John P Maher - b. Co Meath 1849

Meath

Hello,

I have been trying to research my gr. gr. grandfather John P Maher for some time and have been able to make little progress from before coming to the states. According to his obituary, he was born Oct 13th, 1849 in Co Meath and emigrated to US anywhere from 1850 to 1860 to Pennsylvania. I have gleaned from oral family tradition that he may have been born in Cork, his parents names were John and Mary (nee MXXXXX (unknown)) and he came to Pennsylvania to work in a relatives store. I don't know about being born in Cork, but I have no reason to doubt his parents names. He later moved west, married Margaret Hassett, and died in the Dakotas.

I know records start becoming pretty thin before 1900 besides baptisms and marriages but I am hoping this isn't the end of the road.

Thanks for any help,

Nolan Maher

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nolan maher

3 days ago

7 replies

Nolan

Click on URL below. John's bio states he came to America at age 5 with his grandparents.

Name	John Maher
Gender	Male
Birth Date	13 Oct 1849
Birth Place	County Meath, Ireland
Death Date	17 Mar 1915
Death Place	Union County, South Dakota, United States of America
Cemetery	Saint Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place	Emmet, Union County, South Dakota, United States of America
Has Bio?	Y
Spouse	Margaret Maher
Children	Rose A. Maher Theresa McIlvenna Daniel Christopher Maher Irene A. McEneaney James J Maher
URL	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6775777/john-maher

mtvrdk@gmail.com

3 days ago

Almost all Roman Catholic Churches in Co. Meath have records available prior to 1849. Only two parishes have later starting records I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find any John Maher baptismal records with parents John and Mary.

Possibly John was not from Meath or there was some confusion with his parents names and his grandparents names.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

3 days ago

Thanks Mary and Roger,

The bio on "find a grave" is told differently based on which branch of the family you ask. The main details remain the same, coming to Pennsylvania, moving west and the like. I can track his name on the census to 1880 but not before that. I have run into the same wall with Co. Meath records.

Thanks again to both of you,

Nolan

nolan maher

3 days ago

Nolan:

You may have already taken a DNA test but if not, a general DNA test might be helpful. You might have third or fourth cousin matches on that line and they may have info that would be helpful.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

3 days ago

The 1880 federaI census shows John “Magher” and his brother, James, Iiving with their HasseI/Hassett aunt and uncIe. Their daughter Margaret, I beIieve, Iater married John Maher.

Name	James Hassell[Thos. Hassett][Thos. Hassett]
Age	24
Birth Date	Abt 1856
Birthplace	Illinois
Home in 1880	Lakeland, Washington, Minnesota, USA
Dwelling Number	29
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Son
Marital Status	Single
Father's Name	Thos Hassell
Father's Birthplace	Ireland
Mother's Name	Catherene Hassell
Mother's Birthplace	Ireland
Occupation	Laborer
Neighbors	View others on page
Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship

Thos Hassell	61	Self (Head)
Catherene Hassell	59	Wife
James Hassell	24	Son
Margaret Hassell	17	Daughter
Daniel Hassell	20	Son
Michael Obrien	24	Nephew
James Magher	26	Nephew
John Magher	22	Nephew

Source Citation

Year: 1880; Census Place: Lakeland, Washington, Minnesota; Roll: 637; Page: 211d; Enumeration District: 031

The death record for Thomas Hassett notes that his parents were Richard Hassett and (first name not given) MAHER.

Name	Thomas J Hassett
Gender	Male
Race	White
Marital Status	Widowed
Age	88
Birth Date	10 Aug 1856
Birth Place	Prescott, Mann
Death Date	20 Jun 1945
Death Place	Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, USA
Father	Richard Hassett
Mother	Maher
Certificate Number	31c4/5330

Source Citation

State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, IA, USA; Iowa Death Records, 1921-1940

It might be heIpfuI to trace Thomas and famiIy to see if you can find your way back to IreIand.

glanvil3@aol.com

3 days ago

The 1870 federaI census of Minn. shows the Hassett famiIy. Right above them on the census page is the famiIy of Matthew Maher. Here's a Iink if you have Ancestry:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4265057_00634?usePUB=true&_phsrc=gQB26074&_phstart=successSource&pId=41902557

glanvil3@aol.com

3 days ago

Thanks Patricia,

I did know the Hassetts were living in Minnesota but did not know about their Maher neighbors. The 2 Maghers left in 1880 I think are the 2 sons of Matthew Maher from 1880 since James has the same birth year and location and John matches year and location with Lawrence (probably John Lawrence). However, this John is not the John that would go onto marry Margaret, as that would would be John P, my g.g. grandfather, who would have been about 10 years older than this John.

I don't have an ancestry.com account but this is the free facing page for John P Maher. https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/john-p-maher-24-2w2l65

I remember looking at this some time ago but had forgotten about. I remember at the time thinking it weird his father name being listed as Henry as it is not common in our family and our own family history has listed it as John. I had found the top linked sources on other sites and archives for free so I thought I could find the rest but have since failed. It might be time for me to bite the bullet and subscribe to get access to the documents that are registered with him to check they are correctly matched. The same goes for a similar profile on 'myHeritage'.

nolan maher

3 days ago

John P Maher - b. Co Meath 1849

7 replies

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