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Matthew Slavin or Anna Coffee of Westmeath?

Westmeath

My ggggrandfather was Matthew Slavin (sometimes Mathew sometimes Slaven), born about 1822,emigrated to the US about 1845. Catholic dairy farmers, settled eventually in Illinois. He married a woman named Anna Coffee (sometimes Ann sometimes Coffey) who was also Irish by birth, but I don't know if they married here or back home. They lived at first in New York, possibly near Saratoga. I suspect they did marry here because their first child is born a few years after the emigration.

Some years ago at a family reunion I believe I heard that someone had traced Matthew to Meath but I cannot confirm it with any documentary proof. Basically I know all of their descendants but can find nothing about their own siblings or parents.

Recently another Slavin and I discovered we are likely cousins, per DNA results. He lives in New York, and is descended from Irish immigrants Patrick Slavin and Rosana Duff, who settled near Schenectady. Patrick was born in Ireland about 1823 and came to the US a few years after Matthew, about 1851.

I had posted this all in the Meath bulletin board but tonight I found a transcription from a birth certificate for their son William, which states both Matthew and Anna listed their birthplace as "Westmaple" Ireland. My guess is it's a mistaken transcription of Westmeath?

IrelandXO member

5 replies

This is the only birth/baptism for Mathew Slavin ( + surname variants) 1822 + - 5years from www.rootsireland.ie/ - none from Westmeath:

Name:Mathew SlevinDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:01-Jan-1819Address:Not RecordedParish/District:LONGFORDGender:MaleCountyCo. Longford
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:William SlevinMother:Hanna Nichols

+ - 10 years found this one:

Name:Mathew SlevinDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:04-Oct-1830Address:
Parish/District:CASTLEDERMOTGender:MaleCountyCo. Kildare
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward SlevinMother:Anne KenedyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:John Kavanagh Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Byrne 

This is the only marriage for Mathew Slavin to  Ann (last name not specified)

Date of Marriage:27-Jul-1838
Parish / District:Tubber
County:Co. Offaly
Husband
WifeName:MathewSlevin
AnneQuiskly

No marraige for Patrick & Rose Duff but some for Patricks to Roses

A glimmer of hope for this one:

Name:Anna CoffyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:17-Feb-1839Address:Not RecordedParish/District:BALLYMOREGender:FemaleCountyCo. Westmeath
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Patrick CoffyMother:Catherine Scally

There are quite a few Patrick Slavin baptisms from Westmeath but they jump from 1815 to 1830's - none in the 1820's! Allare from Mullingar

Not much luck I'm afraid J

Col

 

 

 

 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Have you tried searching the Census from the relevant years (link below).  It is limited but you never know what it might unearth as its from 1821 to 1911 (1901 and 1911 being the only two years that have full records, previous years have limited records). 

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ ;

 

Also another place to check is the Military Archives, maybe a relative was in the military that will give you more information.  They have  extensive online documents that are free to view. 

http://www.militaryarchives.ie/home/

 

Have you tried the variation Slevin also?  I'm from Mullingar in Westmeath and there are lots of Slevin and Coffey families around.   Some of my own ancestors Surname changed spelling over the years also . 

 

hope these links of of help and best of luck with your research

misemefein22@g…

You folks are very kind. It's kind of silly, but I would somehow like to know more of my ancestry. Thank you.

IrelandXO member

Hello,

I just joined today. I am the "likely cousin" discussed at the beginning of this message chain.

My Irish ancestors that immigrated to the United States are my gg-grandparents Patrick Slavin & Rosana "Rose/Rosa" Duff, and her mother Catherine Duff. Rose had a brother, Matthew, who also came from Ireland. Our ancestors arrived in the mid-1800s. We do not know if Patrick Slavin and Rose were married in Ireland or in the US, but it was likely around 1849.  All of these folks are buried in the same cemetery in Schenectady, NY.

My family's link to origins from County Meath come from Catherine Duff headstone. It is in fairly good condition. It reads:

Catherine Duff

Died Aug 29, 1873

Aged 87 Years

Native of Ireland County of Mead. Parish of Ranghrorn

Erected by Matthew & Rosa Duff in Memory of their beloved mother.

I’m pretty sure that “Mead.” is meant to be Meath. The letters identifying the parish are pretty faded. I’ve searched and can’t find anything close to “Ranghrorn”.

Patrick Slavin's stone reads "Died April 18, 1889. 66yrs". However, different census data shows his birth year could be between 1818-1825. 

Rose Duff's stone reads "Departed this life Aug 11, 1885 in the 68 year of her age". Again, census records show her birth year in the range of 1817-1825.

My father's DNA testing shows he has numerous matches in the "North Midlands" area of Ireland.

Any help with information on Patrick Slavin, or Rose and Catherine Duff would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mike Slavin

 

IrelandXO member

Mike and J and Col:

This is just a hunch but the civil parish may be Rathcore and the related RC parish would be Rathcore and Rathmolyon (Enfield today). The records for that parish unfortunately do not start until 1878 which is very late for a Meath parish. This would explain the lack of records. The Griffiths for Rathcore ciivl parish does show a Thomas Slevin in Rathcore townland. No Duffs listed but three Duffys including one in Rathcore townland.

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/meath/rathcore.htm

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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