Browne/Blake

Erica:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I located on Roots Ireland the 1877 church marriage record for John and Mary in Mayo Abbey. See below. There was no related civil marriage record. You likely are aware that the RC records for Burriscarra start in 1839 and for Mayo Abbey 1841.

Roger McDonnell

Date of Marriage:20-Sep-1877
Parish / District:Mayo Abbey RC parish
County:Co. Mayo
Husband  JohnBrown
Wife MaryAnsboro

Denomination:Roman Catholic
 

Thank you, Roger.

Any ideas on where else to look for George & Bridget's parents?

Erica:

I looked at the 1833 Tithe listings and there is a Major Blake listed for Tower Hill and a Dominick Browne who has large holdings in Castlecarra. I would also check out the Mayo library and see if they can assist in any way. http://www.mayolibrary.ie/en/Genealogy/

Roger

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587409/00…

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587409/00…

Erica - my great-great grandparents were George Browne and Bridget Blake, and given that the dates I have for them are the same as yours, they must be the same people you are researching. They had a daughter Margaret (dob 11/05/1847 - 26/10/1926) who married my great grandfather - one of their children was my mother's mother. Like you, I heard stories about "gran" - Margaret, my mothers grandmother, and I remember my mother and her sisters discussing her in hushed tones. Gran, Margaret, was, they said, a very refined person with 'beautiful manners'. There was talk about 'the wrong side of the blanket' - meaning she was born out of wedlock, and there was always lots of mention of the Blakes of Tower Hill. One story was that her mother had been a nanny who had become pregnant perhaps by one of the Blakes but who had been looked after by 'the family' in the big house. There was some talk of her being sent to their relatives in Galway, and the child being reared in the Blake house. The Brownes were also, as you say, one of the big landowners in the area, and were related to Altamont Browne who owned Westport House and several other Brownes. My mother commissioned some research but did not solve the mystery. My great-grandmother, Margaret Browne, was a teacher who married another teacher, George Garvey. He taught Irish to the boys from Moore Hall one of whom, George Moore, wrote several books including a series, Hail and Farewell, where he mentions my great grandfather. The Browne and Blake families were friends and in some cases intermarried with the Moores. The Brownes of Westport House, claimed descent from Grainne O Maile, the so called pirate queen.  I would be very interested in hearing of any further progress you may have made in this area. Ann.

Hi Ann, unfortunately I have not made any progress. I recently met a first cousin of my grandmother and he promised to send me some info he had researched, however, still haven’t heard back. I had not considered the possibility that George and/or Bridget was born out of wedlock. Perhaps that’s why they aren’t showing up in official records before their marriage? If your ancestor Margaret was born in 1847, she would have been born well after George & Bridget were married in 1844.

One piece of missing info that has bothered me was that I haven’t been able to find their burial place and I’ve wondered if that might give us a clue to their births. Do you have info on that? I know it’s a possibility that they are buried at Burriscarra Abbey cemetery in the same plot as John & Mary, just not recorded on the current tombstone. John’s brother Henry is also buried there and I found a record stating that two other male Brownes are buried in that grave (in addition to Henry’s wife Ellen) and when I looked closer I realized that Henry’s stone is new placed on an old base.

I have a photo supposedly of Bridget Blake — it’s a iPhone photograph of a photocopy so terrible quality but has a studio mark that might be recognizable to someone. I will try to post.

My mother did the Ancestry DNA test, and it does show a Mary Browne as a 1st or 2nd cousin  but there is no attached tree, so hard to tell what the connection is. One of my aunts did the 23 and me DNA but I haven’t seen her results.

Thank you for contacting me — will let you know if I receive any more info.

Erica

Here is the photo I have of Bridget Browne. I believe the iphone photo I took was of a velox copy of the original. I can't figure out the studio name, and have searched for multiple variations of Thosart/Titosart/Tiosart/Lhosart, etc. Studio and haven't found anything helpful so far.

Hi Erica

I now realise that you are Bernadette Millers daughter. I have photos of both John Browne &

And his wife Bridget which I shall try to upload when I get a chance. I’m not very

Techy. Guess they were taken at time of marriage as photography was not the norm

your photo looks like an Indian squw

Mary Browne

I've been doing some more work on this today and the only Browne listed in the region is George Browne and a Rev James Browne who is attached to the school established by the Blakes. The only links I can suggest are the following: 

Major Maurice Blake of TowerHill, (1771 - 7/5/1847) who married Maria O’Connor only daughter of Valentine O’Connor in 1803) had a son, Valentine O’Connor Blake, August 1808 - 1879), a daughter Margaret M Blake (1816-07/1869). I don't know what other children they had and assume that this Margaret was a daughter because she is buried in, or at least listed on the family valut in Carnacon.

Could Bridget (1822 - 1875) have been a daughter also? One of the witnesses at her marriage was a Margaret Blake and godmother to my great grandmother, Margaret.

Talk of her being born or reared in Galway could in some way be a reference to Bunowne Castle, Galway the Blake’s summer residence.

The name Margaret also appears in the next generation with Margaret Mary, a grand daughter of Major Blake dying in 1938.

