Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Bridget Magrath

MeathMoylagh (Meath)

Looking for any information on Bridget Magrath. She would be my GGG-Grandmother, who married Edward Connell of Knocklough, Oldcastle 31 July 1838 at St. Mary's RC Church, Moylagh(Near Drumone). We do not know where Bridget Magrath was born but we believe she hailed from the Oldcastle area, but could have been from Meath, West Meath, or South West Cavan. Bridget and Edward had only two known children - both sons - Patrick (b.20 July 1839) and Edward (b.1 April 1841). Edward was later known as "the Cooper". We believe Bridget may have died in childbirth in 1841 as there is no other existing information after 1841. We have no other information on Bridget - we do not know who her parents may be, when or where she was born, etc. All known information has been derived in person from the local Church records in Oldcastle. Any information would be warmly acknowledged. Many Thanks, Cynthia O'Connell

cynthia.a.ocon…

4 replies

Cynthia:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Bridget McGrath would be a common name. I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and found two possible baptismal records in Oldcastle/Moylagh. One in 1819 and the other in 1816. Since she was married in Oldcastle/Moylagh, it is very possible she was baptized in that church. If you go beyond Oldcastle in Meath and then expand to Cavan and Westmeath, you will have many more possible records.

Roger McDonnell 

Name:Bridget MagrathDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:22-Apr-1819Address:
Parish/District:OldcastleGender:
CountyCo. Meath
Denomination:
Father:Cornelius MagrathMother:Jane KiernanOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Murtha Edward Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Cafry Bridget 

Name:Bridget MagrathDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:16-Feb-1816Address:
Parish/District:OldcastleGender:
CountyCo. Meath
Denomination:
Father:James MagrathMother:Catherine SmythOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Carroll Michael Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Kelly Anne 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank-you Roger for your very quick response. As you say, Bridget Magrath/McGrath would be and is indeed a common name - hence my dillemma in locating the correct Bridget Magrath. That there are in fact two Bridgets from the Moylagh, Oldcastle area in about the right timeframe is difficult to choose. My father mentioned to me he believed, through could not confirm, the Magrath family he was related to hailed from the Moylagh townland of Knocklough. So there are two....I am not sure how to narrow down the field of the two Bridgets in this case...? I am also  told the spelling will not necesarily help as the spelling of last names were random - it could be Magrath or McGrath, or something else. But, would it be reasonable to assume the child's last name would also follow the father's last name spelling? If this is an accurate assumption, then likely one of these Bridgets are indeed reasonable candidates. But how to determine which one?? Please aadvise. Again, many thanks!

Cynthia

cynthia.a.ocon…

Cynthia:

The names of the fathers in the two records are no help because neither matches the names of the two sons. Also, there was another Bridget McGrath marriage in Oldcastle a week after your Bridget McGrath was married. Also another Bridget McGrath marriage in 1844.

At this point, I only have a longshot suggestion. If you use Roots Ireland or another subscription site and see if you can track the other two marriages and their children to see if you find any common surnames which match sponsors in either the 1816 or 1819 records.  Of course, if the other Bridget McGrath died young or emigrated you are out of luck.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks very much Roger! I will attempt your longshot suggested research to see what is available. Best, Cynthia 

cynthia.a.ocon…

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.