John Bench and Ellen Finnegan were my great-great grandparents. John was born about 1800 and Ellen in 1806. They had six children: Martin born 1825, Mary born 1827, Michael born 1830, Hanora born 1833, John Born 1836 and Anna Born 1838. The only source record to establish where they actually lived can be found in the Roman Catholic Parish Records for Oranmore Galway Ireland. These records are baptisms from 1833 to 1838. There is one additional record of the marriage of their daughter Mary in 1847 to Michael Cogwin (Cogan). The next sign of the family can be found in the census of 1851 in Ontario Canada. I believe that they immigrated to North America in about 1847. At this time Ellen is shown as being widowed.
I have been unable to locate any further records that may indicate the parents of John or Ellen. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated to expand my research in Ireland.
Paul Bench
Ontario Canada
PB
Sunday 17th Apr 2022, 07:31PMMessage Board Replies
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Paul:
There are very few RC parishes (only two Tuam and Rahoon) in the western part of Co. Galway that have records back to 1806 or earlier. Oranmore records start in 1833 so there is no marriage record available and no baptismal records available for John and Ellen. There are no civil death records until 1864 and Oranmore death records start in 1848 so no record for John Bench.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Sunday 17th Apr 2022, 08:50PM