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Hello! My great-grandfather (Thomas Francis Durkin) was born in 1882 in Balla to Charles Durkin and Margaret McDonnell. He went to the US in 1900, passsage paid for by an uncle, whose name I unfortunately don't have. He lived in St. Louis, Missouri.

I recently received the most lovely information from the County Mayo Family History Centre, but had a question concerning land location. I would love to visit Balla and see where his family's land was and visit the area. I have information from the Griffith's Valuation for Charles' father, Neal Durcan. His land was located in the townland of Drumadoon, plot 3. I was able to find a map corresponding to this information, so I'm aware of that location.

However, I'm uncertain if land was typically passed down to a son, even in the case of being a tenant. Would the land that Neal Durcan had be passed down to Charles after his death in 1870? Did the lease typically remain with a family? Or would Charles have had land elsewhere? Charles also lived in Drumadoon (I have found him in the 1901 and 1911 census for that area). I'm just not sure where Charles' farm was. Is there a map corresponding to the census records that might be able to help? Or is it more likely that he took over the land at his father's death? The information I recevied from the Mayo Family History Centre listed Charles as the only son of Neal Durcan and Cecelia Jordan (Charles was born 1833, died March 30, 1916). He had 3 sisters, Anne (baptised 29 April, 1838), Celia (baptised 30 August 1840), and Winifred (baptised March 1843). I wasn't sure if perhaps there were other sons not listed. I don't know who the daughters married or what might have happened to them. 

Any help would be most wonderful! Thank you! 

crystalj84

Tuesday 26th Jan 2016, 12:28AM

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  • Normal practice was to leave the farm (ie in most cases the unexpired portion of the lease) to the eldest son available to take it on. The wife would normally be left a life interest, ie she could continue to live in it, and then on her death the tenancy was formally passed to the son.

    The house numbers in the 2 censuses were the enumerators private numbering system and were not recorded anywhere. The numbers differed from 1901 to 1911, so a different number doesn't mean the person had moved. However the revaluation books in the Valuation Office in Dublin should record the Griffiths plot numbers for Charles’ property, so you will be able to find out which one he had, and also when he first acquired it and when it passed on to someone else.

    There’s a probate file for Neal Durkan dated 4th Sept 1916 (date of death 30.3.1916). He was described as “late of Carramore” and the executor was James Jennings, farmer. The value was £202 16s 3d. So my advice would be to contact National Archives in Dublin to get a copy of the will to see how he disposed of his estate.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 26th Jan 2016, 03:17PM
  • Evening

    If you plan coming to Balla let me know. I live in near Milltown/Tuam about 35 minutes away by car and if you would like to, we could meet up while you are there. I am not an expert on the area but I'm sure between us we can find where you need to go!

    Best wishes

    Clare Doyle

    Genealogy Support 

    Wednesday 27th Jan 2016, 04:44PM
  • Thank you for your help! 

    crystalj84

    Thursday 28th Jan 2016, 03:05PM

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