64/Crowe/7generati/pafg01.htm

I have downloaded this into a text document to enable me to work with it more easily and I can send a copy if you want?

Your Thomas = Margaret Donnelly I have a record of a Thom = Mgt Donohue with Matthew as a Son and possibley a John as a brother tentatively marked on a working model of Crowes in Glennaglagh. There are possibly a hundred here off the top of my head. All of them disappear by the late 1800s and I am staggered at the number already apparent to have gone abroad rather than move within Ireland. Presumably by this time not only the stick of poverty and famine in Ireland but the enormous carrots of Englands thriving Empire and Americas ascendency to match with known relatives abroad had a lot to do with that?

However, the above tree has Patrick, William, Edward and John as four brothers. Two can be proven by records, the Edward can be linked because James was born as eldest son before records began in 1828 and was in Australia. The fourth may be the same. What is evident is a few stayed and most went to Australia. One of Patrick's sons is Thomas, born 1832.

As we are passing there is also a line of Crowe that runs from here that, through butchers shops and pig buying, have become a present day Company in the meat trade. I know from contacts they have researched their tree but they have not made any return to my enquiries despite me offering my version of their tree for nothing, not even for a pack of sausages!! :) :)

Any of this information I have for your use, it is the whole purpose of my website to make these bridges, so please let me know what you want?

Best wishes,

Shay

 

Seamus Crowe, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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