My great great grandfather William Bannon, was born in Ballymahon in the County Longford, Ireland in c. 1826. He had two brothers, John and Thomas. His mother's name was Margaret, and the family was Catholic. Bannon was recruited into the 65th Regiment of Foot and travelled on the Java merchant ship to New Zealand to fight in the New Zealand Wars that were taking place between the Māori people and the British Colonial Government. Bannon departed Woolwich in May 1846 on the Java, arriving initially in Hobart Town Van Diemen's Land on 5 October 1846, before travelling to Sydney, and then on to New Zealand in November 1846.
He deserted and was transported to Van Diemen's Land as a convict.
I am keen to find his baptism record to see which church in Ballymahon he was baptised in. Any information about his family, his parents wedding registration or his mother, Margaret or brothers would also be much appreciated. Is there a way of knowing where the family may have lived in Ballymahon in 1826?
Cheers
Christine
Christine Milne
Saturday 22nd Jul 2023, 12:42PMMessage Board Replies
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In 1855 Griffith's Valuation of Longford listed one "Bannan" head of household in Ballymahon:
Griffith Bannan Patrick Ballymahon/t/ballymahon/main Street Shrule Co. Longford Patricia
Saturday 22nd Jul 2023, 04:22PM -
You can see more info about Ballymahon (in Irish, Baile Uí Mhatháin), at this link, where there is also an interactive map showing its location:
https://www.townlands.ie/longford/rathcline/shrule/ballymahon/ballymaho…
kevin45sfl
Saturday 22nd Jul 2023, 06:13PM -
Christine:
The 1827 Tithe listing for Shrule civil parish shows a Pat and John Bannon leasing land in Cartronboy townland. This townland is 136 acres in size.
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625717/004625717_00453.pdf
I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find a baptismal record for William. Baptismal records for that Shrule (Ballymahon) parish start in March 1820. So either William was born before March 1820 or he was baptized in a parish that no longer has records back to the 1820s.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 22nd Jul 2023, 07:29PM -
Thank you Patricia, Kevin and Roger. This is terrific new information for me. On his convict records, William gave his native place as Ballymahon so to have a bit more idea of exactly where he or his family may have lived, is really interesting. I will be visiting in Oct/Nov this year so at the very least I will walk the main street and drive out to Cartronboy townland. I really appreciate your research help,
Cheers
Christine
Christine Milne
Sunday 23rd Jul 2023, 09:13AM -
Christine:
If you have not done so already, could you complete this form regarding your trip to Ireland https://www.irelandxo.com/meet-and-greet
This form alerts our Administrators of your trip although we may not have a volunteer in the Ballymahon area.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Sunday 23rd Jul 2023, 12:10PM -
Hi Christine
I worked in the town of Ballymahon years ago, ''it was one wide main street and the further you went the meaner it got'' seriously it was a fantastic town for Cattle Fairs'' and huge cattle marts every Thursday.
Cartronboy is in the Edgeworthstown ( Mostrim) direction and I knew a Bannon family who lived about two miles on in recent years he became a member of Longford Co. Council and later was a member of Dail for the Longford/Westmeath area of the country.
Quain, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 26th Jul 2023, 12:59PM -
Thanks Quain. I will look up the history of the Bannon who was in the Dail and came from Cartronboy. Much appreciated, Christine
Christine Milne
Wednesday 2nd Aug 2023, 11:07AM