looking for Lyons and Henry

Information  None of these people are in the Bekan birth records.  My Uncle married a Margaret Lyons (circa 1879 d 8 Dec 1958 Chicago) from Spaddagh (Loughanboy) which is near Ballyhaunis. She had brothers named Michael 1895 and Luke 1900. I could not find them in the Bekan records because only part of the Bekan parish covers Ballyhaunis.  Try looking in the other parish records which I don't have. I have only the Bekan birth records.

Tim:

I checked www.rootsireland.ie for possible baptismal records. Annagh civil parish also covers part of Ballyhaunis and the Annagh records start in 1851. I did find an 1856 baptismal record in the Annagh records for a Michael Lyons with a father named Michael Lyons but when I add Catherine Henry as the mother, the match goes away which means the mothers name on the record is not Catherine Henry. I thought I would mention this record to you. Roots is a pay site.

Roger McDonnell

Hi

Just to advise that there is a record from the Bekan Parish records noting an Andrew Lyons whose parentage is Micheal Lyons and Catherine Henry. Both these surnames are common in the Ballyhaunis district and surrounding parish. You should also note that prior to 1893, the Balllyhaunis town and district was spilt between two parishes of Bekan and Annagh. This was altered in 1893 so as to ensure that the town of Ballyhaunis was in the parish of Ballyhaunis and surrounding villages (Annagh only).

If checking records, you can check both Annagh and Bekan Parish records on suitable websites. The www.rootsireland.ie may give you greater detail inclusive of village.  From looking at previous emails the villages east of Ballyhaunis district such as Spaddagh as outlined and Classaroe had a number of Lyons families which may be of the same diaspora. If you have any details on the other two possible uncles in Chicago, I may be able to assist. 

God bless.

Thanks for the information about the split in parishes in 1893.  I did not know that.  Does that mean the Parish of Annaugh changed its name to the Parish of Ballyhaunis?

I do have a death certificate for Luke Lyons in Chicago.  It says his birthdate was July 20 1851 and his father was Michael Lyons and Katherine Henry.  It was filled out by his son,who was a Catholic Priest, so I deem it pretty reliable.  I just have not been able to find a Irish Church record to corroborate at www. rootsireland.ie or Mayoancestors and it was before the civil records started.  The birthplace was listed as simply County Mayo.

I have a variety of records for Micheal Lyons that indicate he was born in Ireland between 1850 and 1859 depending on the record.  He died earlier thatn Luke when Chicago did not include birth data or parentage.  My best estimate is around 1850.  According to a birth record of a daughter, he was 32 in 1882.  Again, I have not found an Irish Church record for him.

Both Luke and Michael married in Chicago.  

I do have that birth record for Andrew you spoke of.   I see Lyons all over the Ballyhaunis area.  I have one other clue.  A distant relative visited Ballyhaunis decades ago when there was a Lyons hardware store in town.  Supposedly they visited the store and they told them where their relatives were and it was not far out of town.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, they did not visit the farm and none knows where it is or who the relative was at the farm.  Assuming you are from near Ballyhaunis, are you aware of such a hardware store or know anyone with a connection to it?  The hardware store is long gone, but maybe someone might remember who ran it.  If they are still alive they might be able to point me to so living relatives,  That would be hitting the jackpot for me.

Thanks again for any help or clues you can.  We will be in Ireland this summer and will visit Ballyhaunis to hopefully make a breakthrough on this hardware store.  Even the address of the hardware store would be a big help.  Maybe an old phone book or city directory from the 1960s to 1980s.  None of that is online.

Tim in Chicago

Tim

Noted email.

I think by the Summer of 2014, you may get your family details. From a practical perspective, it may be plausible to ascertain who your family connections may be in times past but ehether in the area today or not may be a problem Anyway, please note the following.

(1) I noted that you have the record of the birth of Andrew Lyons. That is a good start. Is the village record included? I noted the record on RootsIreland website while noting it is a pay per view website. Please feel free to confirm the name and I can see what I can advise.

(2) Your relative visit to Ballyhaunis in times past is a relevant detail which does indicate that there was recent family presence at least.

(3) In relation to church records, they can be good or not so good. Time has played a part in some cases as the records may have been affected by the passage of time. In relation to the actual locality, the marriage records of Annagh and Bekan in the Ballyhaunis area are noted as been OK from circa 1830s but the Mayo Geneaolgy area in Ballinrobe may assist further. In some cases, some years may be missing although I cannot clarify this scenario for you relative to these two parish areas. I can forward details on the Mayo center if required. There is also a possibility that the marriage was in another parish in the district . The Aghamore parish is very close and is part of the Ballyhaunis parish area. The problem with these records is that much of the Aghamore Parish records pre-1866 are unavailable.

