Hello!
I descend from Thomas McNicholas (1811-1901) and Bridget Dunn (1831-1879) through their daughter, Bridget Ellen McNicholas, who was born in 1866 in Wisconsin, USA.
I believe Thomas McNicholas & Bridget Dunn married in the Roman Catholic Parish of Balla, Diocese of Tuam, County Mayo, on 12 January 1845; witnesses were Thomas Dunne and Mary Cunnane.
Their oldest son, Patrick Henry McNicholas was born abt. 1852, and records are conflicting about whether he was born in Ireland or NY; leading me to believe they emigrated sometime around 1852. They traveled first to NY, then to Pennsylvania, and finally to Wisconsin where they remained until they died.
We are traveling to Ireland in September, and are hoping to explore the area where they lived and maybe connect with someone from there. Is anyone aware if the church where they married is still standing or if there are any Dunn or McNicholas family members still in the area? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Mary Anne
KeyesMcNicholas1845
Monday 6th Aug 2018, 07:30PMMessage Board Replies
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Here's a link to the register image for the marriage of Thomas and Bridget for reference (top right of the right hand page)
In the 1840s there were two Catholic Chapels for the Parish, one in the town of Balla and a second at Ballycarra village to the west. The Chapel at Balla (c1840 map) was most likely the parish church. Based on the OSI maps the church appears to have been extended some time before 1900, the site now appears to be a School and Community Centre off the west of the main street. On Google Street view you can make see the remnants of a Round Tower that was adjacent to the Chapel, also the old Graveyard.
The current church for the parish of Balla and Balcarra is located slight south of the centre of town.
A search of the Electoral District of Balla on the 1901 census (so includes the town and some of the adjacent area) shows no Dunn(e) individuals but does a number of Mc Nicholas which may be related to your family..
btw - the locals pronounce the name of the town without the last a, and a short l, as in the start of the word Balance.
Shane Wilson, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 7th Aug 2018, 04:54PM -
This is wonderful information - I can't thank you enough. We will be there in September and are going to try to get to Balla to have a look around. Do you know of anyone in the area who might be willing to spend a little time with us or do you think we'll just do alright on our own?
KeyesMcNicholas1845
Wednesday 8th Aug 2018, 03:09PM -
Dear MaryAnne:
Thank you for your post. We do not have a local person available in Balla so your best option may be to make contact with Maureen Costello who heads up the Local History in the Castlebar Central Library. She may know of someone who can meet you at the library and assist you with information and guidance. Here is a link to the library website with some useful genealogy information.
http://www.mayolibrary.ie/en/Genealogy/
If you need any further information, please let me know.
Kind regards,
Jane
Jane Halloran Ryan
Wednesday 8th Aug 2018, 06:09PM -
Thank you so much, Jane. The Ireland XO site has been simply invaluable, and I appreciate the hard work and kind responses we've received from you all. - Best regards, Mary Anne
KeyesMcNicholas1845
Thursday 9th Aug 2018, 01:39PM -
On her death certificate, Bridget Dunn's parents were listed as Thomas and Mary Dunn. I have two different death records for Bridget - one lists her birth as 1838, the other lists her birth as 1839; she died in Wisconsin USA in 1879. Besides the marriage record of Bridget Dunn to Thomas McNicholas in 1845 above, is there any way to find more about Bridget and her parents and their family in Ireland? I believe Thomas McNicholas & Bridget Dunn emigrated sometime about 1850 or so.
Many thanks!
Mary
KeyesMcNicholas1845
Wednesday 22nd Aug 2018, 03:22PM