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Bridget Mary Prior, b. ~1851, father Patrick Prior — emigrated 1870, died Rockford, Illinois

Oughteragh (Leitrim)

Hello from Chicago. I'm researching my great-great-grandmother Bridget Mary Prior, born in Ireland 18 March 1851 (cemetery record says 1850); her father was Patrick Prior, mother unknown. She emigrated to the US about 1870, married English-born Rowland John Weightman in Chicago on 2 August 1874, and lived in Dundee and then Rockford, Illinois, where she died 11 September 1927.

Family tradition on my mother's side holds that she came from Ballinamore, and that we're connected to the Prior family of Prior's on High Street. I know the surviving Oughteragh registers only begin in November 1869, so her baptism can't be checked in the NLI films.

Three questions for anyone local or with Leitrim Genealogy Centre index access: (1) Is anything known of the ancestry of the Priors of Prior's pub — and were there Patrick Prior families in Ballinamore/Oughteragh in the early 1850s? (2) Has anyone seen a Bridget Prior baptism c. 1850–52, father Patrick, in the RootsIreland index for Oughteragh? (3) Any Ballinamore Prior family with a daughter who left for America around 1870?

Happy to share what I have on her American life in return. Many thanks — Michael

...

schnnmich

5 replies

Michael:

I checked Roots Ireland and there are no Bridget Prior baptismal records in Oughteragh/Ballinamore RC parish around 1850-1852. By the way, Roots Ireland has records starting in the early 1840s so the registers exist and are likely held at the parish.

There was a Bridget Prior father Patrick baptized in 1843 in Carrigallen church and a Bridget Prior father Patrick baptized in 1844 in Mohill RC parish. The next Bridget Prior baptism with father Patrick was in 1865.

There were Prior baptisms in Oughteragh/Ballinamore RC parish in the early 1850s with father Patrick. There were three different families---Patrick Prior and Bridget McPartland  Patrick Prior and Mary Dolan 

Patrick Prior and Catherine Magoohan.  

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Michael,

I will be speaking with a member of the Prior family in Ballinamore tomorrow and will find out about their family tree and get back to you with further information.

Kind regards,

Teresa

tercanada@gmail.comIrelandXO Volunteer

Michael:

The National Archives site is down so I can't access the 1901 census. However, from my own research, I know there were 32 Prior households in Oughteragh civil parish in 1901 so a very common surname in the parish.  https://leitrim-roscommon.com/1901census/index.shtml

There was a Mary Prior age 70 who was a publican in Ballinamore.

 Teresa will provide more information.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Michael

To add to Roger's and Teresa's research, I searched the internet and found these links.

Priors Lounge Bar

Prior's @ High Street | Accommodation | Dining | Pubs | Festivals | Fishing | Walking | Barge Holidays | Cycling | Golf | Family Holidays | John McGahern | Heritage | Ballinamore | Leitrim | Ireland

Leitrim Old Irish Photos | Peter Hoey Tom Prior Ballinamore Many Moons ago | Facebook

AI generated

Priors of Ballinamore, Leitrim — Family History Overview

The Priors of Ballinamore family tree is a public genealogy project on MyHeritage, documenting descendants of the Priors of High Street, Derriniver, and the Hoeys of Knockanea MyHeritage. The site is maintained by the “Priors of Ballinamore Web Site” and includes a collection of family members, some with Irish and American connections.

Notable names in the tree

The MyHeritage family tree lists several prominent surnames and individuals, including:

  • Brady (Austin Brady, Brady Austin, Milltown Co Cavan)
  • Canning (Peter Canning)
  • Hoey (Mary Hoey, Anne Hoey, Frances Hoey)
  • Gallagher (Margaret, Dermot, Ellen, Emmet, John, Matthew, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Robies, Sean, Thomas, Mary Ellen, Annie, Mollie, Christie, Dan, Joe, Rose Marie)
  • Gallogly (Christie, Dan, Joe, Rose Marie)
  • Gormley (Frank, Frances) MyHeritage

These names suggest a mix of local Leitrim families and later emigrants, with some moving to the USA.

Historical context of Ballinamore

Ballinamore, in the parish of Outragh, barony of Carrigallen, County Leitrim, was a market and post-town about 19 miles west of Cavan and 77½ miles northwest of Dublin UK Genealogy Archives. It was once the seat of iron manufacture, with smelting works established locally. The town had a market on Tuesdays, fairs on February 15, May 19, August 16, and November 19, and hosted court sessions and a courthouse. Religious sites included a Roman Catholic chapel and a Methodist place of worship UK Genealogy Archives.

Research resources

If you are tracing the Priors or related families:

  • Leitrim Genealogy Centre (Main Street, Ballinamore) offers professional genealogy services, combining the Irish Family History Foundation’s network with the County Library. They can provide access to parish records, census data, and other sources Leitrim Tourism.
  • Your Leitrim Ancestors is a surname and place index site with historical data on County Leitrim residents Your Leitrim Ancestors.
  • The MyHeritage Priors of Ballinamore site can be used to explore connections, view photos, and search related records MyHeritage+1.

Suggested next steps

  1. Explore the MyHeritage tree for direct descendants and connections.
  2. Check parish and civil registration records for Ballinamore and surrounding areas.
  3. Visit the Leitrim Genealogy Centre for in-person research and expert assistance.
  4. Search local directories and census records for additional family members.

This combination of online family trees, historical town descriptions, and local research facilities can help you trace the Priors of Ballinamore lineage and related families in Leitrim.

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Hi Michael,

I was speaking with one of the Prior's and he will get back to me with the information you are looking for. I'll revert once I hear from him.

Regards,

Teresa

tercanada@gmail.comIrelandXO Volunteer

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