I have posted on the County Mayo and Kilbride message boards, but recent revelations from my research indicate that I should post here, too, in case there are members here who do not see the other boards. I have combined some of my separate posts below.
From a written history of my family, I have traced my family's roots back to Patrick Kennedy (b 1785), who married Sarah Corrothers. They lived in County Mayo and had at least 2 sons and 2 daughters.
One son, David (b 1814), married Mary Kearney (Carney) (b 1818) . They lived in County Mayo and immigrated to the United States c 1848. David and Mary were my great-great grandparents, and were of the Roman Catholic faith. Of their 5 children who began the voyage to America, only two survived: Michael and Katherine. The other three died of typhus on the journey and were buried at sea.
The family settled first in Rutland, Vermont (where my great-grandfather John Kennedy was born in 1848) and later in the part of Virginia that later became the state of West Virginia. John Kennedy married Mary Gaughan, who was also born in Vermont, but her parents, William (b 1818) and Julia (b 1827) Gaughan were both born in Ireland.
Another son of my Irish ancestors Patrick and Sarah Kennedy was most likely named Martin Kennedy. He married Barbara Kearney (Carney), sister of Mary Kearney. Thus, 2 Kennedy brothers married 2 Kearney sisters. Mary and Barbara Kearney's parents were Connors Kearney (born about 1790 in County Mayo) and Honorah Corcoran. They married in 1818 and had four children, Mary, John, Stephen and Barbara. Mary, John and Stephen immigrated to the US, but Barbara stayed in Ireland, marrying Martin Kennedy, as mentioned earlier.
In Griffith's Valuation, index extracts for Co. Mayo, 1856-57 (Ballycastle area) Doonfeeny, Kilbride, Kilfian & Lackan parishes, almost halfway down the page for the Lackan Parish are the surnames of several of my ancestors, including some that also match their first names.
There are 3 Patrick Kennedys listed plus Connor Kearney (along with many others of that surname). Both of these names match those of my great-great-great grandfathers.
In addition, David's daugher Katherine Kennedy married Michael Ford , who was also born in Ireland (Crossmolina Parish County, Mayo, Ireland), the son of Patrick and Mary Nallen Ford. In the Griffith's Valuation record for January 1836, Patrick Forde appears abouve Thomas Kearney and Patrick Kennedy.
Another of my ancestors' surnames appears on the page, as well. There are several Corcorans. Honora Corcoran married Connor(s) Kearney.
Patrick Kennedy leased a share in a plot of land in the townland of Barnhill Upper in the civil parish of Lackan, Co. Mayo. His landlord was Sir W. Roger Palmer, Bt.. This Patrick Kennedy leased a house and additional land in the townland of Barnhill Lower.
Connor Kearney also leased property in the townland of Barnhill Upper in the civil parish of Lackan, Co. Mayo, and also under the landlord, Sir W. Roger Palmer, Bt.
Added research indicates that Barbara Kearney was married to Martin Kennedy. The first name of Martin, however, does not appear in any of the Kennedy descendants in the US, strange considering how the naming patterns are in Irish genealogy.
Barbara Kennedy, aged 70 years, resided in the townland of Barnhill Upper at the time of the 1901 census. She was a widow, with her children Pat (43), Kate (30) and John (37). I have also found John's death listed as July 29, 1931 at:
http://goldenlangan.com/bcreg-deaths.html
This was transcribed from the parish death register held at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. Graveyard in Lackan, County Mayo.
I have a great deal of information about the family in the United States, but I am searching for more in Ireland beyond the names Patrick Kennedy and Sarah Corrothers Kennedy; Connors and Honorah Corcoran Kearney (Carney); William and Julia Gaughan. Who were their ancstors????
Any help in finding out more about my Irish ancestors would be appreciated.
DebsterPA
Thursday 14th Nov 2013, 05:55AMMessage Board Replies
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http://www.goldenlangan.com/bcreg-marr.html
Patrick Kennedy of Barnhill, son of Martin Kennedy and Barbara Kearney married Mary McLean of Kilbride, daughter of James and Mary McLean on 12 June 1902. The witnesses were John Carroll of Kilfian and Mary Flannelly of Lacken. This data has been transcribed from the parish marriage register held at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. This Ballycastle parish register covers the civil parishes of Doonfeeny and Kilbride.
