Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Brownes of Swinford

MayoBohola (Mayo)

Hi, My roots lie in Mayo and specifically in Swinford.  My ggrandfather was Denis Browne born abt. 1839 and died 27 Dec. 1924 in Swinford.  He was the son of John Browne Esq.  He married Bridget McNicholas 19 Nov 1865 in R.C. Chapel in Swinford.  Bridget was the daughter of John (Patrick) McNicholas and Catherine Brennan.  She was also born abt 1839 and died 18 Nov 1904 in Swinford.  They had 12 children.  My grandmother was Helen Browne born 6 Sept. 1881 in Swinford and died 25 June 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey USA.   Looking for a link to the early Brownes or to early McNicholas's.  All of my grandmothers brothers and sisters save one emigrated to the US and settled in New Jersey.  So I don't think I have any cousins there at all.  It's been very nice to share.  Sue

 

sdibarba

2 replies

Sue:

Is it possible that Denis Browne's wife was Mary?  See the 1901 and 1911 census records below. On the 1911 record, Denis Browne was a widower but it does indicate that he had 12 children. When you go back to the 1901 record for him, the wife is shown as Mary. I also included the 1858 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Kilconduff parish which includes Swinford. No John Browne but there are many McNicholas records since that is a very common name for the Swinford area.

Roger McDonnell

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Mayo/Swineford/The_Lanes/1601397/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003029693/

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/mayo/kilconduff.htm

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,  Thank you for your reply.  Yes, the census shows Bridget as Mary so she must have been known as Mary.  It seems both Dennis and Mary were born in Kiltimagh and I was wondering if that was still Bohola parish and if there are any records at all from then.   I was interested in the 1858 Griffith Valuation but not much info can be gotten from that.   Since there are so many McNicholas' I am sure I am related to some of them. 

        One of the family stories was that Bridget's (Mary's) father John Patrick or Patrick John McNicholas left Ireland and the family when Bridget was a small child.  Supposedly he was killed in the Big War over here in America.  But by my calculations, he would have been a little too old to have served in the Civil War of 1860-1865.  I think he might just have left and started a new life over here.  But, unfortunately there is no one left to ask any more.  

        Thank you again for the info.   Sue

sdibarba

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.