The address of Margaret Browne (my great grand mother) on her marriage certificate in 1872 was given as Tower Hill.

According to Griffith’s Valuation of tenements for the Parish of Touaghty (1847-1864), the only occupier of Towerhill Demense was Valentine O’Connor Blake.

The only Blake listed is an Edward Blake with land, a kiln, office, cornmill and offices from Valentine O’Connor Blake at Clooneencarra according to Griffith’s Valuation. Could this be a relative of Bridget? But if so, why the rumours of her having behaved in a way not expected of her?

There is no Browne listed in the Parish of Touaghty at this time.

George Browne is listed as having two parcels of land rented from Valentine O’Connor Blake in Carrownagreggaun in the townland of Burriscarra.

The only other Browne is the priest, Rev James Browne, associated with the school (established by the Blakes).

Hello Mary Browne -(and Erica) my great-great grandmother was Bridget Blake who married George Browne in Burriscarra in April 1844. They had seven children - Michael, Margaret, John, George, Andrew, Henry, Mary. Margaret married George Garvey and one of their daughters, Ellen, had my mother Carmel Caulfied. George Browne died in 1873, 22 November, aged 63 years and Bridget died on 16 October 1875, aged 53.  At the moment I cannot say where they were buried - I have various notes from my research and this is unclear! I'm trying to put together that side of the family tree on the MacFamilyTree programme at the moment. I'll add a snapshot of the relevant page below. I would love to have a copy of any photographs you have - and more information please! The photograph you have of George and Bridget - perhaps if you photo it with you mobile phone you could email it to me on ann@anncahill.com My mum, Carmel Caulfield Cahill, tried to research the Browne/Blake side about 15 years ago but without much success. She died in 2011, the last of her family, and of course so much has disappeared with her. Best wishes. Ann.

Hi Ann,

I emailed you at the address above, but haven't heard back -- just want to make sure you received. I have more info and photos to send once I know I have the right info. Mine is erothwell @ sbcglobal. net.

I am definitely interested in the school run by the Blakes -- I remember seeing a photocopy of an article about it, but haven't been able to find it again. I've done a lot of searching but haven't found anything online about it either. I am particularly interested b/c I think the family homestead was on what was the grounds of the Towerhill estate -- between the big house and the school.

Hi Mary,

I agree, Bridget does look like an Indian squaw! A photocopy of  the photo of Bridget was sent to my grandmother Georgine Hoey Schiller, by her first cousin, Bernard Browne. There wasn't any more info included.

Erica

Hello Mary Browne. I would be very interested to talk to you please. I was in Burriscarra/Carnacon the other week but didn't find any Browne's living there now! I would love to talk to you or contact by email. My email address is ann@anncahill.com  Best wishes. Ann.   (Cahill; Caulfield; Garvey; Browne.)

Hi Erica, and Ann,

We had the pleasure of meeting Patricia and sharing our information with her . As you may know we are the great grandchildren of John Browne. John married Mary Ansboro circa 1878 and had 14 children . My grandmother is one of the twins . Nan married John Heneghan in 1933 and had 3 children in ballyheane . Mary, George and Vincent . Mary( Maisie ) my mom is still alive and will be celebrating her 84th birthday in April . 
it is very fascinating all the information and like your stories we have heard of illegitimate children and wayward relationships . Unfortunately like you we stopped at George and Bridget . 
 

Patricia took a copy of our tree but it stopped short of what you wanted . 
As luck would have it my daughter is doing a school project and it has to be related to famous deceased's of your family . Her eyes lit up when she heard grace O'Malley .

Thank you so much for this . It was fascinating and enthralling . I wish we had more to add.

Maisie , my mum , remembers as a child of the Blake's- Moore's and how they were not wanted around the house . It might be because of the reasons mentioned above . 
im attaching our tree anyways . 
Kind regards PJ.

PJ - this is a remarkable coincidence. Just today I searched and found your mother's picture as I've contacted her first cousin John Byrne through his son. I have lots more of the family tree since Patricia saw you last and would love to share - including the connection to Grainemhaoil - Grace O'Malley. Send me your email address - mine is ann@anncahill.com   Best wishes. Ann. 

pK

Hi Ann, 

I just replied to you on your email address . I'd love to see any photos you might have . 
mom currently working on the other side of my family and like so many I'm stuck at the 1850s

regards

Hi PJ,

My Aunt Mary Schiller got your message on myheritage and tried to reply but isn't sure if her message went through. If not, pls let me know and one way or another we'll get connected.
 

I remember my grandmother Georgine Hoey Schiller talk about your mother Maisie and how much she enjoyed her letters and visits, one with my grandfather Cletus, and the other for one of your sisters wedding.
 

The Grace O'Malley connection is what drew me into researching our family history and genealogy too.
 

I have a family tree on Ancestry and lots of info and pictures on the Browne siblings that came to America. I'd be happy to share that with you. From what I've read you can view my tree if you have a free Ancestry.com account. Please email me at erothwell at sbcglobal dot net 
 

Take care,

Erica

Hi Erica,

I just sent an email to you . Hopefully it goes through . Thank you for getting in touch and hopefully I will be able to help you also if I can get any snippets of information .

