Searching for County Mayo Ancestors
I have posted on the County Mayo and Kilbride message boards, but recent revelations from my research indicate that I should post here, too, in case there are members here who do not see the other boards. I have combined some of my separate posts below.
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 lived in County Mayo and had at least 2 sons and 2 daughters.
One 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 was most likely named Martin Kennedy. He 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 Martin Kennedy, as mentioned earlier.
In Griffith's Valuation, index extracts for Co. Mayo, 1856-57 (Ballycastle area) Doonfeeny, Kilbride, Kilfian & Lackan parishes, almost halfway down the page for the Lackan Parish are the surnames of several of my ancestors, including some that also match their first names.
There are 3 Patrick Kennedys listed plus Connor Kearney (along with many others of that surname). Both of these names match those of my great-great-great grandfathers.
In addition, David's daugher Katherine Kennedy married Michael Ford , who was also born in Ireland (Crossmolina Parish County, Mayo, Ireland), the son of Patrick and Mary Nallen Ford. In the Griffith's Valuation record for January 1836, Patrick Forde appears abouve Thomas Kearney and Patrick Kennedy.
Another of my ancestors' surnames appears on the page, as well. There are several Corcorans. Honora Corcoran married Connor(s) Kearney.
Patrick Kennedy leased a share in a plot of land in the townland of Barnhill Upper in the civil parish of Lackan, Co. Mayo. His landlord was Sir W. Roger Palmer, Bt.. This Patrick Kennedy leased a house and additional land in the townland of Barnhill Lower.
Connor Kearney also leased property in the townland of Barnhill Upper in the civil parish of Lackan, Co. Mayo, and also under the landlord, Sir W. Roger Palmer, Bt.
Added research indicates that Barbara Kearney was married to Martin Kennedy. The first name of Martin, however, does not appear in any of the Kennedy descendants in the US, strange considering how the naming patterns are in Irish genealogy.
Barbara Kennedy, aged 70 years, resided in the townland of Barnhill Upper at the time of the 1901 census. She was a widow, with her children Pat (43), Kate (30) and John (37). I have also found John's death listed as July 29, 1931 at:
http://goldenlangan.com/bcreg-deaths.html
This was transcribed from the parish death register held at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. Graveyard in Lackan, County Mayo.
I have a great deal of information about the family in the United States, but I am searching for more in Ireland beyond the names Patrick Kennedy and Sarah Corrothers Kennedy; Connors and Honorah Corcoran Kearney (Carney); William and Julia Gaughan. Who were their ancstors????
Any help in finding out more about my Irish ancestors would be appreciated.