Searching for County Mayo Ancestors
From a written history of my family, I have traced my family's roots back to Patrick Kennedy (b 1785), who married Sarah Corrothers. They probably lived in County Mayo and had at least 2 sons and 2 daughters.
Their oldest son, David (b 1814), married Mary Kearney (Carney) (b 1818) . They lived in County Mayo and immigrated to the United States c 1848. David and Mary were my great-great grandparents, and were of the Roman Catholic faith. Of their 5 children who began the voyage to America, only two survived: Michael and Katherine. The other three died of typhus on the journey and were buried at sea.
The family settled first in Rutland, Vermont (where my great-grandfather John Kennedy was born in 1848) and later in the part of Virginia that later became the state of West Virginia. John Kennedy married Mary Gaughan, who was also born in Vermont, but her parents, William (b 1818) and Julia (b 1827) Gaughan were both born in Ireland.
Another son of my Irish ancestors Patrick and Sarah Kennedy, whose name I do not know, married Barbara Kearney (Carney), sister of Mary Kearney. Thus, 2 Kennedy brothers married 2 Kearney sisters. Mary and Barbara Kearney's parents were Connors Kearney (born about 1790 in County Mayo) and Honorah Corcoran. They married in 1818 and had four children, Mary, John, Stephen and Barbara. Mary, John and Stephen immigrated to the US, but Barbara stayed in Ireland, marrying one of the Kennedys, as mentioned earlier.
I have a great deal of information about the family in the United States, but nothing in Ireland beyond the names Patrick Kennedy and Sarah Corrothers Kennedy; Connors and Honorah Corcoran Kearney (Carney); William and Julia Gaughan.
Any help in finding out more about my Irish ancestors would be appreciated. One gentlemen here has already suggested the Patk Kennedy in Rahoonagh townland, Kilbride parish of the Tithe Appointment Books for 1836 had a Thomas Kearney listed next to him. It may be a coincidence.