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Sullivans and Crowes in Limerick

LimerickLimerick City (Limerick)

Dear Ireland XO,

According to my paternal grandfathers first cousin, Loretta Bedow, my great great grandparents Patrick Sullivan and Margaret Crowe were from Limerick. I dont know whether that is county or city. According to Patricks death certificate, he was born in 1819 or 1820, and his parents were named John and Mary. We believe Patrick immigrated to the US around 1846.

According to census records and her death certificate, Margaret was born in May 1824. According to Loretta Bedow, Margaret immigrated as a young girl, though census records indicate she immigrated around 1853 when she wouldve been about 29 years old. Patrick and Margaret lived for a time in New York (state or city) where she bore the first three of their seven children. Around 1860 the family moved to the area around New Brunswick, New Jersey. Patrick and Margaret both died there; he on 1 Jul 1893 and she on 10 Aug 1900.

Patrick and Margarets children were: Mary E (b. Jan 1854 in New York); Catharine Kate J (b. 28 Apr 1856 New York); Anna M (b. Feb 1858 New York); John A, my great grandfather (b. May 1860 New Jersey); Michael James (b. 15 Sep 1862 New Jersey); Margaret Cecilia (b. Apr 1864 New Jersey); and Cornelius Francis (b. 17 Dec 1865 New Jersey).

There is some indication that Patrick and Margaret may have married in New York and lived in Schaghticoke, New York, just north of Albany, before moving to New Jersey. I've never been able to identify immigration records for either Patrick or Margaret coming through New York City ports, so perhaps they came in through Canada.

I've heard most Sullivans hail from Counties Kerry and Cork, so Im hoping the smaller pool of Sullivans from Limerick will help narrow down the possibilities. Is there any hope of being able to identify the Irish ancestors ofour Sullivans and Crowes?

My daughter is planning to visit Ireland with a friend in late September/early October. She plans to spend ten days in Ireland and will be in Limerick on October 4th and 5th. She would love to connect with our Irish family, or at least tour the area in which her ancestors once lived. Is there anyone available that could meet with her and perhaps guide her through a meaningful visit?

Thank you for offering this assistance! We really appreciate it.

Lori

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Lori:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I looked on Roots Ireland for baptismal records for Margaret Crowe in Co. Limerick around 1824. There were none in 1824 but one in 1822 and two in 1826. Transcriptions below. Keep in mind that not all RC parishes have records back to the 1820s. Based on usual naming conditions, you would think that the father of Margaret would be Michael but none of the fathers below were Michael. One of the records has a May baptismal date but there is no guarantee that this is the correct record.

There were no Patrick Sullivan records around 1820 with parents John and Mary. The closest is an 1825 record below.

At this point, there are some possible leads but no conclusive records. Long-term you may want to consider autosomal DNA testing. Perhaps you will have matches with Sullivan or Crowe connections from Ireland.

Let me know what questions you have.

Roger McDonnell

Name:Margaret CroweDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:23-Jul-1822Address:?Parish/District:BALLYBRICKEN & BOHERMOREGender:UnknownCountyCo. Limerick
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John CroweMother:Margaret O'BrienOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Ml McCarthy Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bgt O'Brien 

Name:Margaret CroweDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:26-May-1826Address:
Parish/District:ST. MUNCHIN'SGender:UnknownCountyCo. Limerick
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Thomas CroweMother:Hanora McNamaraOccupation:

Name:Margaret CroweDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:23-Aug-1826Address:?Parish/District:SOLOHEAD & OOLAGender:UnknownCountyCo. Limerick
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John CroweMother:Honora BirraneOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Ptk Ryan Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:My Quinlan 

Name:Patrick SullivanDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:02-Mar-1825Address:BallingarryParish/District:KNOCKLONG & GLENBROHANEGender:UnknownCountyCo. Limerick
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John SullivanMother:Mary SheehanOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:John Mayor Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Ellen Burke 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Thank you very much for your research and for responding so quickly.

A few questions: If both a husband and wife have fathers named John, within usual naming patterns I gather the first son would be named John after the paternal grandfather. How would the second son be named when the maternal grandfather's name is already in use?

Also, are genealogy websites like Ancestry popular in Ireland? Is there a way I could see whether anyone else has tied the above records to people in their trees? (I'm thinking it might help narrow down the possibilities if, for instance, people there already know a particular Margaret Crowe remained in Ireland and left many descendants there.)

Are there any newspapers still existing in Limerick where people might've recorded births and deaths? Was it normal to do so in that era? Were such announcements only for the upper class?

I'm also wondering, is DNA testing popular in Ireland?

Thanks again, Roger, for your assistance.

Best Regards, Lori

 

 

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Lori:

Just so you know I live in the States so some of my answers are based on what I have picked up.

Likely they would use the father's name which is the third preference. Keep in mind that not all families follwed the "normal" pattern. In my own McDonnell family, my great-grandfather Rodger McDonnell had three sons. His father was a John. He named his second son John but the first was Michael and I'm not sure why but Rodger did have a brother Michael. Next generation, my grandfather did name his oldest son Roger after his father.

Ancestry is probably not used that much in Ireland but usage is probably growing. It is different for them because for the most part their ancestors lived in their country and so the fascination of the ancient homeland that we have is less of a pull. I think if you had an Ancestry World subscription, you would see any trees set up by native Irish.

There were newspapers in Limerick back in the first part of the 19th century. I don't think births of children of tenant farmers would be shown. There are sites like Find My Past (subscription) that have copies of old newspapers.

DNA testing in Ireland is getting more popular. You will also find that Americans/Canadians/Australians etc. are having cousins in Ireland do a DNA test. My 95 year old first cousin once removed in Killarney took a DNA test for me two years ago. She was suspicious but her daughter convinced her to take the test.

Roger

 

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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