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Searching McElhenny roots in Ireland

DonegalMevagh (Donegal)

My name is Lucie Dutfield and I live in Toronto Canada.  I am a third generation descendant of Robert Franklin McElhenny (McElhiney) who was born in Ireland but lived most of his adult life in Ohio U.S.A.

Although we have no official records, we believe that Robert was born at or near Kinnalargy, Parish of Mevagh in County Donegal in December 1842.  He was a twin with his brother James whom we are told died at the age of 17 in Ireland.   We believe that Robert’s Father’s name was James McElhiney and that his Mother might have been Anna, Annie or possibly Martha, and we have oral information that the latter was James’ third wife.

Robert came to North America about 1864 at the age of 21 or so.  He settled in Ridgeway Ohio where he owned and operated a small village mercantile business for over 60 years.   He married Corilla Dugan in 1877 and they had five children: Anna (my grandmother), William, Maude, Ina, and Evalene.  All the children married in the U.S. and four of them had offspring most of whom still live in the U.S.   As far as I know, our branch is the only one who lives in Canada.

I am in touch with the last remaining granddaughter of Robert.  Her name is Corilla Creviston (daughter of  Evalene McElhenny Williams)…she is 97 years old, and she lives very close to Ridgeway Ohio.  As a little girl she knew her grandfather very well.  It is from Corilla that we have obtained some pictures and items of note relating to Robert’s connection with Ireland.  Corilla has been a great help and inspiration in my desire to learn more about Robert McElhenny.

Due to events in Ireland in the 19th century, and our great distance from Ireland, it is quite a challenge to obtain access to records that might help us learn more about Robert McElhenny’s origins in Ireland.  Your outreach site might be one avenue in making more of a connection with the past.  

We welcome and greatly appreciate any information which might lead to further links to the family history in Ireland.   And we would be pleased to share what we know of Robert and his family life in North America, if that is of interest.

Thank you in advance

Sincerely,

Lucie Dutfield, Toronto Canada

P.S.  I enclose two relevant pictures, one a photo of the two twins Robert and James McElhenny (MeElhineIreland Reaching Out - www.irelandxo.comy),  and the second, a photo of an envelope that Corilla found amongst her papers showing an address in Kinelargy which might be a significant clue to Robert’s roots in Ireland.

ldutfield

12 replies

The tithe applotment records for 1828 list David, Andrew, Fanny & Isaac Mcthinny as having land in Kinnalargy. Mcthinny is evidently a mistranscription of McElhinny.

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625698/00…

Griffiths Valuation for 1858 lists Andrew and Robert McElhenny jointly having 8 acres of land (but no farmhouse) in Kinnalargy. Immediately beside that was John McElhenny who had a farmhouse, outbuildings and a half share in 52 acres. (Plot 3a). There were only 4 farms on the townland so these seem likely to be your relations. Easy enough to find today, just near Downings.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

There were 4 McElhinney farms there in the 1901 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Rosguill/Kinalargy/

 

Likewise in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Rosguill/Kinnalargy/

They were all Church of Ireland. Copies of the following church records are held in PRONI, Belfast:

C.I. Milford (Raphoe diocese) Baptisms, 1880-1981; marriages, 1860-1949; burials, 1902-76; preachers? books, 1855-73.

 

Earlier records were probably lost in the 1922 fire in Dublin.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Yes, I had looked at some of the McIlhinney references in the griffith valuation and the census of 1901, 1911.  Unfortunately, what is online does not provide extensive information so it is challenging to make a direct connection with the people mentioned, especially since the BMD records from the era that I seek all burned in the 1922 fire.  But, it is at least encouraging to find possible relatives in the area that we think that Robert McElhenney came from.  I will continue to keep an eye out for any other clues.  Many thanks.

P.S.  It would appear that the second image did not get uploaded last time.  I will try again here.

Cheers,

Lucie Dutfield, great granddaughter of Robert Franklin McElhenney

ldutfield

The statutory birth, death and marriage records were unaffected by the 1922 fire. So you can search for births and deaths from 1864 and non RC marriages from 1st April 1845 onwards. The registration town for Kinnalargy was Millford. There?s plenty of McElhinney BDMs registered there. You could order copies of any you thought might be your family to see what information you can gain from them. You can get photocopies from GRO Roscommon for 4 euros each. They need the place, year, quarter (where there is one), volume & page number, all of which are available on familysearch.

http://www.groireland.ie/

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

If only we had one official record that my great grandfather might have had amongst his papers which might more clearly indicate where he was born exactly, or more definitive clues about his parents.   Without that information, we are reluctant to start ordering and paying for records that may or may not be directly related.

