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Family of Thomas Mason & Catharine Loan, Dunboyne early 1800s

MeathDunboyne (Meath)

Hi. Looking for information on the ancestors/relatives of Francis Michael Mason, who was born to Thomas Mason and Catherine Loan. His records simply say place of birth as "Dublin", but I have found other persons born to parents with the same names in Dunboyne. There is also Thomas Mason in Dunboyne in the Griffiths. "Catherine Loan" is not a common name in my research - in fact, she's the only "Loan" I have found to date in my line and I have no info on her other than her name on some marriage and death certificates. My hunch says I'm on the right batch of Masons here.

There are too many long gaps between births to let me think these are the only children born to Thomas and Catharine. I note there are some last name "Loan" children with the middle name of "Mason" in Dunboyne in the early 1800s, and am inclined to think they are related - perhaps cousins.

I have quite a bit of info on the descendants of Francis, Mary E, and Patrick, but nothing on Margaret or Sarah, or any other children that might have existed. The known children of Catharine Loan and Thomas Mason were:

Mary Mason bapt 5 Nov 1832 St. Nicholas' Parish, Dublin (assumed she did not survive as there is a later sibling with the same first name)

Sarah Mason bapt. 10 Dec 1837 Dunboyne

Patrick Mason born 29 Feb 1840 (Emmigrated to the USA, settled in New Jersey)

Margaret Mason, bapt 30 May 1842 Dunboyne

Francis Michael Mason born 2 Nov 1848 (Lived for a time on Gt. Britain Street in Dublin, later emmigrated to the USA, settled in New Jersey)

Mary E. Mason born +/- 1854 location unknown (Emmigrated to the USA, married a Connell, settled in Connecticut)

I would assume that Catharine and Thomas may be in the local cemetary in the village of Dunboyne.

If you have any information on this family, it would be appreciated. Thanks! - Nan

Nan D.

6 replies

Nan:

I did a quick check of Roots Ireland in Co. Meath and found four records. There was a James in 1834 baptized in Dunboyne RC in addition to Sarah, Patrick and Margaret. I will send you the James transcription record later today when I return home.

Have you tried www.irishgenealogy.ie for Dublin city records?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger.

Thanks. I have not come across James yet in my search, so that would be a welcome addition.  I have visited that site (irishgenealogy.ie) and it is where I found Mary, Margaret, and Sarah.  I also use Ancestry and FamilySearch.org, but so far have had no luck there. 

It was only through a genetic test on Ancestry that matched me with someone with the same name in their tree a few generations back, and our being able to triangulate our info with some notes left behind by an elderly aunt and a newly discovered document that listed Francis's mother's name that we could put Mary E., Patrick, and Francis Michael in the same family. Once I had the mother's (Catharine Loan) last name the other children surfaced.

On Ancestry I did find some Dublin prison records that seem to indicate Francis was a bit of a scrapper - unless there were two Francis Masons living at about the same address on Gt. Britain St. in the mid 1800s in Dublin (which, given that the family recycled the same six names ad nauseum, is entirely possible). Somewhat amusing, that...

Anything you run across or can point me to is appreciated.

Nan

 

 

 

Nan D.

Nan:

Here is the transcription record for the baptism for James. I don't have any additional sites to recommend. I do have access to civil index records if you know when Thomas or Catherine died assuming the death occurred 1864 or later.

Roger

Church Baptism Record
Name: James Mason Date of Birth:  
    Date of Baptism: 03-Dec-1834
Address:   Parish/District: DUNBOYNE
Gender: Male County Co. Meath
    Denomination: Roman Catholic
 
Father: Thomas Mason Mother: Catherine Laon
Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks, Roger. Don't know how I missed James. There's a suspicious gap prior to the last child I have on my list, so dad was either away at sea, in prison, or there are still other children out there. I know Thomas had passed away before Francis M had married in 1873, but have nothing other than that.  Appreciate your help. - Nan

Nan D.

I’m a direct descendant of Sarah Mason. Her grandfather was named Thomas Laon. It seems to be a North of England name.

cathydaltonarchitect

Hi MYOB.

Thanks for your post.

My Sarah Mason was the daughter of Thomas Mason (either a tailor or a sailor, probably the former) and Catherine Loan. I have Catherine Loan's parents as Francis Loan (or Lowin) and Catherine Lynch, dobs in the late 1700s. I have not been able to go back any farther on this line, nor do I have any other information on Catherine.  Since the father's names do not match, I suspect your Sarah Mason is not the same Sarah Mason in my direct line.  It's possible she's a cousin to my Sarah. Do you have any further information on her or the family?  There seem to be a considerable number of Mason families in that part of Ireland.

Having found Francis Mason's mother's name as Catherine Loan, I've also seen it spelled Lowin, Lowan, and Loane (all the same person) in different records. I've also been told the name is of English as well as Scots origins.

 

 

 

Nan D.

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