Martin Flaherty

Mary Jo:

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and the earliest Flaherty baptismal record with father Michael and mother with maiden name Joyce was in 1852. There were no Martin Flaherty records. Most likely he came from the Connemara region where available church records start much later than 1836. Civil registration started in 1864.

Roger McDonnell

Hi Mary Jo,

I recommend that you try and get some further information on Martin Flaherty - names of siblings and known cousins, so that you can get an idea of where he was born.  If you check Griffith's Valuations - c1845 - 1860 it will give the names of all the "Michael Flaherty" who were property owners, some cases a house only, others house and land.  www.askaboutireland.ie  Free site.

The surnames Flaherty and Joyce are common in the Baronies of Ballynahich, Ross and Moycullen which covers most of Connemara.

The islands of Aran have many similar surnames.

You should check his marriage record to see who were the Witnesses and if you can find a list of callers to the mortuary on his death in 1916 you may get a lead.

The correct name for "Delia" is Bridget

Best Wishes,

Thank you Roger.

Regarding siblings for Martin, he's a brick wall. I'm trying to find any siblings. He was either married in Adams County, OH, or Maysville, KY, but there is no marriage record at the local Catholic church in Maysville, KY for Martin. There are baptismal records for some of his children at the church. Because of the pandemic I've not had a chance to research in Adams, County. 

The 1870 Census for Adams County, OH has Martin and his wife living with her parents. There are no other Flaherty's living in that county at that time. There is another Flaherty family living in Fleming County, KY but so far I haven't been able to connect the two families to mine. All three men, Martin, my ancestor Bernard, and John, who lived in Fleming County, KY, all worked at the same place. All of them eventually moved out of that area.

Martin's obituary only lists his family, no parents or siblings. 

Thank you for your help.

Mary Jo