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Flanagans from Knockeraville in Heathstown in Killucan

WestmeathKillucan (Westmeath)

TRYING TO FIND BIRTH AND MARRIAGE RECORDS

I am at a standstill with the family of my Great Grandfather Peter ( Petere) Flanagan and his wife Kate ( Katherine, Catherine ) Masterson ( or Matherson ). The 1901 and 1911 Ireland Census has them as farmers living in Knockeraville (Knockaville), Heathstown, Killucan, Westmeath.

PETER: Born abt 1852 County Westmeath 

 I may have found his father, James Flanagan, from a Griffiths Valuation listing James as a farmer in Heathstown, Killucan. I would like to search the NLI Roman Catholic records just released. Does anyone know what church parish I should look for in Knockaville, Heathstown ? If I find his birth record I could verify his father and find his mothers maiden name. 

KATE: Born abt 1863 County Longford

I have verified records (Census and grandmother's death certificate) of her but her last name is spelled differently. Her maiden name is either the more likely Masterson, or Matherson. The ONLY information I have on her is that she is born in Longford, County abt 1863. I don't know what town she was born in or where she was married. Women usually married in their town but not always. Any suggestion where I might look for help in finding out more about her ?

If this helps below are the names and years of birth of their children. All born in Westmeath and probably Killucan: Elizabeth ( Lizzie abt 1884) Bernard Bryan ( abt 1887) Mary ( 09 May 1889 - my grandmother) James (abt 1892) John (1894) Bridget (1896) Michael (1898) Rose (abt 1900) 

Thanks for ANY help. 

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Debra:

Welcome to ireland Reaching Out!

Here is the link to the parish register for Killucan in Westmeath.  http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0948

I did check Roots Ireland and four of the children including your grandmother were baptized in Kinnegad RC church: Bernard, Mary 1889, James 1891, John 1893 Here is the link to Kinnegad but the NLI register stops in January 1881. Kinnegad parish is just to the southwest of Killucan. http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0949

I did check on Roots for the marriage of Peter and Catherine (Kate) with no success. Is it possible that she was non-Catholic?

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for your assistance and will look up that information you supplied. In regard to my Great Grandmother Kate yes it is possible that she is NOT Catholic but it never occured to me. In the Census she list her religion as Roman Catholic and since her children are Catholic and we are all Catholics I thought nothing else about it. However perhaps it was a condition of the marriage that since she wasn't Catholic she marry in her church. Perhaps she converted after the marriage. 

I wondered if there was a connection to Church of Ireland or another Protestant religion. My instincts tell me there is a story on the Flanagan side. From the little I learned they did well with their farm even through the famine years and before any land or tenant reforms they purchased their land from the Earl of Longford. 

I have never looked for Church records out of the Roman Catholic church so any help you could give me in that regard would be entirely appreciated. 

IrelandXO member

Debra:

I did some additional checking and it is likely she was RC. I went to the 1901 census on the National Archives site and entered Masterson in Co. Longford and got well over a 100 records. Every one of the Mastersons in Longford were RC so I think Kate would have been RC.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Lizzy was my granmother she married patrick mccormack in 1913 in rathwire church.

 

playboy04

Playboy04 Your Lizzie Flanagan is NOT the Lizzie listed above. My Lizzie never had any children and she never married your grandfather Patrick McCormack in 1913. She was not even living in Ireland and by then my Lizzie is married to someone else. This isn't from any incorrect documentation. She was very involved with my dad's life. It is a common name,and easy mistake. If you have my Lizzie in your tree you will need to remove her.

IrelandXO member

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