Please help me find my GORMAN and DWYER family.

Hi Sandy

We don't seem to be able to find any records of births in Knockainey for the names above, the only information we can seem to find is that Jane aged 15 and Ellen Aged 16 on the 30th of april 1883 went fron Co. Limerick to Liverpool and from there sailed on the 'Tonawanda' to Philadephia.

Also Patrick went on the same ship Route on 20th of april 1864

John, Elizabeth and Catherine sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia on the 'Finland' onJan 22nd 1848

The only entry for Reeves in the Parish Records is John Reeves born  8- July -1810 to parents Patrick Reeves and Margaret Buins ( possibly a mis-spelling for Byrnes)

Any records for Dwyers seem to be in the neighbouring parish Hospital 

Regards

John

Hi Sandy

I visited a neighbour of mine last night, a lady in her 80's with a wonderful memory. She spoke to me at length about the old family names in Knockainey and about many who have left here over the years. This lady is particularly good at "tracing" and she gets that skill from her father, who was equally skilled. Her father was born in the late 1800's, probably 1880-1890, and he passed on an enormous amount of folk memory to his daughter.

Anyway, I specifically asked her about Gormans, and she immediately told me that her father often spoke of Gormans who lived in the Commons, an area in Knockainey village where there was a large population in the past.. Other names there were Dwyer and Spellman. Perhaps your Gormans moved in here, and weren't born here?

As John said, we couldn't find any church records here. However, an area of Knockainey called Elton has a lot of links with the adjoining parish of Knocklong, and there are lots of Dwyers in church records there. 

Where did you get the information about the years of birth? That seems like a lot of information and knowing the source would be useful. 

Let's keep in touch Sandy, and we hope to see you in June.

Mary O'Grady

Thank you for the information John! The ship information of April 30, 1853 does seem to coincide with the arrival of the sisters Jane and Ellen as well as the ages.  I have long known that this was probably their ship record.

I suspect that Patrick may have come with his brother John from Liverpool on the ship Saranak from Liverpool in June of 1863.

I really appreciate all the time you took to look for my family!  I can't thank you enough!  Sincerely, Sandy

Hi Mary! 

Thank you so much for discussing my family with your neighbor!  I hope that you recorded everything she said and that it helps someone someday with their family!

The only definite information I have is that my great, great grandmother Jane Gorman's brothers John and Michael were born in Limerick.  Whether they were all born in Limerick, I don't know.  Where they were born in Limerick, I don't know.  However, it does seem that they have a lot of associations with people from this parish. 

They also seem to have associations with people from Caherconlish and Kilmeedy parishes. 

The years of birth are only speculation from census record sources and could be off by any number of years.  I suspect that none of them actually knew their birth dates because otherwise I would have seen one reference.  I did in one census record see that Jane Gorman said that she was born in August 1849. 

As you know, researching the Irish can be quite challenging!  Thank you ever so much for your help Mary!  Sincerely,  Sandy

Sandy

Thanks for your reply.

We have all (or most of)  the names you mention, but the dates are wrong. If you are not definite on the dates, perhaps we can make a link...

When you come, you can look at the records with us - perhaps we can make the connections then.

What dates do you plan to be in Limerick; we'd love to meet up with you and your friends......let us know!

Mary

Mary, can you send me a little bit of information - maybe a sampling of what you have for the similar names?  If there is any connection, I might notice right away!

Thank you Mary for all the time you've spent on this!  Sincerely,  Sandy

Sandy,

Please feel free to contact me using boohergirls@gmail.com if you wish to connect further.

I am wondering if you have made any progress on this line in the past 8 months.  I have an ancestor whose father is Patrick GORMAN and whose mother is Bridget DWYER.  My ancestor, their daughter, was born in 1786 and baptized/christened at St. Canise's Kilkenny on Patrick Street.  This is a bit earlier than the time frame you are referencing, so it may just be a coincidence, but I would like to touch base with you if you think we could be related.

Aloha,

Lanea

I have discovered where they were from - Lisduane, Ballingarry - Limerick Ireland!  I'll email you privately though!

Dear Mary,

I am new here, having just made an account to reply to this conversation! I am not fully sure how to work my way around here, though I am trying to reply to Mary O'Grady. My ancestor Bridget Dwyer was born in Elton in 1825, and she married James Crowley. Their son Timothy (my great-great-grandfather) founded and ran Crowley's drapery in Ballylanders, which is still run by my cousins the Ryans. I am wondering if you might know anything about the Dwyers or Crowleys of Elton. To the best of my knowledge, there have been no Crowleys in Elton since the 1890s, and my 90-year-old grandfather is the last of that male line since the 1770s.

Kind regards,
Jack Burke