(3) For your records, the parish of Annagh is often called the parish of Ballyhaunis today. In saying that the parish is still noted as the Annagh parish in most records and indeed in church related material. 

Tim, if you can get back to me on the village detail, I can see what I can come up with

Hi:

Thanks for the background info.  Here is the baptism record for Andrew Lyons.

 Mayo Ancestors

Official Genealogy records of
County Mayo, Ireland
    
    

Heading    Data
Type     Baptism Record
First Name     Andrew
Surname     Lyons
Date of Christening     27 April 1836
Denomination     Roman Catholic
Parish     Bekan Roman Catholic parish
Region     South Mayo
Father's Name     Michael Lyons
Mother's Name     Catherine Henry
Sponsor 1 - Name     Bridget Hansbro
Sponsor 2 - Name     James Henry

  I do not know what you mean by Village detail.  If you mean the town or townland where he was born, I do not have it.  That is what I am searching for.  Civil registrations have the town or townland, but Andrew was born before that.

On that Lyons hardware store in Ballyhaunis,  is there a library in town or nearby that would have newspapers or business directories from the 1970s or 1980s?  Maybe I could call them up on the phone or write them.

Thanks,
Tim

Tim

You are unfortunate that there is not a village indicated on your Church record for Andrew. On occasion, I have recorded the village name on the Rootsireland website relative to Church records which are less reliable that Civil records noted from the 1860s onwards. I have noted Church records which have outlined this village area of parents on many occasion. 

In relation to village scenario, I am relating to the area within a parish which is noted as the townland of residence. For instance, I noted two Michael Lyons living the Ballyhaunis area in the villages of Cooloughra and Tooaree which were both in the parish of Bekan circa 1855 relative to the Primary Valuations Records. These two villages are near Ballyhaunis and were changed to the Annagh parish in 1893! Noting the birth record of Andrew, it is worth noting the Bekan parish record of that time. To be honest, the RootsIreland website would assist but it could cost you. 

Noting the birth record of Andrew, I noted the name of the sponsor James Henry. Not that it is an exact science, but the Henry surname was predominant in Aghamore. Indeed, there was a James Henry noted as a tenant farmer in the Primary Valuation records of the 1850s in the Aghamore parish! As marriages took place in the parish of the bride, it may explain why there is no marriage record as the church records for Aghamore are primarily from the 1860s similar to Civil records.

As for Lyons Hardware, there was a General store that sold many goods on Main Street Ballyhaunis called Lyons that has since closed. You might be able to check phone records to attain a number.

Thanks for the speedy reply.     I do have a connection to the Lyons in Cooloughra, but it is through marriage.  Andrew's brother Luke ( at least I think he is a brother ) married an Ellen Lyons, who was from Cooloughra. I have a book, written by a womanl in Illinois, that wrote a book about the Lyons of Cooloughra from whom she descended.  Right now, there are no other blood matches between the Cooloughra Lyons and anyone in my tree so I think it is more likely my bloodline Lyons are from elsewhere in Bekan.

Tooraree sounds like a pretty good guess.  The family that visited said the farm was not far out of town.  Thanks for the tip on Aghamore and the Henry surname.  I will expand my search to there.   I ordered the cancelled land books for the Bekan area from the Family History Library.   I will revisit the rootsireland site and try Aghamore.

Tim in Chicago

Hi Just found this site and wondering how you got on ?

I am researching my family history and a Henry crops up in my tree. My GG G/Dad was a Martin Lyons born in 1840. He married a Bridget Henry on the 14/02/1867 Swineford County Mayo.. Her father was James Henry and his father was listed as Thady Lyons. Did she have a sister called Catherine ? I've not delved that far yet. Hope you've got some more answers over the last few years !

Hello My name is Louise and I just came across this post.  My mother was a Lyons daughter of Anthony and Sarah Lyons. My mother was born in Swineford and moved to Dublin in the 1930's. My mothers grandpartents were also named Sarah and Anthony Lyons on her mothers side and Thady and Mary Philbin on her fathers side. Thady's father's name was Thady and his mother was Sibina Grogan (Ballyhaunis). Her grandfather was in the census of 1901 in Aghamore and in Meelick in 1911. I am just starting this and if you think you are part of this family pls return post.  My mother died very recently in her 98 year and told me many stories.