Pj

I just found this site.  I am the granddaughter of Michael and Beatrice (Babe) Browne and my great grandfather is John Browne. 
my brother just sent me a portrait of John Browne which he has had for years but I have never seen it until tonight.

Hello -- so nice to hear from you! We have quite the group working together now -- who are all descendants of John Bronwe's parents George Browne and Bridget Blake, either through John or his sister Margaret. We have that photo of John Browne though yours is much more complete -- we have just a piece with his head and torso! There are also several photos of his wife Mary Ansbro as well. We have multiple family trees on Ancestry if you're there. I have Michael & Babe's children as James, Richard, John, Marion, Michael, Eileen, Robert and George. No idea how accurate that is. Please email me at erothwell at sbcglobal dot net. 
Erica

Lovely portrait. Thank you so much. Hopefully we will all get to meet sometime . My mom  always mentioned Mike and babe.  Mike was Ann brownes Brother. Ann Browne is my Granny . I only llearned this evening that Mike and Babe returned to ireland for a while to Kiltimagh to live  and returned back to America again .

Hi Erica, Hopefully we can zoom in the next few weeks.

P.J.  

Hi, My name is Diane Browne.  My father was Robert Browne, son of Micheal and "Babe" Browne. The portrait of George Browne looks just like my Uncle George, who was the last of the siblings to pass away a couple of years ago. I have many pictures of my grandparents I can share.  As children, me and my cousins spent a summer visiting them in County Mayo, where they moved back to when they retired from New york. I believe my brother has a copy of the family tree that my grandfather made.

Hi, My name is Diane Browne.  My father was Robert Browne, son of Micheal and "Babe" Browne. The portrait of George Browne looks just like my Uncle George, who was the last of the siblings to pass away a couple of years ago. I have many pictures of my grandparents I can share.  As children, me and my cousins spent a summer visiting them in County Mayo, where they moved back to when they retired from New york. I believe my brother has a copy of the family tree that my grandfather made.

Please do share them Dianne .

Erica and I are both on ancestory.com . I will let my mom know I was in touch with you . I'll also see if she has any stories to add. 

We are on the heneghan side so Maisie my mom was daughter to  Nan ( Ann) and her husband was a john heneghan . The heneghans were in ballyheane and my mother married into Mckeown's ( mckeon) in ballyvary . 
we are hoping to have a zoom catch-up on all things Browne Blake related . ( descendants)

so hopefully you might want to join . I don't know when but it will hopefully be soon. 
PJ
 

As a quick correction, the portrait Diane refers to is (we believe) that of John M Browne.  Son of George and father of Michael (the last child of George and Bridget).  I am the brother referenced earlier that has the portrait.  It's great to know that there are so many extended family members out there.  I only saw Michael and Babe a few times between their return to Ireland and subsequent move to FL, so I don't have the same number of pictures as my wonderful cousin Diane.  It wasn't until I went through this and saw the family tree that my doting grandmother was Babe!

My mother Bernadette and aunt Mary remember visiting Mike & Babe with their mother Georgine Hoey Schiller, daughter of Peg Browne & Phil Hoey. We'd love to include you in the email trails and zoom calls. We're working on planning a 2022 get together in County Mayo. My email is erothwell @ sbcglobal.net. 

 You are going to love this attachment I am about to send . My mother used to recite a poem that her mother Nan Browne told her about . This evening and even with her memory being poor my mom recited mny versus of this poem . 

It is a poem Mike Browne sent to Nan Browne . The poem is roughly 70 years old as my mom just said she was in school when she first remembers Nan reciting the Poem to her . 
 

my email address is p.j.mckeown@outlook.Com 

Or homewardbound2011@gmail.com

Sorry there . I’m on my iPhone and trying to attach the picture . It might be later

Sorry there . I’m on my iPhone and trying to attach the picture . It might be later

I Hope you all enjoyed it. I sent this out earlier today to the browneblake group  via email. It was such a lovely piece of poetry. @JB im guessing you are James Browne.  I will see what else Maisie has in her memories. Mike and Babe are both god parents to one of my sisters. Eileen . It is so unique and probably reflects the love my parents and especially my mother had for the two fo them .  

Hi Dianne, I also heard from Megan Eileen Browne Gloede and her brother Jack Browne. Are they your relatives? I replied to their emails but have not had a response and I'm afraid the mails might have gone into their spam! Wonderful to hear from you all. Best wishes. Ann (my great grandmother was Margaret Browne - John Browne's sister, daughter of George Browne and Bridget Blake). ann@anncahill.com

Here is a picture of Michael and Beatrice (Babe) Browne.  They were Nannie and Poppi to me growing up. 

We've established a website https://mmec0527.wixsite.com/website-2 and a Facebook group for descendants of Bridget Blake and George Browne https://www.facebook.com/groups/210897434190863 and would love for you to join if you're interested.

Hi JB, Dianne and any other Browne Blake descendants interested who we have not been in contact with. Our gathering is in less than three weeks time, from Friday evening 17th June to Sunday evening 19th. If you want to be part of it or know how the various events went, please let us know. My email address is ann@anncahill.com  Ann.