Long shot request - Farrell/Ryan ancestors from County Longford

This might be Catherine’s baptismal record (findmypast):

 

New York Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms

Father's first name(s) Bryan

First name(s) Catharine

Father's last name Farrell

Last name Farrell

Birth date 16 Feb 1851

Birth year 1851

Baptism date 23 Feb 1851

Baptism year 1851

Location Manhattan

Parish Nativity

Archdiocese New York

County New York County

 

 

Mother's first name(s) Ann

s

Mother's last name Farrell

 

Here is the marriage record for Catherine and Thomas (findmypast):

First name(s)	Catherine
State	New York
Last name	Farrell
Country	United States
Role	Bride
Spouse's first name(s)	Thomas
Birth year	-
Spouse's last name	Conboy
Marriage year	1882
Location	Manhattan
Marriage date	20 Feb 1882
Record set	New York Roman Catholic Parish Marriages
Parish	St Francis Xavier

 

Thank you SO much for finding that for me, Patricia! I haven't been able to find anything that set a definite date for Catherine's birth. This has to be my great-great grandmother!

 

I was able to find an entry in the New York Almshouse records from 1875 for a Catherine Farrell. I can't be sure that it is the same person, but the almshouse record says that Catherine is about 20 and has been in and out of the poorhouse for the last 11 years due to the death of her father. The record is brief, but pretty heartbreaking - the person who filled out the admission form said that her future was "doubtful" and that she had never known anything but "a pauper's life". 

If this poorhouse record is for my ancestor, it probably explains why it's so hard to find any civil records for her. It seems like New York didn't really pay much attention to what was going on in the immigrant slums. And I wonder if this might explain why there is no civil marriage record for Catherine and Thomas - maybe poor people didn't see the point of spending money for a civil marriage license? Maybe this was a religious thing - if the priest says that they're married, then maybe they didn't care so much about what the state said? 

 

I appreciate your help - you are very kind!

 

Hi Jill,

Civil registration began in NYC in 1865.  But it wasn't really enforced well until perhaps 1900. So it's likely your ancestors got married in the church and didn't think it necessary to register their marriage with the city.

Hi Jill,

I am late to this discussion, but I thought that I would say hello as I am descended from Conboys of Longford/Leitrim. My great grandmother was also a Catherine Conboy; B:1865 Bornacoola, Mohill, Leitrim, Ireland; D:8 Apr 1915 Cartron, Drumlish, Longford, Ireland. She married by great grandfather, James Flynn, who was a National Teacher and they stayed in Ireland. One of their sons was my late grandfather, John Flynn, who emigrated to NYC in the 1920s.

My Catherine's father was Thos. Conboy, B:1838 Greagh, Ireland; D:Dec 1917 Strokestown, Roscommon, Ireland. His father was Patrick Conboy 1815–1901 DEATH MAR 1901, Mohill, Ireland. If you're looking for Conboys, you might search in these areas as they may have been relatives/ancestors to your ancestor. 

Screen shot of my Conboy tree attached.

Jean O'Connor

NJ, USA