Looking for Family

2 July 2015

Hello Cindy Michels,

My FINN ancestors immigrated from Parish Kilconnell, Co. Galway, Ireland.  Below are my notes on Lawrence FINN (my immigrant).  I received a Letter from Michael FINN (b. 1962-    ) who lives in Parish Kilconnell. He has sent me photos of the tombstones.   On the tombstone for Edmund/Edward Finn  who died in 1776 it reads, "...this monument erected by son John."  I am also researching Michael KELLY,  the father of Lawrence Finn's wife, Catherine KELLY

MARRIAGE: 1838 - Marriage record for Parish Kilconnell, County Galway, Ireland shows Laurence FINN married Catherine KELLY on 28 Jan 1838. Likely in either in St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Aughrim or the Catholic Church  of the Sacred Heart built about 1832 in the village of Kilconnell.  The witnesses were Thos FINN and Mary  FINN. There were no other Lawrence  FINNs in the record. [FHL Film 1279215 - Liber Matrimoniororum #220] Other Finns who married about the same time and are found in this record include: Patrick Flynn & Catherine Coffey 1830; Cecelia  FINN and Wm. Flannagan 1831; Celia  FINN and John Burke 1833; Patrick  FINN and Ann Coffey 1835 witness was Francis  FINN and Bridge Beegan; Ellen Finn and Denis Griffin 1836; Francis  FINN and Mary Hardiman 1836.

1838 -  The Tithe Assessment and Applotment for the Parish of Kilconnell lists a  Pat'k FINN and a Law'n (Lauce)  FINN for the townland "Trust" which is a little north and west of the village of Kilconnell.  The Townland of Trust comprises 238 acres.  Our subject Lawrence Francis  FINN would have been 17-25 years old.  This Law'n  FINN is likely our ancestor.  There are a total of 60 families listed for this townland.  In 1856, there are only 24 families left.  In 1856, a Lord Dunsandle is listed as the "Immediate Lessors" for most of the tenants.  Mich'l  KELLY is listed at Coraneena which is just outside of the village of Kilconnell.

1838-Jan - Lawrence  FINN married Catherine KELLY in Parish Kilconnell, Galway, Ireland.

1839 - Shortly after their marriage Lawrence and Catherine moved to New Street in Walsall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England where their first child, John, was born in 1839.  They had four children in England before moving to America.

I received an email  from Michael Finn (b. 1962-    ) who lives in Parish Kilconnell.  He sent me photos of the graves for the FINNs in Aughrim.  On the tombstone for Edmund/Edward Finn  who died in 1776 it reads, "...this monument erected by son John."   

This email reply is much too long, so if any of the above is of interest to you, please contact me directly at  kay . keating @ gmail . com.

I have entered most of all the information (and photos) for the FINNs on FIND A GRAVE at:  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102710775 .  You can follow the FINNs for about 5 or 6 generations on FIND A GRAVE.

Kay Keating of Maryland, USA

Hi all. My husband and I have just joined this site. We have a little information re Finn. I saw somewhere Timothy Finn was born in Kilconnell in 1812. He had two brothers James and John, and a sister. My husband is related to John. John married Ann we think. They had many children in Ireland. John was born in 1820. Their children Bridgett Finn unknown date of birth. Patrick Finn born in 1841. Mary Finn born in 1842. Catherine Ann Finn born 1844. John Finn born in 1845. All of those ancestors were born on irish soil. Sometime between John Finn's birth and the next childs birth the family immigrated to Cecil Co MD. The last child was born on American soil Frances Finn in 1851. John rushed to become a citizen.  My husband came from Francis's marriage to a Mary Clara Rambo. We have no ideal what happened to the various Finn's. I have seen other postes here for a Lydia Finn... or Bridgett..who never talked about her family. I am unsure what caused the immigration out of Ireland and how far the original family was scattered. My husband and I will be making the trek to Ireland this Sept 2017 to glimpse at where it all started. We hope to look up records, hear some beautiful Irish music and say he has been back to where it all began. I myself have greek roots and will be making my own trek to the Greek Islands next year. We are happy to be a part of the Kiconnell board. We cannot wait to see Galway.

Hello,

There are still Finns living in Kilconnell. The parish records are held in Aughrim Church as far as I know. Parish is called Aughrim/Kilconnell. 

http://www.galwayroots.com/east/woodford-heritage-centre

I would contact the people at the above address as they can do research for you. There may be a cost.

The Abbey in Kilconnell is worth a visit and also the graveyard beside the RC Church contains the old graves from the area. Kilconnell is a small village with a big Creamery called Arrabawn and a few shops and a couple of pubs.