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James and Mary Ryan

TipperaryThurles (Tipperary)

I am trying to research my paternal greatgrandfather. Family history says it came to USA about the time of our Civil War (1860-1865). The story goes that hewent back to Ireland to find an Irish girl to marry, and he did, but she would not go back to the USA with him. James Ryan married Mary Ryan (her maiden name) in the later part of the 1860s. I have found one marriage record for a James Ryan and Mary Ryan married Mar 5, 1867, in Borris O'Leigh, Thurles, Tipperary. The groom's father was William Ryan, and the bride's father is Thomas Ryan. I can establish that James and Mary had three children, Daniel abt 1874, Margaret abt 1878, and my grandfather John 1884. I found a birth record for Daniel on 27 August 1874 in Gortshane, with sponsors Michael and kateCarroll. Daniel immigrated to the US sometime before 1907 as did he sister Margaret, who married Thomas Quigley before she left Ireland. John arrived in New York City on July 4, 1907 and married by grandmother Nora Berkery (Ballyvorheen, Co. Limerick) in 1913. I believe Daniel had three children, 2 girls and a boy named James. I don't think Margaret had any children and my grandfather and Nora had two, a daughter Mary and a son John, my father.

This is where I run out of leads for this family. I can not confirm when James and Mary were married or where. Given the popularity of the Ryan name it is difficult to establish children of this marriage. I have been unable to find them in the 1901 or 1911 census. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

cpa4fun

5 replies

Is this your family in 1901:

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Kilcomenty/Gortshane_East/1698784/

 

and in 1911:

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Kilcomenty/Gortshane_East/821606/

 

 

The only snag is that Daniel is still in Ireland in 1911 whereas you think he left in 1907. Perhaps he returned?

Can’t see the marriage for Margaret Ryan to Thomas Quigley. Could he have been named Martin Quigley? (There was a possible marriage registered in Nenagh in 1906 to someone of that name).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Sorry but I forgot to mention that Margaret Ryan married Thomas B. Quigley and that name is certain as my older cousin remembers Uncle Tom when is was a toddler.

cpa4fun

Don't think either of these is correct.  Daniel & Margaret were siblings not husband and wife, and Daniel was in New York in 1907 when my grandfather arrived.  The Ellis Island records indicate that my grandfather was going to see his brother Daniel in 1907 when he arrived.  I think the age of Mary on the 1901 census is too old.  James and Mary would have been married around 1865-1868, assuming they were in their 20's by 1901 they would have been in their 50's not 70's.  

Thank you so much for your research and I am sure you would agree it is hard to research Ryan's in Co Tipperary.  I think I found a 1901 census record for James Ryan showing James as a widower with two children one of whom is John and about the right age.  I will keep going with my research as I have been at it for more than 7 years to find some records of my grandfather with some level of certainty.  Thank you again.

cpa4fun

Not sure if my second great aunt is connected but she was Mary Ryan from Clonganhue, county Tipperary.  She was born on 25 June 1847 to Thomas Ryan and Margaret Deer and registered at Cappawhite Catholic Church.  He parish sponsors were William Corbett and Judy Ryan.  Her sister, Catherine, had a sponsor named Kitty Carroll for her baptism in 1830. Mary's mother was a Margaret and your Mary had a daughter  and named her Margaret so it may be a naming pattern.  She had five siblings one of whom, also Thomas, is my Ggrandfather and came to NZ in 1876.  Very difficult to track ryans in early 1800's, especially in Tipperary. Regards . 

IrelandXO member

I think we might have something here.  My search shows a Mary Ryan, daughter of Thomas Ryan.  Was your second great aunt married to a James Ryan of County Tipperary.  That seems to be the only piece missing at this time.  Thanks for the response to my post and I agree it is hard to trace Ryans anywhere in Ireland.

 

cpa4fun

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