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Could Bridget McHale have married Wm McHale (1830s/40s)?

GalwayAddergoole (Galway)

My great-great grandparents, Patrick Connell and Bridget McHale, moved from Ireland to Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1866/67. English census records show that Bridget McHale was born in county Mayo approx. 1843 and Patrick Connell was born in county Galway approx. 1837.

But they had their first child, a daughter named Mary, in Ireland in 1866 before leaving for England. I found Mary's birth record on Ancestry.com in Ballycastle, Mayo 1866. So I began searching that area for birth and marriage records for Bridget McHale.

I found a baptism entry for a Bridget McHale in Addergoole in 1843 (for Tubbernavine). Since many parishes don't have records for this time, I cannot be sure this is her and that there weren't other Bridget McHales born in 1843 elsewhere.

But the other issue is that the baptism entry I found shows Bridget's parents as Wm McHale and Bridget McHale. All other entries on the page (and for all other pages) list mothers by their maiden names. I also found baptism entries in 1841 and 1844 for other children born to the Wm McHale and Bridget McHale, so this was not a mistake.

Is it possible that Bridget's maiden name was McHale and that she married a man who had the same last name, McHale? I was unable to find a marriage record in 1841 or earlier for the couple.

Any advice or opinions welcomed.

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Kathleen:

McHale/MacHale was a fairly common name in Addergoole parish so it is possible that McHale was Bridget's maiden name. I looked on Roots Ireland www.rootsireland.ie and there is an 1840 marriage in Addergoole parish for a William and Bridget McHale. Roots is a pay site to view the data on the record.

The question I have is the distance between Addergoole parish and Ballycastle. Not sure that the Mary born in 1866 with parents William and Bridget McHale is connected to the William and Bridget in Addergoole.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much. I have not used Roots Ireland, but I will look there.

The Mary born in Ballycastle was born to Bridget McHale and Patrick Connell -- the next generation. William & Bridget would be that Bridget's parents (potentially). That distance is conceivable if daughter Bridget moved to be with her husband Patrick Connell. But as I said, I do not know if the two Bridget's are related as yet. I am still searching for a marriage certificate for them. Maybe Roots Ireland can help with that.

Thanks again.

IrelandXO member

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