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Catherine Armstrong (ne Cawley) - born 1858, married 1876, died 1930?

SligoAchonry (Sligo)

Greeting everyone,

I am searching for information on my greatgrandmother Catherine Armstrong (nee Cawley).

By searching the records available online I have identified the following information onCatherine Armstrong (ne Cawley):

  • Baptised 01-November-1858, Emlefad and Kilmorgan, Sligo (Ballymote area)

  • Father: John Cawley

  • Married 23-March-1876, in Achonry, Sligo

  • Spouse: James Armstrong (born 1850; Farmer)

  • Residence in 1901: Tullyhugh, Sligo

  • Residence in 1911: Tullyhugh, Sligo

  • Died 1930, registration district Tobercurry (to be confirmed - possible index record sourced).

I have been trying to find information on Catherine's parents and siblings. The only definite information I have from the records I have sourcedto date is her father was 'John Cawley'.

I havesearched the Catholic Parish Registers (baptisms) for Cawley baptism records, in an endeavour to identify Catherines siblings. In the Ballymote area of County Sligoalone, there were 47 Cawleys baptised between 1856 & 1880. There are a number of likely candidates, however workingthrough them is additionally challenging as there appears to be two John Cawleys producing children in the same time period and in the same parish; although it could be the same John Cawley, if his first spouse died and he remarried. I do not have any information on the parish of 'Emlefad and Kilmorgan', other than it'slocation.

With this post I am hopingto make contact with Ireland reaching out memberswith on the ground knowledge of the area and families (possibily Cawley descendants).who might be able to assist me in my search information on Catherine, Iam conducting my research from 12,000 miles fromIrelandin NZ.

Any pointers as to where I mightlook for further information would also be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Bernard

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Bernard:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

We do not have a parish liaison in the are around Ballymote. The RC parish of Emlefad and Kilmorgan is now the parish of Ballymote  http://achonrydiocese.org/parishes/sligo/ballymote/  It is unfortunate that the 19th century parish register did not show the mother's maiden name.  I did find three John Cawley marriages in the parish (which you may already have) which might assist with the baptismal records.

The 1858 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Emlaghfad civil parish shows John Cawley living in Ballymote 

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/sligo/emlaghfad.htm

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

Roger McDonnell

Date of Marriage:24-Feb-1846
Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
County:Co. Sligo
Husband JohnCawly
Wife MaryMorrison

Date of Marriage:08-Jan-1852
Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
County:Co. Sligo
Husband JohnCawly
Wife AnneWyms

Date of Marriage:11-Jan-1857
Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
County:Co. Sligo
Husband JohnCawley
Wife MaryKilcawly

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Thank you for your feedback.

I have now located those marriage records on the Rootsireland website.

On the Ancestry website I found a series of Cawley baptisms for 1858 (+/- 10 years). One of the baptism is for my great grandmother Catherine Armstrong (nee Cawley), born 1858. I suspect a number of the other baptisms with John Cawley as the father are her siblings, but I do not know how I can go about proving it. Any ideas? The URL to obtain the details is below:

http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=IrelandCatholicParish&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsln=Cawley&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1858&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=10&msbpn__ftp=Sligo%2C%20Ireland&msbpn=5318&msbpn_PInfo=7-%7C0%7C1652381%7C0%7C3250%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C5318%7C0%7C0%7C&msbpn_x=1&msbpn__ftp_x=1&gskw=Emlefad&gskw_x=1&MSAV=1&uidh=223

A few of the later baptism records a little more information other than the father’s name, i.e. record the mother’s given name. There is a ‘John & Mary’ and a ‘John & Bridget’. The ‘John & Mary’ might relate to one of the two ‘John & Mary’ marriage records which you identified.

I have searched Griffith’s valuation for John Cawley. See URL below. There is a John Cawley who is a tenant of six properties and the landlord. Whether all the properties relate to the same John Cawley is an unknown, at least to me.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&familyname=cawley&firstname=john&baronyname=&countyname=SLIGO&unionname=&parishname=&Submit.x=36&Submit.y=12

Yes, I have thought about an autosomal DNA test and will probably go down that route.

However, in the meantime do you have any ideas as to how I may be able to progress my research using the paper trail?

Cheers,

Bernard

IrelandXO member

Bernard:

I looked at the 1876 civil marriage record transcription. It showed that Catherine was from Tullyhugh so the family was there in 1876 and the father John was still alive. The 1858 Griffiths Valuation for Achonry parish shows seven Cawley/Cauley/Cauly records but none in Tullyhugh  http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/sligo/achonry.htm

I also looked for civil death index records for a John Cawley (and variants) in the Tobercurry registration district between 1876-and 1901. Only one record is a possibility First name(s)JohnLast nameCawleyAge at death90Birth year1804Registered year1894Registered quarter/yearJan - Mar 1894Registration districtTobercurryVolume4Page377CountySligo

Hope some of this information helps.

Roger

Date of Marriage:23-Mar-1876
Parish / District:Tubbercurry
County:Co. Sligo 
Husband
JamesArmstrong
Address:Caramorane
Wife Catherine Cauley Address TullyhughDenomination:Roman Catholic
Roman CatholicOccupation:Labourer
Not RecordedAge:Full
20Status:

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Many thanks for the information which you have provided.

I will continue my investigations and no doubt touch base with you again a later date.

I just have one question for the moment.

On the civil registration transcription on the rootsireand website the address of James Armstrong is given as Caramorane. I have checked a list of County Sligo townlands and I can find no townland of that name. Do you think it might be a transcription error? I have noted two possibilities below:

  • Carrowmore       - Leyny - Achonry - Tobercurry
  • Carrownaworan - Leyny - Achonry - Tobercurry

Cheers,

Bernard

 

 

IrelandXO member

Bernard:

Could be a transcription error. You would have to see the orginal record to know for sure. Carrownaworan is only 2.7 kilometers from Tullyhugh so I'm inclined to belive that is the correct townland. Carrowmore appears to be further away.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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