Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Dunnamore to Chicago

TyroneKildress (Tyrone)

I am looking for any family members, parents or siblings of my gt grandparents John McGurk, 1820-Aug 10, 1900 and Bridget Monaghan, 1815-Jan 30, 1897. They had seven children: Mary 1843. She married Charles Loughran of Beagh Beg. Ann, 1848-1908. She married Joseph Monaghan who died in 1919. Ann and Joseph lived at Dunnamore. (They had one daughter Mary Josephine who married a Quinn) i believe they took Ann McGurk's father's hilding.) Michael Mcgurk was born in 1851, Peter Mcgurk was born in 1853/4.  James McGurk in 1859. Bridget McGurk in 1860 and Ellen in 1863. All of John McGurk's children except Ann immigrated to Chicago, IL between 1872 and 1884.

In the 1880 US census of the Chicago suburb of the Town of Lake, Peter McGurk had at least two cousins living with him: Thomas Heagney, born in 1861 the son of Charles Heagney ot Teebane and Ann Monaghan, the sister of Bridget Monaghan McGurk. There were also two McHughs who may have been brothers: Peter born 1847/8 and Joseph born 1855/6. Peter has droped out of sight. Joseph apears to have returned to Dunnamore and married there. In 1901 he was listed as 40 living in household of James McHugh, household 36 and in 1911 Joseph was living in household 24 with an age of 55 which agrees with the 1880 census.  Online baptismal records for Kildress show a James McHugh and a Mary Monaghan having a son John. John came to Chicago.  

The 1880 census for Peter McGurk showed two additional fellows who may have been relatives or Kildress neighbors: Patrick Laughran (sic) born 1851/2 and Michael Mohohan, almost certainly Monaghan was intended. He was born 1860/1.

Questions: if Bridget, Ann and Mary Monaghan were sisters, were there other siblings? And who were there parents. And any ideas about their relationship to the teaching Monaghans of Dunnamore whom I have read about in Michael Burns' excellent blog. 

Lastly, hoping I haven't worn out your patience. Who might have been the siblings of John McGurk and who were his parents? 

Would be happy to help Kildress folks track lost family members in Chicago in 1800s or early 1900s.

Thank you kindly for any information,

 

John E. Corrigan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sceal

4 replies

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out! 

Have you learned any more about the above?

 

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

cdoyle@irelandxo.com

IrelandXO member

 

Clare,

I have continued to work on the Monaghans from Dunnamore and have made a tree in Ancestry into which I have put as much info as I can get my hands on. I have some Dunnamore people who came to the US, but not Chicago unfortunately. And have found some English born children of  Dunnamore people who came to the US. Am willing to exchange info. I have a Matthew Loughran and an Anna Grimes from Beaghbeg, gt, gt grandparents. Not sure of any sibs/cousins for them. They seem to have had only two children, Charles born 1839 and a sister who married a Dan Mallon. 

I am hoping for a  brief July visit. Is there any local Ireland XO member I might say hello to? 

 

John 

 

 

Sceal

Hi John

I will try my best to find a volunteer available in the area, what is the exact date of your trip?

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support 

IrelandXO member

You wonder who Joseph McGurk’s father may have been. The parish baptism records only start in 1835 and so I suspect it will prove difficult to get back earlier than that.

Looking at the 1826 tithes for the townland there was just 1 McGurk farming there – Arthur. He appears to have been the local curate. So may be unconnected with your family.

http://www.cotyroneireland.com/tithe/tithe_Kildress.html

The Will of the Reverend Arthur M'Gurk late of Dunamore in the Barony of Dungannon and County of Tyrone Catholic Curate deceased who died 27 May 1866 at same place was proved at Armagh by the oaths of John Harbison of Cookstown Merchant and John M'Namee of Curhoney (Cookstown) Farmer both in said County the Executors. Rev McGurk was 84 when he died.

By the time of Griffiths Valuation in 1859, there are 3 McGurke farms in the townland – John with plot 4, a 53 acre farm, Arthur with plot 16, an 11 acre farm (I think this is a different Arthur to the curate) and Stephen on plot 21 a 7 acre farm. In addition the Rev Arthur was on plot 48, an 11 acre farm which was near the chapel.

So it looks as though the McGurks moved into the townland between 1826 and 1859.

The modern Dunnamore Rd runs through the middle of Dunnamore townland. Looking at the current phone book there are 2 McGurks living there. You might want to get in touch with them to see if they are connected. Search under postcode BT80.

http://www.ukphonebook.com

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.