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Skiffingtons / Cornaveagh (Ballyhean)

MayoBallyhean (Mayo)

I am hoping to learn more about the Skiffingtons from Cornaveagh. In particular, John Skiffington and Mary McGough, James Skiffington and Ellen Dea,John Skiffington and Honor Prendergast, William Skiffington and Mary Sheridan, and Patrick Skiffington and Bridget Shivnan. They are all from the early 1800's. The first John mentioned remained in Cornaveagh (he and his wife are buried in the old Ballyhean cemetery) butmost of his children immigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, US. James Skiffington also remained in Cornaveagh and I have met several of his descendants still living in the area. I do not know where he and his wife are buried. James' brothers, the secondJohn listed, William, and Patrick, along with an unmarriedbrother named Michael, also immigrated to the United States. I believe their parents were Martin Skiffington and Mary Nulty or McNulty, but I have no other information about them. They may have had a sister named Bridget. John settled in Cleveland, Ohio, William in Union City, Pennsylvania, and Michael in Le Roy, New York. I am unable to locate Patrick. Any information would be greatly appreciated, and any local lore is most welcome.

bskivinnc@aol.com

3 replies

Hi Barb

I had a look at the cd Memorials of the Dead Galway & Mayo for Skiffingtons but the only record was of John & Mary in Ballyheane.

Ellen's death record is on www.rootsireland.com.ie/ but doesn't give the graveyard!

Name:EllenSkeffingtonDate of Death:24-May-1884
Age:70yParish / District:Castlebar no. 1 districtAddress:CornaveighCounty:Co. MayoStatus:MarriedDenomination:Civil Parish / DistrictOccupation:FARMERS WIFESex:Female
GraveyardInformantGraveyard:
Relationship:HouseholderParish:
Name:Mary SkeffingtonCounty:
Address:Cornaveigh
Notes:

INFORMANT DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

Perhaps Mary's name might have been Cunningham but 1880's might be too late?:
Name:John SkeffingtonDate of Birth:04-Aug-1879
Registration Date:03-Sep-1879Address:CornaveighParish/District:Castlebar no. 1 districtGender:MaleCountyCo. Mayo
Denomination:Civil Parish
Father:Martin SkeffingtonMother:Mary CunnighamOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Ellen Skeffington

If I have the right family, here is the full list (except John above)

Civil BirthSkeffingtonEllen1878Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkeffingtonBridget1882Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkeffingtonJames1883Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkiffingtonMary1885Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkeffingtonPatrick1887Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkeffingtonMartin1889Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkeffingtonAnne1890Co. Mayo
Civil BirthSkiffingtonKate1894Co. Mayo

There are no Skiffingtons in Mayo in the 1911 Irish Census (free online) but there are lots in other counties

There are 21 in the 1901 Census including 2 Pats:

Residents of a house 7 in Ballydavock (Clogher, Mayo)

Show all information

SurnameForenameAgeSexRelation to headReligionBirthplaceOccupationLiteracyIrish LanguageMarital StatusSpecified Illnesses

SkiffingtonKatie18FemaleDaughterRoman CatholicCo MayoFarmer's DaughterRead and write-Not Married-SkiffingtonAnnie14FemaleDaughterRoman CatholicCo MayoFarmer's DaughterRead and write-Not Married-SkiffingtonMichael21MaleSonCatholicCo MayoFarmer's SonRead and write-Not Married-

SkiffingtonMary62FemaleWifeR CatholicCo MayoFarmer's WifeRead and writeIrish and EnglishMarried-SkiffingtonJanie12FemaleDaughterRoman CatholicCo MayoScholarRead and write-Not Married-

SkiffingtonPat65MaleHead of FamilyR Catholic

Residents of a house 14 in Charlestown (Kilbeagh, Mayo)

SurnameForenameAgeSexRelation to headReligionBirthplaceOccupationLiteracyIrish LanguageMarital StatusSpecified Illnesses

SkiffingtonBridget44FemaleWifeRoman CatholicCo MayoHouse KeeperCannot readIrish and EnglishMarried-SkiffingtonMichael15MaleSonRoman CatholicCo MayoTin-SmithCannot read-Not Married-SkiffingtonMary12FemaleDaughterRoman CatholicCo MayoNo OccupationCannot read-Not Married-SkiffingtonPat44MaleHead of FamilyRoman Catholic

I assume you've seen the 5 listings on Griffiths Valuation for Skiffington in Mayo 1857 - no Pats though

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

 

Hi Col,

Thank you for such a detailed response.  The John and Mary that you found on the Memorials cd are from the right time period.  They are John Skiffington and Mary McGough and they are buried in the old Ballyhean cemetery although I've not been able to find their marker as the cemetery is quite overgrown.

The Ellen that you found in Roots Ireland is Ellen Dea, the wife of James Skiffington.  I don't know where she is buried either, and I've not been able to find any record of James' death.

You are correct about the name Cunningham but she fits into a later time period.

I'm also aware of the two Skiffington families in Ballydavock but I have yet to find how or whether they are connected to our family in Corvaveagh.

I understand why it is difficult to find death records, and I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding where people were buried.  I've been led to believe that during this time period some of the deceased were simply buried by the nearby stone wall.  Are you able to confirm this practice?

Barb

 

 

bskivinnc@aol.com

Hi Barb

I'm afraid I'm no expert on graves but apparently there were a lot of paupers who were buried without markers. It's hard to know whether this applies to your ancestors

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

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