Search for a needle in a haystack

Dear Maureen:

I saw your message on the message board and I thought that I would respond to you. 

First of all, any information that you can get from the U.S. before you travel with regard to your ancestors would be a huge benefit to you.  There might be info on a marriage or death cert, naturalisation papers, etc. 

We have a terrific Local Studies Centre in County Clare that has a lot of great genealogical information available online.  The website is www.clarecountylibrary.ie/genealogy.

As you are going to be in County Clare next month, you are more than welcome to stop into the Tulla Courthouse any day.  You can email me at tulla@irelandxo.com or at tullacooffice@eircom.net.  In addition, we can do a little bit of research for you that might help to narrow your search down.

Thanks for posting on the message board and if you don't get a chance to meet us, please have a wonderful trip to Ireland!

Jane

Maureen,

How much have you looked at in the USA?   I had a quick look at ancestry.com and a matching couple seems to have emigrated from Ireland in Jul 27th 1874 - leading through Missouri / Oklahoma - and the names Grace / Thomas and Charles all prominent.  What year was your Dad born?  

May be a red herring - BUT remember ages were all over the place in those years and so were middle names and spellings...  

The "Needle in a Haystack" cry is always a challenge.

Best,

Mike

Mike,

How kind of you to do a quick search.  Most of the stuff was put away, and we hadn't gotten very far.  I can tell you that Charles Harold Quinn was born November 30, 1911 in Tulsa, OK.  His parents were Thomas Jefferson Quinn and Grace Behm.  It's my great grandfather, Patrick (Thomas's dad) who immigrated.

I am not on ancestry.com or I might know more.  Circumstances took my somewhat orderly office at home and I lost it...with bits stuffed here and there in the interim.  Currently my saying is...yes, I have whatever, I just don't know where it is.  Somewhere I have a lot of papers that a Behm/Quinn researched, but I have no idea where and it's been a few years.

Again, thank you for taking the time.  If only I didn't have to "work" for a living and be in the midst of last minute preparation for Ireland!

Thanks, again, Mike.  Let me know if you know of anything else.

Maureen

So kind of you to reply.  Don't know if I will be able to fit in...but would love to somehow figure out how.  The first order of business is getting my son married there in Ireland.  Then eventually I get away to poke about on my own.

Will try and get you an email sent from my email rather than the site.  But I am getting off my lunch now, so it won't be today.

Again, thank you for your efforts, Jane.  That is some great info.

Maureen

Maureen:

Absolutely no problem!  Enjoy your son's wedding, and if you happen to find yourself in Clare, please let me know.  Alternatively, you can give me a buzz by telephone. 

Any information that you have that you need some assistance with, please let me know, and if I can do anything from this side, I will do my best!

Safe travels,

Jane

Mike,

I found a bit of a family tree.  Patrick Quinn was married to Margaret Nolan.  He was from either County Clare or County Cork.  Margaret was from Clare.  They both died in Wisconsin about 1863.  Their children were born in the USA.  Erroneously I was thinking that TJ Quinn was my grandfather...but he didn't come into the world until the next generation.  Patrick and Margaret had a daughter, Mary Ann Quinn who was born in Wisconsin in 1847.   Thomas Jefferson Quinn was my great grandfather, and he was born in Illinois in 1855.  It was TJ QUinn who fathered my grandfather, Thomas Robert Quinn who was born in Missouri...one of 12 children.  TR married my grandmother Grace Behm in St Louis.

I, of course, have the descendents in fairly good detail once they his these shores.  It's the Irish roots about which I am confused.

Thanks again for your post.

Maureen Quinn  :-)