Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Patrick Meehan, born c1845

GalwayTuam (Galway)

Hi from New Zealand! My great-great-grandparents were born in Tuam around 1845. Family history tells that story that Patrick (Paddy) was a gardener on a wealthy textile merchants estate (John Hefferon, or Heffran unsure of the exact spelling).

In 1865, Paddy eloped with the only daughter (Mary) marrying in Doncaster, England before arriving in NZ. It looks like both Paddy and Molly were illiterate and signed their marriage certificate with an X.

I'm hoping to clarify the surname of Mary's parents (John and Mary Hefferon), did they have any other children?

Would also like to find out more if possible about Patrick Meehan's family. All I know is that his father was also Patrick, unsure if there any any siblings for Paddy Jnr.

Any information wold be gratefully received :-)

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Claire:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I searched on Roots Ireland from 1840-1850 for a Patrick Meehan baptismal record in Galwaty West and the only record to come up is the one below. Dunmore is the RC parish just to the north of Tuam so possibly this record is for your Patrick This couple also had an Honor in 1837 and a William in 1838. The address shown on the other two records was Darrery. There are two townlands in Dunmore parish called Dunnary North and Dunnary South so likely this Meehan family was from one of those townlands.

I was unable to find a record for Mary. Here is a link to the Main library site in Co. Galway. I tried to get the Tuam library site but it was down. http://www.galway.ie/en/services/library/branchlibraries/   Maybe Tuam library can assist with the surname of the wealthy textile merchant's.

Roger McDonnell

 

Name:Patrick MeehanDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:09-Dec-1844Address:DarreryParish/District:DUNMOREGender:MaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Patrick MeehanMother:Mary LyonsOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Thomas PrendergastSponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Quinn

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, Paddy Meehan/Maihon and Mary 'Molly' Hefferon/Hevrain/Hevram are also my great-great-grandparents, their daughter Sarah is my maternal great-grandmother, and I was raised on a similar story.

I was told by my mother that Mary, or 'Molly', had eloped with a commoner and that her family had warned her that if she married him she would be dis-owned by them and cut out of their wills. She married him anyway and they eventually settled in NZ. Years later she was approached and told that she had been bequeathed estates, racehorses etc. back in Ireland but she turned it down, they approached one of her daughters and offered her the same but she also refused it saying 'If my mother doesn't want it I don't want it."

(I was also told that the Wakefield-Kent's, (Joseph Wakefield Kent was the husband of Mary/Lucy Meehan, the daughter of Paddy and Molly), were wealthy and owned a block of terrace houses in Perth, WA, called 'Millionaires Row'.)

I asked mum why no-one had pursued the matter of the unclaimed Hefferon estate in Ireland and she said it would cost more than it was worth to claim it.

As far as I know Mary's parents were John Hefferon/Hevrain/Hevram and Mary Taylor and Paddy's parents were Patrick Meehan and Mary Lyons.

SteveHopper

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.