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James and Margaret O'Connor and Family

WexfordEnniscorthy (Wexford)

Hello there,

I am searching for links to James and Margaret O'Connor and family. Their son Patrick was born around 1868/69 in Enniscorthy and married my great great aunt Catherine Hanley (from Kildorrey/Mitchelstown, county Cork). On their wedding certificate Patrick was 30,from Enniscorthy and his parents were James and Margaret (nee O'Donohue). Patrick & Catherine married in Bathurst, NSW, Australia on 18 January 1899. I have a tremendous amount of information on Catherine Hanley and her parents and six siblings, thanks to Lena McCarthy and the Kildorrey community. The family emigrated in 1879 aboard the ship Peterborough and settled in Bathurst.

I do knot know when the O'Connor family emigrated to Australia and would greatly appreciate any clues and information if that is possible. When Patrick & Catherine were married his father, James was a farmer and mother Margaret was deceased. I have been able to find a death certificate (1891) for Margaret, her parents were Patrick and Catherine. I am presuming that she too was born in Enniscorthy or nearby.

Recently, I have made contact with the O'Connor side of the family and they would like to find any links to their grandfather, Patrick O'Connor. They know little of his past and would appreicate any help in finding information.

Sincerely,

Mike Hanley

MichaelJHanley

5 replies

Mike:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The Enniscorthy RC records are on Roots Ireland but when I searched for Patrick, no record came up. This would indicate that he may have been baptized in another RC parish in Wexford or another county. ( As an aside only 13 of the 47 Wexford RC parishes are on Roots). 

www.irishgenealogy.ie has the civil birth images starting in 1864. (Use the Civil Records TAB) From what I can tell the most common surname spelling was Connors at that time. I would search from 1864-1870 for Patrick and see if you can find his record. There are four registration districts for Wexford to focus on: New Ross, Wexford, Gorey and Enniscorthy and maybe Enniscorthy should be your first district to search. (The Enniscorthy registration district has over twenty civil parishes).

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

 

Hello Roger,

Thanks for that information, I'll share this with my O'Connor relatives and do some further investigation following your suggestions.

Thanks again

Mike

 

MichaelJHanley

a possible sister to Patrick ?

Birth of Anne Connors 8th January 1870 Ballymotty, Father James Connors farmer, mother Margaret Donohoe
The image is no. 190, the third entry on the register image (GRO/IrishGenealogy)

Enniscorthy registration district, Oulart Sub-district. There are two  townlands named Ballymoty Beg and Ballymoty More, and these are located to the east of Enniscorthy.

 

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Ballymoty More & Beg townlands are in Ballyhuskard civil parish which was split between three Catholic parishes - Moonageer/Boolavogue, Oilgate/'Oylgate and Glanbryan'  and Oulart. I had a look through these for a possible baptism for Anne to establish the parish to search for other possible children including Patrick.

I found Anne's baptism in late December 1869 in Moonageer/Boolavogue parish, so it looks like the civil birth date was fudged slightly.  Baptism of Anne Connors 20th December 1869, Ballymoty, parents James Connors & Margaret Donohue - godparents Wm. Murphy & Thomas Donohue  (NLI Catholic register images - 4th entry on the left page)

Working back through the baptisms I also located a baptism for Patrick...
Baptism of Patt Connor 14th July 1863, Ballymoty, parents Jas. (James) Connors & Magt. Donohue - godparents Jas. Donohue and Anne Donohue. (first entry right page)

Ages reported in later records such as census  returns, marriage and death certs are often inaccurate, so an earlier date is not unusual. There are probably other children born to the couple in the same register so worth  scanning though, especially between 1863 and 1870.

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello shanew147,

Thank you so much for these leads, I have downloaded the baptism transcripts. My O'Connor relatives have found it very difficult in tracing back to Ireland and your information should provide them with help. I need to do more follow-up on their immigration to Australia.

Thanks again

Mike

 

MichaelJHanley

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