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Scully family of Portumna 1840s-50s

GalwayPortumna (Galway)

I'm looking for the family of Norah (Annorah) Scully, who was born about 1841-42 and died 1913. She came to Melbourne Australia from Portumna Ireland in about 1859. In Melbourne, she married a Scottish mariner named James Martin and had at least five children.

I have her Australian marriage and death certificates, which gave me her approximate birth year and arrival year (above). Her parents are John Scully (farmer) and Bridget Hanney. She can't write, and marks her name as an 'X'. While she married a Presbyterian, she was buried in the Roman Catholic part of Coburg Cemetary, suggesting that she was born a Catholic.

The family story is that Norah came from Cork, but all official information puts her origin as "Port Tumna, Ireland" or, at least, "County Galway, Ireland".

I'd love to know more about Norah and her parents, John Scully and Bridget Hanney. In particular, I'd like to get to the bottom of where she comes from exactly.

IrelandXO member

2 replies

McKie:

I searched Roots Ireland indexes for East Galway and they did not have a baptismal record for a Nora/Hanora/Annorah Scully born 1836-1846 with a father John. However, the Portumna RC baptismal records are not on Roots at this time.

Next summer the National Library will have RC parish registers online for free searching. Portumna records start in 1823.At that time you can search the Portumna records.

I checked the 1856 Griffiths Valuation for Co.Galway and there were 15 John Scullys listed. Interestingly, one of the Johns did live in the town of Portumna.

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/galway/lickmolassy.htm

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger - that's great!

And thanks for letting me know about when the Portumna records will be available! I look forward to searching them next summer.

Cheers,

McKie

IrelandXO member

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