Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

James and Mary Redmond Whelan from Litterbeg (Blackwater)

WexfordKilmuckridge (Wexford)

My third great grandmother Mary Redmond Whelan emigrated from Ireland to the U.S. in Sept. 1856. She emigrated with children Mary Whelan (age 24), Matthew Whelan (18) and Bridget Whelan (13). Her son Patrick Whelan emigrated in 1850 or 1851 and her son John Henry Whelan probably emigrated with Patrick. They all lived in the Watertown, New York State area. Matthew Whelan's Civil War Pension Records state that he was from Litter, Blackwater, Co. Wexford. My best guess is that he was from RC Parish Litterbeg near RC Parish Blackwater. Mary Redmond Whelan was baptized in RC Parish Litter on 23 Mar 1797. The baptism date is off exactly one year from the date on her gravestone in New York State. Her parents were Ed (?) Redmond and Mary Murphy.

I can find no record for her husband James Whelan in New York State. Her grave states that she was the wife of James Whelan, but I can find no death record or cemetery record for James. If James died in Ireland, then my guess is he passed away before Mary and their children emigrated to NY. Their youngest daughter Bridget was born in 1842 and I did find a baptism record for Bridget in the recently released RC records.

I am hoping to connect with any Whelans currently residing in the Litterbeg area who may have family records dating back to the 1800 to 1850 time period. Also, any leads regarding death or cemetery records for James Whelan who I am guessing died between 1842 and 1850. Lastly, I am not sure if I am posting this message in the right Civil Parish page (Kilmuckridge)? I can post to a different page if it would be more appropriate.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Mike Lancor Moultonborough, NH USA

lancor

6 replies

Mike:

Hello again!

You are in the correct parish page.

The 1853 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Kilmuckridge civil parish shows a Mary Whelan in Litterbeg townland which likely is your ancestor and confirms that James died in Ireland prior to 1853. The parish register does not show any death records and since James died before civil registration started in 1864 likely there is no death record. 

http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0600

I would doubt that there are any cemetery records or a headstone for James Whelan. You could contact the parish and ask

http://ferns.ie/kilmuckridge/

I also checked the online phone book and did not see any Whelan records in the Kilmuckridge area.

http://ferns.ie/kilmuckridge/

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Thanks again for getting back to me so quickly.  I will contact the parish and ask about any records they may have.  It definitely makes since that Mary Whelan in the 1853 Griffith's Valuation for Kilmuckride would be the same Mary Whelan who emigrated from Litterbeg in 1856.  As you noted, Mary Whelan would only show up as head of a house if she was a widow.  Thanks for checking the online phone book.  I will defintiely use that source (online phone book) to check on possible long lost relatives for some of our other Irish ancestors.

Thanks for the information and suggestions.

Mike Lancor

lancor

Hi, Mike,

I find your letter tantalizing. I have traced my roots solidly to a great great grandfather Andrew Redmond, born in Garridonnel in 1789. I think Garridonnel is a small town in Litter parish. The names overlap a lot in records I've seen. Andrew emigrated to near Quebec, Canada in ~1826. The only siblings I've found are Margaret Redmond, born 1795, and Mary Redmond, born 1796, but I don't have married names. This is a year from your Mary Redmond Whelan. You say her 1797 baptism is a year off from her gravestone. What does the gravestone say, and which is correct?

You say Mary Redmond Whelan's parents were Ed (?) Redmond and Mary Murphy. My research for Andrew, Margaret, and Mary points to parents Guillielmus/William Redmond, born 1765, and Hanna Murphy. 

Could we have something here?

Alice

ARedmond

Hi Alice,

It is Monday, May 28 and my wife Kate and I are in Ireland.  As I am writing this reply, we are in the Glendalough area in Wicklow County.  I could not believe you posted a reply to my email today since we spent the afternoon today in Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford "chasing" my Whelan and Redmond ancestors.  We went to St. Mary's Catholic Church, the old Catholic cemetery between Kilmuckridge and Kilcooley, the Catholic section of the old graveyard associated with the Church of Ireland, and drove to the area where my 2nd great grandmother Mary Redmond Whelan lived before emigrating to New York State.

When we return from Ireland, I will do some more research and let you know if I think we are following the same Redmond family from Kilmuckridge.  It is a very small community, so there is an excellet change that my 2nd great grandmother Mary Redmond was related in some way to your 2nd great grandfather Andrew Redmond.

Thanks for replying and you will hear from me again.

Mike Lancor

 

 

 

lancor

Hi Mike, 

If you left a note under a rock around the neighborhood, I'll find it. We will do probably the same drive around the Litter/Killmuckridge area June 18-19. I have wondered about St. Mary's Church and the cemetery. I don't have specific places to find, like old property, but I expect to take in the air and feel the soil!

Cheers,

Alice

 

ARedmond

Hi Alice,

If you send an email to my personal email account (loonatic@roadrunner.com), then I can give you some suggestions about your time in Litter/Kilmuckridge.

Mike

lancor

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.