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O'Mealia (and variant spellings) and Bridget Hanay

MayoAchill (Mayo)

On 1851 Canadian census PETER O'MEALIA (b circa 1774 Mayo) is listed as a weaver. Believe Bridget (born circa 1796 in Mayo)is his 2nd wife;they were married in 1826 in County Mayo Ireland. I believe they may have been on Achill Island, possibly Slievemore. Known children were daughter RoseAnn born circa 1826, Mary born circa 1827, Joseph born 1831. A possible son from first marriage for Peter is Thomas, born circa 1810. Peter's daughter Mary lived long enough to state on census that she emigrated from Ireland in 1842. Born about 1827, should would have been 15, and was not yet married, and neither was RoseAnn married prior to leaving Ireland.

Both sisters, RoseAnna (my direct ancestor) and Mary named their firstborn children Thomas. This leads me to think Peter, their father, must have had a father named Thomas? Am I probably correct? Neither of their husbands were named Thomas and I know at least one of the grandfathers to the baby Thomas was not a Thomas. They were all Catholic (no surprise there) and I have tried to find records through the online access to parish records that were made available this past year. I did not find anything legible that I could say was my Peter. What should I do next? Thank you in advance. April

manybranches60

1 reply

Hi April

I've had a search for your O'Mealias but have drawn a complete blank I'm afraid!

I could not find any trace on www.rootsireland in births, marraiges or deaths with surname variants enabled.

There are none in the Tithe Applotments or the early Irish Censuses or Griffiths Valuation in Mayo.

I also looked in my cd Memorials of the Dead Galway & Mayo but the only 1 there was an O'Mealy from Galway.

My undersatnding of the Irish naming pattern is that the first son is named after the father's father so this would be Roseanna & Mary's husbands' fathers.

I tried the Irish phone book for O'Mealias & Hanays in Achill & Mayo but no luck there either!

There is 1 Hanay (Samuel) in the Tithe Applotments in Mayo (free at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/)

I wonder if the originals of the records you found are legible and if so whether someone could look them up for you.

If they were from Achill I hope, if you have not already done so, that you visit some time - it is a stunning place!

Col

Achill Parish Liaison

 

 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

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