Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Darcy Family

LeitrimDrumreilly (Leitrim)

My Great Grandmother Mary Ann Darcy (Father, Patrick Darcy and mother Betsy Gavlock) was born about 1859 in Leitrim. Her Australian marriage certificate says she was born in Relanan. There is no such townland in Leitrim but we assume it could be Corraleehan. Despite searches in Roots Ireland, and other family history sites plus hiring a professional genealogist I have been unable to verify Mary Ann's birth or her parentage. Mary Ann had a sister Bridget born about 1876 who came to Australia to look after Mary Ann's children. The only information I have which is possibly Bridget's is an entry in Find My Past for a Bridget Darcy born 1876 in Bawnboy but no parents are listed. Mary Ann married Robert Little in 1880 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Are there any Darcys with relatives who went to Australia in the 1870s?

IrelandXO member

5 replies

possible birth of a sibling to your Mary Ann from civil birth records - Ellen Darcy born 25th April 1869 (last entry on the image) Coraleehan townland, parents Patrick Darcy and Eliz. Gaffney (Gavlock sounds like a transcription error or mishearing..)

and the corresponding baptism on the 22nd April 1869 (see entry 82) in Drumreilly Lower RC parish, with residence as Coraleehan More. Unfortunatly records for Drumreilly RC parish only go back to 1867 so start too late for a baptism for Mary Ann and civil records only started in 1864. I had a quick look for possible births for Bridget, but none that I found matched parents name of Mary Ann or this Elllen

edited to add : three more likely siblings to Ellen/Helen & Mary Ann

Patrick Darcy 16th July 1873
Susan Darcy 4th July 1866
Thomas Darcy 13th February 1871

 all born Corraleehan/Corralahan to parents Thomas Darcy and Elizabeth/Eliza/Bessie/Essy Gaffney.

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Glenda:

Following up on the info that Shane provided about your family, I located a 1901 census record for an Essay Darcy in Corraleehan who had two children ( Ellen and Patrick) living with her. Did not see her in the 1911 census records but did find a civil death record for her in 1906 with son Patrick as informant. I could not find a death record for Patrick the father but I did locate an index record for a 1875 death which could be for him (see below). (Death record images start in 1878). Eventually, the 1875 records will be online.

Roger McDonnell

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Leitrim/Cloverhill/Cor…

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

 

Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg AreaBawnboyDeceased Age at Death50Returns Year1875Returns Quarter1Returns Volume No3Returns Page No37

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you to all those who replied.  This is the information I have been finding too.  I agree that as Gavlock is not an Irish name something got lost in translation in Australia.  It would appear that Mary Ann could not write.  However there is a big phonic jump from Gavlock to Gaffney.  Shipping records only have country of origin.  Mary Ann's death record in Australia in 1919 simply repeats what was on her marriage certificate. Bridget did not marry and died in 1915.  Her age is stated as 39 but as death certificate information can be unreliable that may not be correct.  Birth place is simply stated as Leitrim.  Mary Ann was placed in a mental institution following the birth of her last child in 1890 so I guess she was not asked for information when Bridget died.

I have been unable to find any information to say definitely 'these are my ancestors'.

Would there be any estate records that would shed light on this family?  How do I go about contacting Darcy families in the Corraleehan area?  I'm not having much luck with the Irish telephone white pages.

Many thanks,

Glenda

IrelandXO member

Hi Glenda I have no new info for you but I take an interest in things Leitrim on my mothers side, there is a Facebook page County Leitrim History & Genealogy, I see one Darcy name on the name list with a contact email, I think the lady is down under from here. Also the Leitrim Library Local History section is very good online with some small newspaper searching possible, they are very good with email requests too. 

Oddly for such a small county there are two separate bits, north and south, my family are from the Mohill area of south Leitrim but I have some books on Leitirm and will check for Darcy name, on the the main landlords was Lord Leitrim, also the Johnston family but there are a fair few, Hamilton and Johnston are in North Leitrim. http://www.leitrimcoco.ie/eng/Community-Culture/Library/ ;

Regards
Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Pat.

I'll follow up on these leads.  Hopefully there us a distant relative somewhere.

Happy New Year!

Glenda

IrelandXO member

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.