My daughter subscribes to Ancestry.com and has been searching the McElhenney (McElhiney) 'files' for the past 6 years.  From what we have studied so far,  we cannot be sure which branch of the family is the one most closely related to Robert's family.

It is so sad that so many records were destroyed and that those that exist, including American records of the 19th century regarding my great grandfather, do not have sufficient detail to give us confidence that we are on the 'right track'.

We do thank you, however, for all your suggestions, and we will continue to pursue our quest.  In the meantime, if anyone is interested in the Robert McElhenny family history in the United States, my daughter and I would be most pleased to communicate further regarding what we have learned to date.

Continued good work on reaching out to Irish descendants around the world. 

Cheers,

Lucie Dutfield

ldutfield

Hi Lucie,

I realise it is a long time since you posted about Robert Franklin McElhenny (McElhinney) but I have just come across this site and the name Isaac McElhinney is of interest to me.  My Grandmother was Catherine McElhinney of Kinnelargy, Donegal (daughter of James and granddaughter of Isaac McElhinney). Many of her aunts and uncles emigrated to America, as did a previous generation of the family.  There was another McElhinney family living in Kinnelargy at one time but, as far as I know, there were no Isaacs in that family.  In the Griffith's Valuation of mid 1800's the name John McIlhenny is attached to the "Isaac" family home. The homeplace in Kinnelargy is still referred to as "Isaac's".  You mentioned your daughter had been researching the McElhinney family on "ancestry.com", and when I searched the site for Robert Franklin McElheney I came ascross a photo, a copy of which we have here in Ireland, along with some others which may be of interest.  It would appear there is a connection and I am happy to help with any information I can.  I have attached a copy of the photograph I mentioned and also a copy of another photo, on the back of which reads "From Ina McElheney, Ridgeway, Hardin to Catherine". 

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sally.

IrelandXO member

Dear 'Cousin' Sally,

What a thrill to open your note this morning.  My daughter Anna and I are so excited!  The photos you attach are indeed Great Grampa Robert McElheney and his family in one picture, and my great aunt Ina in the other picture. In the family picture, the girl in the middle in the back is my grandmother Anna McEleney Clippinger.  Wow!   So how exactly are we related?  Were Isaac and Robert brothers? cousins?  We would love to discuss further.  

Anna and I are planning a 'genealogy' trip to Ireland and France end of May.  My Father's family came from France and I am in touch with many cousins there (there is a 'cousinade' of one of the families June 6th in France which we are going to attend) but in Ireland Anna and I were going to poke around the Kinnelargy area and shout out:  We are McEleney (McElhinney) descendants.....is anyone here our cousin???   You must have heard us already!

We are so happy and looking forward to continuing this conversation.  Do let us know what is the best way to do it.

Cheers, and hope to 'talk' to you soon

Cousin Lucie

 

ldutfield

Thank you Francie.  We just wish we had more data to search on.  We will keep looking.  Lucie

ldutfield

Hi Lucie, sorry for delay in getting back to you. Have been doing some research and have some more information for you. Can you email me at sallymhici@gmail.com as I have photos and such to send to you.

IrelandXO member

My 4th Great-Grandfather Hugh Coyle shared that land in Kinnalargy with John McIlhenny. Any pictures of the land or any information on the connection between these two families? Am I right in my interpretation that McIlhenny worked the majority of the land and Hugh a much smaller portion?

Chris Coyle

Hello CMCoyle,

My apologies for the delayed response.  As I had little information regarding your inquiry, I sought help from a distant McElheney cousin in the Kinnalargy area.  She referred me to the Griffiths Valuation and sent this reply last week:

This information comes from the Griffith's Valuation which was carried out between 1848 and 1864.   Link:  http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&PlaceID=380379&county=Donegal&barony=Kilmacrenan&parish=Mevagh&townland=%3Cb%3EKinnalargy%3C/b%3E.  You can view the location  by locating the corresponding numbers on the map - 3 A (McElhinney) and B (Coyle) in Kinnalargy. A and B would seem to be the farmland and  3 C and D would appear to be houses only.  There are small gardens located there now but no signs left of the buildings. The house at A is my old home place. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the Coyle family but, whether through marriage or whether bought, the McElhinneys ended up owning the whole farm.

I am not sure the above info advances you in your search.  I would be happy to correspond with you further if you are interested.  There are so many pieces of the puzzle missing regarding families in the Kinnalarty area around the 19th century.  Any little clues are welcome.

Sincerely,

Lucie Dutfield

 

ldutfield

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