Matthew Brady, born in County Longford about 1802, and his wife Mary Clarke, also born about 1802, arrived in New York on the Mary Catherine on July 9, 1832, which we believe sailed from Belfast and Liverpool.
They left their older children Bridget Brady, born 1825-30 and Philip Brady, born 1827-31, behind in the care of family in County Longford.
Later Bridget and Philip Brady are brought to the United States by Patrick and Mary McNamee, arriving New York on April 17, 1840 on the Frances Ann, again from Liverpool, and probably Belfast. Patrick McNamee lists his age as 36 at the time, and Mary McNamee lists her age as 27. Traveling with them is the Widow Margaret McNamee, 80 years of age, who dies on the vovage, and who we presume is somehow related to the children and may have been caring for them in Ireland as Patrick was in Michigan with Matthew Brady and bought land adjacent to Matthew in Michigan in 1836. All state that they are bound for Michigan. Our best guess is that the McNamee and Brady families must be related because Matthew and Mary left two small children behind in the care of someone they trusted, and we must guess that to be a family member.
We were in Longford County in September, 2012, and unfortunately do not know our “clan name,” which we understand would lead us directly, or at least more closely to the parish and the townland and the farm. We also know that written records were not consistently recorded.
We came home and took the Parish maps and the townlands and did an analysis of where we could find “Brady” and “McNamee” on the same townland using “County Longford, Residents Prior to the Famine” by Guy A. Rymsza as a guide. We find Brady’s in many areas of the county, but McNamee’s concentrated in Killoe, with a few in other scattered townlands. We found Brady and McNamee together only in Molly and Aughakilmore in Columbkille, and we also find a “Clarke” in Aughakilmore.
Because Michigan was not a state when Matthew and Mary arrived, Matthew automatically became a United States citizen when Michigan became a state, so he would not need to Naturalize. We have no source of records here which will lead us to further records, We are hoping that by providing the three family names, and the names of the adults and the children that perhaps there will be family there that can link the families.
Mary Clarke Brady died before her children arrived. The McNamee family apparently died out after two more generations in Green Oak Township, Michigan, but the Brady line is alive and well, many generations later. We would appreciate any assistance. We loved our time in Longford County and look forward to returning.
Cindy and Robert Brady
Sunday 25th Aug 2013, 09:11PM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Cindy and Robert,
Thank you for your message.
I did a search for Patrick (and variations) in the Tithe Applotment Books. These are land records compiled 1823-38. They do not offer any genealogical information but can sometimes be used to tie a person to a specific place.
In Co. Cavan there was a Patt McNamee recorded in Castlerahan parish:
In Co. Longford there was a Patt McNamee recorded in Granard:
All the best,
Genealogy Support
Wednesday 28th Aug 2013, 03:44PM -
Since my last message we have uncovered that Mathew Brady had two brothers who came to the United States more or less at the same time as Mathew
Thomas Brady, born 1814 and Patrick Brady, born 1810. Thomas' line appears to die out after two generations.
Patrick was married to a Betsey, and they never had any children.
Thomas and Patrick both die before regular death records were kept in their County, and Thomas Brady's death record does not exist in the county in which he died.
Perhaps now that we have three names and dates for the brothers, it may help in locating their family and townland.
Thank you for the help.
Cindy Brady
Wednesday 6th Nov 2013, 10:43PM -
Since my last message we have uncovered that Mathew Brady had two brothers who came to the United States more or less at the same time as Mathew
Thomas Brady, born 1814 and Patrick Brady, born 1810. Thomas' line appears to die out after two generations.
Patrick was married to a Betsey, and they never had any children.
Thomas and Patrick both die before regular death records were kept in their County, and Thomas Brady's death record does not exist in the county in which he died.
Perhaps now that we have three names and dates for the brothers, it may help in locating their family and townland.
Thank you for the help.
Cindy Brady
Wednesday 6th Nov 2013, 10:43PM -
Hi Cindy,
I realize this board is a few years old, hoping you are still getting notifications. I came across your post in a search for my ggg-grandfather Philip Riley. I found him through 1850 and 1860 census living with Patrick and Betsy Brady in Green Oak Twp, Michigan. The best I can tell is that they raised him, but I don't know why or if there might be a family connection with the Riley's and Brady's. Or if they were just neighbors that took him in. Philip Riley was born in Green Oak Michigan in 1841 but through some other documents we found he listed his father as also named Philip Riley born in County Cavan, Ire. around 1820.
Hoping you might know more about the Brady's.
Thanks,
Kari O'Neil
Koneil23
Thursday 21st May 2015, 04:35AM -
I have a Brady connection in my family. My paternal great-grandmother was Maria Brady (b. 1861 +/-)who married Peter Masterson. They lived in Leggagh in the NW section of northern Longford, close to the Cavan/Leitrim borders (very close to Moyne). I have no additional information to offer about my Brady connection other than the name and connection by marriage. To the best of my knowledge she and Peter Masterson never left Ireland, remaining there throughout their life.
Thursday 21st May 2015, 04:27PM -
We were just in Ireland over Mother's Day and St. Patirck's Day, looking in the Cavan/Leitrim area, very close to Moyne - Ballinamuck and Leggagh, over to Gowna. The county line with Cavan is so crooked and the Civil and Parish lines differ, so it is tough to tell. We even were carrying DNA tests with us, but with the holidays, it was not very easy.,, Next trip we will start on the Cavan side and work our way down. We are hoping that when the Parish records come online this summer that we may be able to discove a little more.
Maria was born about 25 years after our ancestors departed. Unless we find some letters from or to home, I am not certain how we will connect them. I don't know of any Masterson children that came to live with the family in Michigan.
Cindy
Friday 22nd May 2015, 12:43AM -
Kari, There are plenty of Riley's also in Longford. Knowing the Riley name to add. If he is living with Patrick and Betsey in 1850, then they managed to get him out from the famine. He may provide a clue as to where the Brady's were living, at least a little closer. Thanks for the hint.
Cindy
Friday 22nd May 2015, 12:51AM