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Determining LYNCH and McDONNELL Fathers and Residences from Griffiths Valuation

Rathkenny (Meath)Grangegeeth (Meath)Tullyallen (Louth)

Hello! I've been researching 4 McDonald/McDonnell lines of a group of 55+ Ancestry shared DNA matches over these past few years trying to connect their patriarchs with not much luck. (ie: James McDonald 1831 Co Louth; Thomas McDonald 1837-1907 lived and died in Drogheda; John Edward McDonald 1841; Michael McDonald 1843)

I have recently changed my strategy and decided to focus on the location of the marriage of the James McDONALD (b. 1831 Co. Louth) and Bess LYNCH (b. abt. 1829) in the hope that I can learn their father's names and place of residence before coming to America. I wondered why James, who had already emigrated to the US, would return to Co Meath to marry when he was from Co Louth? They were married on 17 September 1853 in Rathkenny Parish, Co Meath (Grangegeeth, Dowth, Monknewtown). Witnesses: John DEVELIN and Eliza McDONALD. James and Bess' first born son was named Patrick Henry McDonald. Their second born son, and last child, was named James Anthony McDonald. All their children were born in Haverstraw, Rockland, New York, USA.

Hearing that the bride usually marries in her home parish, I looked at Griffiths Valuation for any Lynch and McDonald/McDonnell families living close to the above 3 parishes. According to Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864), a James LYNCH lived in Ballymacan. A Patrick McDONNELL lived close in Starinagh, Co Meath. A James DEVLIN lived in Creewood. And a Patrick McDONNELL (1792-1889) lived in Balgatheran, Co Louth and actually leased a house and land next door to a James DEVIN.

I'm having trouble connecting my James McDonald/McDonnell and Bess Lynch with the above, although the Balgatheran McDonnell looks enticing. U.S. death certificates for James and Bess are non-existent and to date, I haven't been able to find any Irish baptism record that fits. I did, however, research the Balgatheran, Co Louth Patrick McDONNELL and according to his will, his nephew was Bernard McNALLY (father: Bernard McNALLY). In 1869, Bernard married a Jane TAAFFE (father: John TAAFFE). Patrick also listed his niece, Mary McDONNELL, who lived with him in Barnattin. Note: The DEVIN/DEVLIN and TAAFFE surnames are mentioned in both James McDONALD 1831 and Thomas McDONNELL 1837 families.

Being from America and not being familiar with this area and the customs, should I assume that Bess LYNCH is associated with the James LYNCH in Ballymacan, Co Meath? And her husband, James McDONALD 1831 lived close by in Co Louth and one of the McDONNELLS is related to him? Any help would be much appreciated, as I feel I'm unable to detangle this mental mess! haha

kerijanssen@gmail.com

2 replies

KJanssen:

Ballymacan townland is in the civil parish of Grangegeeth and the related RC parish would be Rathkenny. I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and there are no Elizabeth/Eliza/Bess baptismal records in the RC parish of Rathkenny. There is an 1829 Elizabeth Lynch baptismal record in Kells RC parish with father James. However, Kells RC parish is two parishes west of Rathkenny so low likelihood of a connection.

Since Meath and Louth border, it is possible that a Louth man would marry a lady from Meath. However, I find it unusual that James McDonald would have left Ireland around 1850 and then came back in 1853 to marry and then emigrate back to New York State. It did happen but not that frequently. Did James and Bess live to 1900? If yes, then what emigration data is on the 1900 census form?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, Roger, for your quick response and searching rootsireland!

James McDONALD and Elizabeth (Bess) LYNCH did live to 1900. I've researched them and the other McDonald men at length, over the years, and it still seems like I'm spinning my wheels trying to connect them and/or finding their parents and specific locations! haha To answer your question, James arrived in NYC on 20 Mar 1850 on the ship, Jacob A. Westervelt. However, I haven't been able to pinpoint their return arrival to NYC, except that their son, Patrick Henry McDONALD, was reported to be born in Haverstraw, NY in January 1855. There are numerous James McDonalds and Elizabeth McDonalds (and Lynches) arriving in NYC to determine which is the correct one. They didn't return together from what I can tell.

I found them in the 1900 US Census, alive and well in Denver, Colorado, with a few of their adult children. They listed their immigration date as 1851 for James and 1861 for Elizabeth, which is not correct. She had all of her children in Haverstraw, NY beginning in 1855.

kerijanssen@gmail.com

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