Mr. John Silk

yajklis:

I located three birth records for the Silk children using the findmypast parish records, all in the parish of Dunmore, Diocese of Tuam, County Galway-

John Silk was born 7 Jul 1844 in parish of Dunmore, Galway, to Eleanor Gowlan and John Silk. Godparents were Thady Mitchell and May Malley. I cannot make out the name of the townland but it looks like Sorreltown or Torreltown? 

Mary Silk  was born 3 Oct 1840 in the same townland. Her parents are given as John Silk and Eleanor Donnellan but I think this is a mistake made by the priest, considering all the other similarities. Godparents were Bryan Lyons and Judy Hopkins.

Thomas Silk was born 24 Jun 1837 in the same townland again to Thomas Silk and Eleanor Gowlan. Single godparent was Celia Hopkins. Thomas Silk was given as the father instead of John. This could be just a mistake or Eleanor Gowlan, considering this birth occured a few years before her other children, may have been married to an older brother of John, who died soon after so she then married John. This was common then.

I checked Griffiths Valuation, which lists the occupiers of land during the 1850s. There was no Silks in the parish of Dunmore but a William Silk shows up in the parish of Tuam. He rented 44 acres in the townland of Hillswood West from Patrick Waldron, $14 and 15s for the land and 10s for the house. He also rented 4 acres from Patrick McCormack for $1 in the townland of Cartonroe. This William Silk could potentially be a relative, possiblly John's father.

Also, as the Hopkins appear twice as godparents for the children of John and Eleanor, there is a strong possibility they are related. A couple living in the same parish, Patrick Gowlan and Eleanor Hopkins were baptising children around the same time as John and Eleanor. Perhaps Pat could be your Eleanors brother, and Celia and Judy Hopkins the sisters of Eleanor Hopkins?

I could not locate a birth record for Eleanor Gowlan on this site but i did find one for a Pat Gowlan in the parish of Tuam in 1828, child of John Gowlan and Mary Costelloe. If he is her brother, then this could quite likely be him and their parents.

Hope some of this helps or provides leads!

Alicia

Thanks So Much Alicia!, I knew about John and Thomas but not Mary and it's curious that there's no record of James? or his Father John.   Your pointing out the Eleanor might have been married to John's brother raises an interesting question and I wonder if there's anyway to pursue that lead?

yajklis-
I used the free findmypast Parish records to find the above, which aren't overly complete of a collection. Apparently, rootsireland has the best collection. I don't hv a subscription for that but I'll check around on a few websites to see if I can access them any other way.
I'll also see if I can track down any marriage records for Eleanor and John, Eleanor and Thomas or Eleanor and Pat. If I can't find anything on other sites, someone else here with a subscription to roots ireland should be able to help you out.
Glad to help!
Alicia

Thanks once again Alicia, a blessing you are for someone like me!, I'll look into rootsireland.