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Question about Names/Parish in Co. Mayo

Balla (Mayo)

Well it has been awhile! I have been searching off and on here in the U.S. still looking for info on my gr-gr-grandmother, Annie Griffin born in Co. Mayo. I came to Ireland in May 2025, although still not having an exact place. I did some searching on Find my Past and found a baptism of Ann Griffin bap. 9 May 1841 (this was close to the date we had year just off by 2 years) she was baptized in Balla,Diocese Tuam, Co. Mayo. I have the church record which gives her parents as MARTIN GRIFFIN AND MARY RATIGAN. Nothing here to confirm that. I did visit in Co Mayo and went to the museum in Turlough, which was fantastic and I find out later is was quite close to Balla.

So fast forward to Christmas time I was doing some searching on Ancestry and found an Agnes Griffin who died in St. Louis, MO (where Ann Griffin Hughes ended up) in 1926. There was an obit in the newspaper and it mentions her sister Ann (Griffin) Hughes YIPPEE - her death certificate also gives names of parents - same as the Balla baptism for Ann Griffin.

I search more on Roots Ireland and could not find a baptism for an Agnes Griffin BUT did find the following:

Martin Griffin and Mary Ratigan married in 1816 in Kilcolman parish

Children born to this couple per Roots Ireland:

Bridget Griffin born 1826

Margaret born 1827

Martin born 1829

They all were born in Crossboyne & Tagheen

Then a long gap until I found a Bridget Griffen born in 1838 to a Martin Griffen and Mary Raferty ?? in Balla

and then my Ann Griffin in 1841

Lastly, I found a Martin Griffin in Griffiths in the townland of Lurgan, Bekan parish in 1857.

My questions are:

Is it common for families to move around (looking for work perhaps? We have Kilcolman, Crossboyne and Balla and Lurgan?

I am concerned about the large gap from marriage to first child found 1826 -- then another gap from 1829 to 1841.

Concerned also that I can't find Agnes Griffin baptism even though obit says they were sisters and they had same parents names?

I see there is a St. Cronans church in Balla, I am slowly but surely, going through the Balla church records online but I wonder if I would contact the church/town if they would recognize those names of Griffin and Ratigan (and Raferty) as being in the town or if this family was tenant farmers that moved around a lot.

Thanks for any insight anyone can give me on the 40+ year search I am on.

Kathy Wurth

kmwroots@yahoo.com

4 replies

Kathy:

Kilcolman (Claremorris) baptismal records do not begin until 1835 so if the 1816 marriage was for your Martin Griffin/Mary Ratigan, then any children born from 1817 on in that parish would not have a baptismal record. Crossboyne baptismal records start in 1825 so if they were in Crossboyne right after the 1816 marriage, no baptismal records would be available until the one you located for Bridget in 1826.

Families did move for work. Balla baptismal records start in 1837 which may explain the gap between 1829 and 1838.

Agnes Griffin could have been born/baptized in one of the gap periods.

The 1901 census did not have any Griffin or Ratigan households in either Balla or Rosslee civil parishes.

I would be cautious with the Griffiths record for a Martin Griffin in Bekan civil parish.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

HI Roger,

I can't thank you enough for this information! I should have thought about checking the years of what is available as I know that is a big problem for Irish research. This makes perfect sense for why I may not have been able to find those first children and possibly my Agnes. I plan on going through the rest of the church records for Balla to see if they stayed in this village or disappeared. I've been researching a long time but this is my first time (finally) where I am able to research in Ireland so I am learning as I go. Are the gaps in church records because they were lost or that they were just not written down? Any suggestions for how to find families during these years? Any other kind of records they might have left? I do know I should check Civil records after 1864. Thanks again for your help but what did you mean about the Griffiths record in Bekan. Maybe another Martin?

Kathy Wurth

kmwroots@yahoo.com

Kathy:

Yes, that Martin Griffin may not be your ancestor.

Generally, missing register books were either lost or not retained.

Besides church records, the only other source would be the Tithe listings. I did find a Martin Griffin in Rosslee civil parish in 1833 but no way to know if this is your Martin Griffin.

https://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625713/004625713_00257.pdf

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger, you have been a big help. I will continue to go through the church book for Balla and the others around there to see if the Griffins show up, and follow those other siblings possibly and the Civil records after 1864. I did find another lead here in the States. My Agnes Griffin was living with a family in 1900 census that had ties to a Thomas Griffin, so have been trying to find a definite connection that proves he is a relative. A lot of work to do but so interesting. Thanks again. Kathy

kmwroots@yahoo.com

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