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O'Meara, O'Mara, Omara, Omeara, family from Toomyvara

TipperaryTipperary (Tipperary)

My great-grandfather James O'Meara (as per his death certificate in Australia 1939) was born in Toomyvara circa 1859. He migrated to Sydney Aust. circa 1878 and married Mary Agnes Dawson from Co. Limerick in 1885, confirmed by his marriage certificate.

His parents were Matthew O'Meara, and Mary Delaney. Her parents were Patrick Dawson and Margaret Sullivan.

He had several children; two were registered at birth with surname O'Mara, the remainder as O'Meara.

His brother Michael also migrated to Australia, around 1889, also fathered many children with his wife Johanna Fitzgerald (born in Burwood, NSW). Her parents were Edward Fitzgerald and Mary O'Connor.

They were staunch Catholics and supporters of the Church in Kogarah, a suburb of Sydney.

They were very successful in their lives in Australia, as contractors, farmers, dairy owners, property owners, and real estate developers.

James died in 1939, and Michael in 1949.

I cannot find any record of arrival for either of these men, or any record of them in Ireland, but they were well-know and respected here in NSW especially Kogarah, and Coraki (Far North NSW).

I do not have any living relatives of past generations to help me with my search, and hope that you might find some information for me. I also do not have any photographs

Cheers

Kerry

goldsy19

13 replies

Hi Kerry

I assume you have this record from www.rootsireland.ie/ (subscription site):

http://Name: James Meara Date of Birth: Date of Baptism: 14-Jun-1856 Address: Roscoorthus Parish/District: TOOMEVARA Gender: Male County Co. Tipperary Denomination: Roman Catholic Father: Mathew Meara Mother: Mary Delany Occupation: Sponsor 1 / Informant 1: William Meara Sponsor 2 / Informant 2: Cath Maher

Siblings of James are:

Catherine  1862 Mary 1854 & Anne 1869 - all Toomevara R C & same parents - but no Michael

There is a record of a James OMeara in the Assisted Immigrant List sr.www.records.nsw.gov.au

He is aged 23 and arrived in Sydney on the Erato with family; no Michael however.

I couldn't find any record in Tithe Applotments, Griffiths Valuation or the Irish Censuses (all free online)

Col

 

 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Kerry:

As Col indicated there was no Matthew O'Meara in  the 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Agnameadle civil parish. However, there was a James O'Meara on Church St. in Toomyvara. Possibly he was the father of Matthew if the first son was James. There are also a couple Mara records and also a John Delaney.

There was also a James O'Meara in the 1825 Tithe listing for Aghnameadle parish. He was listed in Bunacum townland.

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587395/00…

I also located a civil death index record in the Nenagh registration district for a Matthew O'Meara who died in 1915 and according to the informant was born in 1825. Possibly this is the father of James and Michael. I found the 1901 and 1911 census records for this Mathew. In 1901, his wife was listed as Mary but she apparently died before the 1911 census. I don't know if this is your Mathew/Matthew or an unrelated Matthew O'Meara/Meara.

Roger McDonnell

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Latteragh/Ga…

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Latteragh/Ro…

First name(s) Matthew
Last name O'Meara
Birth year 1825
Age at death 90
Registered year 1915
Registered quarter/year Jan - Mar 1915
Registration district Nenagh
Volume 3
Page 424
Country Ireland
Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Col

Thank you so much for checking this out for me.

Re:the green text in your reply - How do I access this information.  I have clicked on it but nothing happens.  Is it a link to some other site?

Regarding the entry for James on the Erato, it lists him as having a wife Hannah (from memory) and a child.  As he married here, Australia, in 1885 to Mary Agnes Dawson, I have this marriage certificate, I doubt that is him as he was a devout Catholic and therefore would not have considered divorce. I seem to remember also that the dates don't fit.

RE: Tithe Applotment Books (1814-1855) - I found an entry for Omara/Delany, 1828, Townland-Capparos, Parish-Kilmore, Co.Tipperary,  GS Film # 256650.  It's hard to read, but looks like 5 acres to Mr O'Meara and 2 acres to Mary Delany.  Do you think this could be my relatives.

RE: Michael O'Meara, I have his death certificated from 1949 which lists his parents as Matthew O'Meara, farmer, and Mary Delaney

Any thoughts?

Cheers, and thanks again

Kerry

goldsy19

Hi Roger, and thanks to you also for responding to my request.  As you might appreciate, it is very difficult and expensive to do this research from Australia, so I really do appreciate your help, and Col's too of course.

Thank you for the census records, I was able to access and print them, but the Tithe link did not work for me.

I have searched shipping records to find details of the brothers' migration to Australia from 1876- 1881, every ship's manifest for a listing for Mara, Meara, O'Meara, O'Mara, Omara, Omeara, families and single men, with no luck.  They must have come by rowboat!!!  Do you have any suggestions regarding this?

Cheers, and thanks again

Kerry

goldsy19

Kerry:

Go to www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie  enter Bunacum in the townland field and you will get 38 replies and James O'Meara should be the second record.

Can't help you with the ships records coming into Australia. Have you tried Ancestry?

FYI Col lives in Australia and I'm in the States.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Morning Kerry & Roger
Kerry the green writing was the cut & paste from rootsireland so no link I'm afraid.
roots also has 4 baptisms of the children of Mathew & Mary all from Toomevara R C: Mary 1854 James 1856 Catherine 1862 & Anne 186; family address is Roscoorthus / Rosguerth / Roscoordha!
Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Kerry,

I have read your post and it seems that we share the same great grandfather, James O'Meara.  My parents were Matthew James O'Meara and Sylivia Agnes Phillips.  I was born in Sydney, my father was 60 years old when I was born.  He saw service at Gallipoli. I am keen to follow any new information and happy to share what I know.  

I have a photo each of James and Mary. 

Mary 

IrelandXO member

Hi Mary Therese

My apologies for not responding sooner, but I only just found your response (by accident).  Yes it seems that we do have a g-grandfather in common, and I'm guessing you are the child of Matt's second wife.

I would love to exchange information and hope you will too, though I have very very little of any news in Ireland - it's all after he arrived in Australia.  Photos would be wonderful, if you care to email them to me..

Cheers

Kerry

goldsy19

Hi Kerry,

This morning I have read your reply to my message posted September, 2015.

Am very keen to exchange any information regarding 'our g-grandfather' and his family.  Fortunately, I do have some information you may be interested in and it seems there is only one living relative who has ancient family information - Father Jim O'Meara who lives now in Rockdale/ Kogarah (retired).

I did sms 2 photos to you of James and Mary (nee Dawson) O'Meara last year, I fear they are still floating around out there somewhere.

Not that computer savvy, so I will try to email them.

Good luck

Mary Therese

IrelandXO member

Hi Kerry,

Further to my message just now - where would I email these photos to...............

I also have a photo of Mary Dawson's grave in Lismore, NSW.

 

Best wishes

 

Mary

IrelandXO member

Hi Mary

My email address is kgolds@bigpond.com

Looking forward to exchanging information

Kerry

goldsy19

My great grandfather, John C O'Mara, and his two brothers Patrick and David imigrated to the USA in about 1850. David and Patrick have disappeared, but John married Mary McAleer and settled in Davey Nebraska, which is a town with almost entirely Irish heritage. They were born in Toomevara, per the gravestone. I would love to know where Patrick and David ended up, they probably didn't come to the central part of the USA. I think the arrived on a ship named the Barque Elizabeth. 

 

Jmara

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