Fáilte Peter
Welcome to the IrelandXO Roscommon Community.
The important thing to note is that, when they baptised their first son in 1868, your Patrick & Brigid Donnelly were residing in "Mullagh" aka Mullaghmacormick (beside Ballykilcline).
This means that Patrick's father, JAMES DONNELLY ...
(a) is very probably the James Donnelly recorded in Mullaghmcormick (sharing a farm with Peter Donnelly) in 1833 [TA] and
(b) may be the James Donnelly (1803-1867) of Muckanagh [1857GV] you asked about;
(c) was an immediate relative (possibly an older brother) of Laurence Donnelly (1816-1868) of 16a Mullaghmacormick [1857GV] and Peter (1816-1867).
Mullaghmacormick was advertised to let in 1849 (during the famine) suggesting changes in leases occurred around this time.
NOTE: a Pat Donnelly was informant at the death of the aformentioned Laurence Donnelly (1816-1868) of Mullaghmacormick.
John Donnelly (1843-1926) of Mullagh/ Mullaghmacormick, son of Laurence, married Brigid Flanagan of Corrigeen/Clooncar in Oct 1875. (See 1878 Landed Estates attachments below). This couple are still present there in the 1901 and 1911 census. To determine if their descendants remained on the land apply to VALOFF to view the cancellation books for this farm.
Was your Brigid possibly a Moffit of Kilglass / Roosky?
The reasons why I ask are :
(a) Moffats also had a land-holding in Mullaghmacormick (no house) in 1857, and Donnellys are recorded as strong farmers there [GV].
(b) Even though this pair were married in Co. Leitrim (tradition: it should be done in the bride's home parish) Brigid's address is given as "Mullagh" indicating she was residing at Mullaghmacormick at the time of marriage. (Could be that she was working there, but some facts need to be established vis. the Moffats connection to that townland).
(c) There are plenty of Moffit godparents living local to Ballykilcline (to include John Moffitt of Drumarley aka Drumman Beg m. ELizabeth Gaffney of Renefarna aka Rathinagh in 1882).
Mullaghmacormick borders Drumman Beg & Knockhall to the east, Ballykilcline to the south, Barravally & Carrigeen to the west, and Crunkill & Kilgarve to the north.
How are they related?
The Mullaghmcormick Moffatt and Donnelly farm holdings are the ones you should first investigate (in addition to Ballykilcline). I wouldn't concern myself with the other Kilglass townlands you mentioned in Griffith's Valuation just yet.
Your best bet, to determine kinship, is to apply to VALOFF for copies of the Griffith's Valuation Cancellation pages for the townlands of (a) Mullaghmacormick (1868) and (b) Ballykilcline (from 1870 onwards).
The minimum information you need to give VALOFF is:
COUNTY Roscommon
BARONY Ballintober North
CIVIL PARISH Kilglass
TOWNLAND 1 Mullagh aka Mullaghmacormick
TOWNLAND 2 Ballykilcline (is a funny one as the landlord hold most of the townland here... ask first for any records on Donnelly there first).
If you can afford it, it's as well to get all pages for both townlands (which are adjascent by the way), because later on, as kinships are realised, you will refer back to them time and time again for other queries.
From these pages you can see from whom they inherited the land (hopefully) and to whom it passed on. (often times with minor notes that may prove helpful).
Once you have those land cancellation records, you will be able to cross-compare BMD records and the 1901 and 1911 census, and possibly find extended family still living in the area. At that point, newspaper obituaries may also come in handy.
The estate records of their landlord, the Marquis of Westmeath (Greville) have also survived and you may be able to find out about your Donnellys and Moffits by a visit to the National Archives in Dublin...
- National Archives of Ireland: Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Greville, 26 November 1858, Vol 54, MRGS 39/027, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
- National Archives of Ireland: Papers relating to Greville estates in county Cavan and survey of Roscommon estate of Col. Fulke Southwell Greville, 19th century. M. 3050.
- National Archives of Ireland: Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Marquis of Westmeath, Greville, 14 Nov 1861, Vol 63 (30), MRGS 39/03, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
- National Archives of Ireland: Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Marquis of Westmeath, Greville, 19 May 1864, Vol 72 (76), MRGS 39/036, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
If you need help interpreting the land cancellation records, please follow up message me to this same thread.
Best of luck!
