I'm trying to get some info about Matthias Higgins from Tuam as he was my great grandmother Mary Higgins'sfather declared on her marriage certificate on1885 in Sydney Australia. Mary married John Keleher. I haven't been able to find any info about her side of the family, her mother's name was Margaret McDonough.
Thank you
Pauline Darby
Hi Pauline
This look marriage record looks pretty close but of course it doesn't have parents' names or their home addresses to help us work back!
Date of Marriage:07-Jan-1856
Parish / District:MOYCULLEN
County:Co. Galway
Husband
WifeName:MatthewHiggins
MargaretMcDonaughAddress:
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic
Griffiths Valuation (free at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/) has 27 McDonaghs in Moycullen Galway in 1855 but no Higgins
There are also 25 Higgins in Tuam Galway including some Mathiases which will show you where they lived but not family groups.
The Tithe Applotments (free at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/) have 68 Higgins in Galway including a 'Maths' in 1824. There are also 52 McDonaghs including 9 in Moycullen in 1828
ASSUMING Margaret was born in Moycullen in 1850-70 there are 4 possible matches:
Name:Margaret McDonoughDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:27-Mar-1859Address:
Parish/District:MOYCULLENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward McDonoughMother:Judith DarcyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Laurence DarcySponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Penelope McDonog
Name:Margaret McDonoughDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:27-Nov-1861Address:
Parish/District:MOYCULLENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Francis McDonoughMother:Catherine CarterOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:George CarterSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Catherine McDonough
Name:Margaret McDonoughDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:05-Jul-1863Address:
Parish/District:MOYCULLENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Martin McDonoughMother:Penelope TooleOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Patrick TooleSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Walsh
Name:Margaret McDonoughDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:07-Feb-1864Address:
Parish/District:MOYCULLENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward McDonoughMother:Judith HurneyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Walter McDonoghSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Connor
Col
Hi Pauline,
Peter Higgins, Born about 1835, Cloonfush, Tuam, Son of Matthew Higgins married April 1864 in Claremorris. Peter may be a sibling of Mary. Do you have Mary Higgins date of birth or age at marriage? Were there any other siblings / Irish in the locality that Mary emigrated to ?
Regards.
Thanks Col
I think the marriage of Matthew Higgins and Margaret McDonaugh looks right and agrees with Mary's marriage certificate. Mary was illiterate so it was the marriage celebrant who would have spelt the name.
Thanks again
Pauline D.