I'm still trying to find out more on Patrick's grandparents, Patrick Kennedy and Sarah Corrothers.
DebsterPA
Thursday 14th Nov 2013, 11:29PM -
A search of the 1901 and 1911 census records for Ireland has brought added names to light.
1911 Irish census lists, in Barnhill, Upper, Lacken, Maria Kennedy (48) married to Patrick Kennedy (60) and living with mother-in-law Barbara Kennedy (87). It also lists that Patrick and Maria had been married for 8 years, during which time, she had 3 live births, but only 1 child still living, Patrick Joseph, age 3.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003008257/
The 1901 Irish Census lists for a house 12 in Kilbride (Lackan North, Mayo) residents Anthony McLean (head of household, age 38), his brother James (age 30), his sister Marie (age 26), and sister Annie (age 20). Also residing with them are nieces Mary Flannelly (age 16), Annie Flannelly (age 8) and nephew Michael Flannelly (age 10)
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001087924/
The 1911 census has John Kennedy as age 54, living with his sister Catherine (age 49) and her husband Anthony McLean (age 58). It also lists a daughter for Catherine and Anthony, Mary Kate (age 7). It says that Catherine and Anthony have been married for 9 years, and having only one live birth (Mary Kate).
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003005808/
Apparently, there was another double marriage in the family, Catherine Kennedy married to Anthony McLean and Patrick Kennedy married to Marie (Mary?) McLean.
These unions produced at least two children born in the 20th century, Patrick Joseph Kennedy (born 1908) and Mary Kate McLean, born in 1904.
DebsterPA
Thursday 28th Nov 2013, 09:07AM -
Hello, Debbie (correct?)
This is so wonderful that I stumbled upon this in a frustrated Google search, looking for the long-lost Connors and Honorah.... David Kennedy and Mary Kearney are my great-great grandparents as well. How well do I know the story of their fateful ocean voyage with only two children to survive, Michael (my great-grandfather) and Katherine. I have the Kennedy family history (penned by my great-grandmother Mary Agnes, wife to Michael, the surviving son of David and Sarah) in my possession and I assume you have it, as well? I would assume so, as the extent of your knowledge appears to be the extent of mine. I've been searching in vain for several years now and can find almost no records beyond what has already been unearthed. The farthest I have gotten on the Kennedy side is to Patrick Kennedy and Sarah Corrothers, as well as dear old Connors Kearney and Honorah Corocoran, my great, great, great-grandparents, just as for you.
I have yet to carefully read all the replies below your initial post (which I will), so I have yet to determine your identity. I assume you are a Gaughan? I'm the daughter of Neil Shreve and Jane Frances Kennedy, who was daughter to David Patrick Kennedy (who was grandson to David Kennedy and Mary Kearney). I still live in West Virginia, where we were raised, and I take it you're living in Pennsylvania.
Perhaps we could somehow collaborate. I entered all of my great-grandmother's history in my tree on Ancestry.com, and while I've hit the mother lode and beyond with my dad's side of the tree, it's been an enormous disappointment to gain almost non-existent ground on my mother's. I've been to Ireland and stayed extensively in County Mayo and on the west coast; imagining my relatives there and tracing their roots is one of my fondest dreams.
If you get this, dear cousin, and have any more suggestions or ideas as to how to proceed, just let me know. Would dearly love to hear from you! This has been a wonderful surprise.
Warmly,
Dianne Shreve Smith
Sunday 9th Apr 2017, 01:18AM -
Hi I have a connection to the Kennedys by marriage.
Patrick Kennedy and Sally Corrothers had a son David born 1812
David married Mary Kearney. Their son Michael born 1840 married Mary Agnes Erwin.
Her parents were Philip Erwin and Cecilia Flannelly. Her parents were Edward Flannelly and Katherine Davitt who
was the sister of my ggg grandmother Margaret Davitt of Belderrig Mayo.
I have a booklet written by a Grandma Erwin but it is miss all but the first paragraph about the Kennedy side.
So I guess those Kennedy decendants would be my cousins.
I have trees on Ancestry, My Heritage and Gedmatch .
MaryAnne
Sunday 6th Feb 2022, 05:23AM