Farrelly family in County Meath, Ireland

I am researching the Farrellyfamilywhichoriginated in County Meath, Ireland. Laurence Farrelly was born in County Meath, Ireland on March 17, 1814. He married a woman named Mary Gough (her maiden name wasspelled Goff in later American records). While in Ireland, the couple had four children: Anna, Patrick, James, and Mary. The Irish birth record of Anna shows that she was born on November 11, 1839 in Parish Stamullen in County Meath.

According to stories which were passed down orally through the family, Laurence Farrelly was married three times (Mary Gough was the last of the three wives and was the only wife whose name is still known). The first two wives were reported to have been buried in Ireland. The story about Laurence Farrelly's first two wives was report to have been passed from Laurence to his grandson (James Farley). James passed the story down to his daughter, Charlotte Farley; and, Charlotte passed the story directly to me in 2000. Laurence and his grandson, James Farley, were reported to have had a very close relationship.

The family name was later changed to Farley after the family moved to America. The spelling of Laurence Farrelly's name was changed to Lawrence Farley. Records show that the mother and four children arrived at the port of New York on the ship Shannon (from Liverpool) on July 10, 1851. The Farleys settled near the town of Meredosia, Illinois, where their fifth and final child, Lawrence, was born. Mary died a year later (burial place is unknown). The father and five children moved to Stephenson County, Illinois. The father became a U.S. citizen in 1860. The sons, James and Patrick, both served in the military during the American Civil War. James died while the family was residing in Illinois. The father and four surviving childrenfinallymovedto Union County, Dakota Territory; and, all are buried in cemeteries in that county, which is now located in the state of South Dakota.