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Looking for James Patrick Rush

Mayo

Hello!

I've traced my heritage back to James Patrick Rush, born around 1805, who lived in England from at least 1833 forward, where he worked first as a shoemaker and later as a police officer in Worcestershire.

The 1851 census lists his birthplace as County Mayo, but I've found no other information on his life prior tohis marriage to Dorcas Barnett in 1833 (in Surrey, England). Frustratingly, his marriage record doesn't list any information on his parents (or his wife's, for that matter).

James retired from the Wocrester police force for health reasons in 1855 (with a sizeable pension)and his wife and children emigrated to the United States in 1857, causing me to wonder if he died shortly after his retirement.

I've found eight entries for the Rush surname in the Tithe Applotment Books for Mayo; a few of them list Castlemore, which I understand is now in County Roscommon. I've found a mention of the Rush family here (the result of a Google search, which introduced me to irelandxo.com!) but beyond that I've been sitting at this brick wall for many months.

I am an amateurgenealogist, to be sure, and I am unfamiliar with Irish genealogical research for this time period.I would love any suggestions on how to proceed. Thank you!

IrelandXO member

6 replies

Toby:

The Rush surname in Mayo is primarily found in Kilbeagh and Kilmovee parishes in East Mayo and also just to the east in Castlemore and Kilkeevin parishes in Roscommon. The greatest number are in Kilmovee parish. (My great-great grandmother was Anne Rush from Magheraboy Kilmovee).

RC church records for parishes in this area of Mayo do not begin until the 1840-1850s.

You may want to consider DNA testing. Since you are a descendant of the male line, you can take the Y-DNA test that tracks your paternal line. I would also suggest that you take the Family Finder or autosomal test. This test tracks cousins on both paternal and maternal sides and identifies possible matches going back to 5th cousins and beyond. Possibly you match me at some point. There are a couple different companies that do DNA testing. I used FamilyTreeDNA.  www.familytreedna.com  

The idea is to find a match and hopefully the other person has a more developed family tree that will allow you to break down a brick wall.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger. Let us know how your search progresses Toby!
Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

IrelandXO member

Hi Toby,

Here's another Rush in Mayo from the Flax Grower's List from 1796. People were given spinning wheels if they grew a certain acerage of flax. Not everyone qualified for this, but it can be a useful list.

http://www.failteromhat.com/post1796.php

James Rush from Kilbelfad, Mayo

Since your ancestor left Ireland so early, finding records can be quite difficult. One suggestion, that is fairly labor intensive, is to take the different Rush families you found on the Tithes, see what Rush families are listed on Griffiths Valuation (http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php), see if you can find people named Rush on various Civil Records and the 1901 / 1911 census.  You can then eliminate some of the families if they stayed in Ireland.  Also, you might find some siblings / aunt / uncle / parents who stayed in Ireland and that might lead you to more info.

Also, if you are interested in the DNA testing route, feel free to ask some questions, as I have had several different types and have some opinions on what is good, bad and indifferent.

good luck,

John

Kilcummin MayoIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger and John, thank you so much for your kind assistance!

As it happens, my father got a report from 23 and me earlier this year, and lent me his access information to look at his and my mom's results. I'm trying to wade through it now. My parents chose the site, so I have no idea if it's a good one or not... do either of you have any experience with it? I see there's a facility for contacting identified relatives, but I get the impression that the relations are pretty distant.

IrelandXO member

Toby:

I don't have any experiene with 23 and Me. Maybe John does.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi 

Lots of Rush,s in Rooskey,Doocastle, Co. Mayo

a quick serach of the 1901/1911 census for rush in rooskey co mayo

peterduffysite…IrelandXO Volunteer

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