Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Nevins, Rahara Parish, County Roscommon

RoscommonRahara (Roscommon)

My GG Grandfather, John Nevins (Nevens?), was born in Rahara Parish, County Roscommon (About 1825- 1882).  He married Mary Kinsella (1830-1896), from the same Parish.  They emegrated to the US in 1846, during the Potato Famine.   John fought in the US Civil War, and was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg.  I am trying to locate any descendants of John and Mary who might currently  be living in Ireland.   I have Ancestry DNA uploaded to GEDmatch, Kit GA5719625.  My wife and I will be going to Roscommon in July, and it would be fun to meet any (Nevins or Kinsella) descendants while there  Thanks!.

brucemo3d

4 replies

Bruce:

Records for the RC parish of Knockcroghery start in 1841 so no baptismal records would be available for John or Mary. I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find a marriage record for the couple. Possibly they were married before 1841.

I checked the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Rahara civil parish and there were no Kinsella or Nevin records. There were five Navin records in the nearby parish of St. Johns so possibly your John was from that parish.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Nevin, Nevins, and Navin (and other variants) are all anglicizations of the Gaelic surname Mac Cnáimhín, which was apparently once anglicized as Knavin (which is closer to the Irish pronunciation of the name).  The name originated in Connacht (which includes Roscommon), though it is also now found in other parts of Ireland.  The name contains the word cnámh, which means "bone" in Irish, so some say that it is derived from that word (cnáimhhín means "little bone"), but that etymology is disputed.

kevin45sf@yahoo.com

Have a wonderful trip to Roscommon. My ancestors are also from Roscommon. Read my messages regarding Thomas Nevin, my grandfather. My father Michael Nevin was born May 6, 1913 the baby of 2nd marriage of Thomas Nevin & Ellen Gilleran.

When I visited with my husband and daughters in 2014, we had limited time in Roscommon but got to see the small home still standing in Roscommon. My father Michael before he died went back to Roscommon to have a gravestone erected to honor his ancestors. It is in Derrane Cemetary. We couldn’t find it but I have a photo of it. I also have a newspaper article from Roscommon Record that my great grandmother was buried there too.

Since Nevin is not that common, we are probably related in some way. 
 

Mary Cilmi nee’Nevin

 

sorry could download photos

 

 

 

 

maryjcilmi@gmail.com

Hi Mary,

Had a great trip to Ireland.  Visited Parish of Rahara.  Very beautiful area.  We may indeed be related.  I have attached a file from my family tree.  Do you have a DNA test?  I have an Ancestry test, which is also on GEDMatch.  My Kit is GA5719625.  My GEDcom family tree is 6573489.  My email is brucemo3d@gmail.com.   Feel free to contact me. Thanks for your reply...  

brucemo3d

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.