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Michael Joyce and Anne Walsh - Tawnaghmore, Caher, Recess, Maam Cross

GalwayRoundstone (Galway)

Joining this parish group after reading a nice article about IrelandXO in the Irish Times...

My 2nd great grandparents Michael Joyce and Anne Walsh died in Tawnaghmore in 1901 and 1899 respectively. Each was listed as 80 years old, so I'm assuming a birth date of about 1820 for each of them. I've been unsuccessful in finding any Catholic parish baptism records for either of them. Based on their children's dates of birth, a marriage in 1845 or so seems likely, but I have found no record to corroborate.

I have various locations for them, mostly undocumented, around Caher, Recess and Maam Cross. Their son Richard Joyce, my greatgrandfather, probably born around 1862 (no church record, too early for civil registration) emigrated in the early 1880s and ended up in Pittsburgh in the U.S.; he died there in 1948. His older sister Winifred Joyce was born around 1848 and married Patrick Burke in 1868; the marriage location is variously given as Clonbur or Cornamora.

That's not much to go on, but if anyone has insights or suggestions about where to look next, I'd be very appreciative.

Jay Shock

Pittsburgh USA

Jay Shock

5 replies

Hello again Jay!

As you have determined, RC records for the area start in 1872. The 1868 marriage record shows Maam which is likely Maam Cross which as the name indicates is just a crossroad location in Connemara. Maam Cross is 13 kilometers east of Recess and Tawnaghmore is fairly close to Recess. Hard to tell if the Joyce family was always in Tawnaghmore or moved around. I note that the nephew Patrick was the informant on the death records and he was the head of household in the 1901 census so my guess is that some point Michael and Anne moved to live with Patrick and his family in Tawnaghmore.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Moyrus/Tawnaghm…

I also noted that the 1901 death record for Michael shows (Tom) which usually means his father was Tom.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, again, Roger

In the interest of not making my initial post overly long, I left out some details that I probably should have included. I find "my" Michael Joyce in Tawnaghmore in the Griffith's revision books, starting in 1860.  He seems to stay in the same place until 1899, when he is replaced by another Michael Joyce (son of Ned).  That move to live with nephew Patrick was probably shortly before or shortly after Anne's death. There is also an indication that Patrick's father was James, so I am looking for a family configuration of a father Thomas with sons Michael and James (more than likely among other children).

Since my list of Michael's and Anne's children is Thomas, Winifred, Stephen, Martin, Anne and Richard, I'm hypothesizing further that Thomas' wife may be Anne, the name of the second daughter.

That also suggests that I'm looking for a married couple named Stephen and Winifred Walsh as the parents of Anne Walsh Joyce.   So far I have not found any such record.

And of course, all of this is predicated on my list of children being accurate and complete, and on the presumption that they used the naming pattern to which we're referring. I'm not sure about the point in time at which that came to be common practice. Do you know how far back that practice generally dates?

Thanks for clarifying that Maam and Maam Cross may be the same place. I was unclear about that.

If you have further insights or ideas, please do let me know.

Jay

 

Jay Shock

Jay:

You have done a lot of great research with limited resources.

The naming pattern was common in the 19th century but not followed in all situations. My great-grandfather was a Rodger and his father was John. He named his second son John. The first son was Michael which was his brother's name.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi all, some early records, the image is not in the site but can be matched up by returns page number.
After 1864, regisration districts are listed.
Name WINIFRED JOYCE
Date of Event 1868
Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg Area =   Oughterard
Returns Year1868  
Returns Quarter1Returns
Volume No4
Returns Page No523

AND
Name PATT BURKE
Date of Event 1868
Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg Area =    Oughterard
Returns Year   1868
Returns Quarter1 
Returns Volume No4
Returns Page No523
On this site
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie
because the image is not showing you can get a copy, 4 Euros or there about.
The place Recess, we always call there for a drink, really friendly and such a lovely area.
Great Statue! you will have to go and see it.
Margot
 

Margot Secrette

Thank you, Margot.

I got a fortuitous DNA match with a descendant of Winifred and Patrick, and so I have that information.

On the next trip to Ireland, I will take your recommendation and stop in Recess.

Best wishes,

Jay

Jay Shock

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