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Hello!

I am researching my great-great grandparents who left County Mayo and settled in Wisconsin, USA in the 1840s. My biggest challenge is narrowing down where they came from in County Mayo-  Parish, Townsland, or Diocese.

James Rogan and his wife Nancy (Kearney / Carney) Rogan first came to the US around 1839-40, and settled in Saratoga Springs, NY. They were married in 1838 in Ireland. After about 4 or 5 years, they moved BACK to Ireland in 1844 or 45, then turned around and came back to the US in 1847 or 48. They may have lived in Boston for a year - it's unclear. But, they clearly lived in Cincinnati, OH for 1 or 2 years, then settled in Oconomowoc and then Lebanon, WI in 1849-1852. James built a log cabin and started a farm. Both James and Nancy died in 1880. They had nine or ten children - Martin, Bartholomew (Bartley), James, Mary, Ellen, Anthony B, Catherine, Michael, and Margaret. Anthony B went on to be a judge in Wisconsin and is my great grandfather.

We have family bible pages from their son Anthony B's bible that say James was born in County Mayo January 10, 1808, and Nancy (maiden name Kearney/Carney) was born also in County Mayo in 1818. None of the records we have indicate WHERE in County Mayo either one was born, or where they were married. We would love to find out more about locations in Ireland of these events, or names of their family members. 

We have biographies of some of James and Nancy's kids that indicate James' father was Bartholomew Rogan, of Norman lineage, ancestry dating back to the days of William the Conqueror, and spent his entire life in County Mayo, employed in stone cutting. Bartholomew had two brothers also stone cutters or stone masons who may have also emigrated to the US before or after James did. Nancy Kearney's father was Patrick Kearney, also born and bred in County Mayo. Interestingly, Patrick served in the English army and for two years was a member of the King's Guards, serving in Egypt, India, and Gibraltar. Patrick was really tall, 6'6" and had brothers who were taller. We do not have birth dates, parishes, or townsland information for Patrick Kearney or Bartholomew Rogan or the names of either man's wife or other children they may have had.

In the US, the family was Roman Catholic. However, some current US cousins say the family story indicates they were Protestant at some point in the past in Ireland.

Thank you so much for any help you can provide!

Pete Rogan

PS I also posted this in Mayo-Mayo, not sure which message board was a more appropriate location.

rogan.pete

Sunday 14th Sep 2014, 03:12AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi,

    I was originally thinking the Ballina area because of the Rogan name, but I looked at the tithes, and found an entry for Bartholomew Rogan (Bartly) in Addergoole, see http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

    What I suggest is you look through the tithes and see if you can find any other more likely candidates. Bartholomew is a rare enough name, so it could be your ancestor.

    thanks,
    John

    Kilcummin Mayo

    Monday 15th Sep 2014, 01:45PM

  • Hi,

    I was originally thinking the Ballina area because of the Rogan name, but I looked at the tithes, and found an entry for Bartholomew Rogan (Bartly) in Addergoole, see http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

    What I suggest is you look through the tithes and see if you can find any other more likely candidates. Bartholomew is a rare enough name, so it could be your ancestor.

    thanks,
    John

    Kilcummin Mayo

    Monday 15th Sep 2014, 01:45PM

  • John-

     

    Thanks so much!  I think that there is a high possiblity it could be our Bartholomew.  James named one of his sons Bartholomew and they called him Bartly as well.  His youngest son had Bartholomew for a middle name as well. We've been in touch with a Rogan from Glenhest- thinking he might be connected to the Rogans of Addergoole- but we haven't made a solid connection there.  We haven't found any other Bartholomews and James left early enough that records are scarce.  We do now have both of their obituaries and Nancy's mentions being from "near Killala County Mayo" - so not exactly sure what that means for the both of them.  They were Catholic in the US- but there is a family rumor that they were Protestant when they left Ireland.

    Thanks

    Pete and Anne

    rogan.pete

    Monday 14th Dec 2015, 07:03PM

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