Research done by a relative in the 80s shows Catherine ("Kate") Brown to have been born in "Cloughens", Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland. So I do not know for sure whether her civil parish would have been Kilbelfad or Kilmoremoy. I am hoping that Cloughens refers to Cloghans Townland.
According to the same research, she was born July 9th, 1845, to Thomas Brown and Ellen "Nellie", nee Lynch.
On Feb 27th, 1870, she married John Joseph McGowan son of John McGowan and Ellen, nee Daley, in Addergoole, Mayo. Their (his?) township is listed is "Gurtnaheltia". They were Catholic.
Very soon thereafter, the McGowan family emigrated to Buffalo, New York, USA. Parents John and Ellen, Their son John and his wife Catherine, their sons Anthony and Thomas, and their daughter Mary, may all have traveled together. The family either purchased or built two small, single-story houses in the lower west side of Buffalo, 107 and 109 Lakeview Avenue - these houses are still standing, inhabited, and currently in good repair. Catherine and John remained there, living side by side with the elder McGowans.
On November 28th, 1870, Catherine gave birth to her first child, Mary Agnes. In 1872 she gave birth to a son, Joseph. In 1873 she gave birth to a second son, John, who did not survive the year. Catherine died in 1874, possibly in part due to complications from the birth of her third son, but according to her death certificate, she had "consumption". She is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Buffalo, New York, USA.
Catherine has numerous descendents currently living in many parts of the United States, including Buffalo, New York, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, California, Minnesota, the DC area, and more. We appreciate her bravery in venturing as a newlywed with her husband and in-laws to a strange city in a strange land. The lives we live today are in part due to her courage and hard work.
If anyone has information regarding Catherine's family, or John McGowan's or Ellen Daley's family, please contact Oonagh Taeger at oonaghtaeger@gmail.com. Thank you!
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 9th Jul 1845 | |
| Date of Death | 31st Jan 1874 | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | John Joseph McGowan | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | John | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Ellen | |
| Names of Children | John, Mary Agnes, Joseph, | |
