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My family has a great mystery.  "Where was James McDonough from and where did he go?"  Family legend says the McDonoughs were from County Cork, but recent information indicates that a relative was from County Sligo, which is more likely as many Irish folks who settled in the Rutland, Vermont area were from Sligo or Roscommon.

James McDonough is my great-great-great grandfather.  He married Mary Conlin and they had five children, including my great-great grandmother, Winifred McDonough.

James was a often in trouble with the law.  The hill in Rutland where his house was locted is called "Gouger Hill", named after James "the Gouger" McDonough, who apparently was involved in many drunken fights, one possibly ending in a man's eye being gouged out!

James and Mary's last child, James McDonough, Jr., was born in Rutland in 1857, which is approximately when James Sr. seems to have disappeared.  In the 1860 census, Mary is listed as head of household and in the 1880 census she is listed as "deserted".  She died in 1885 from falling down the stairs and her tombstone in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Rutland has only her name listed.

Family legend says that James returned to Ireland and had another family, but we have never been able to find definitive evidence of where he was from or where he went.  Other family members include, possibly a brother, Bryan McDonough, and possibly another brother, John McDonough, both of whom came to Rutland and had families.  Bryan is definitely related and John appears to be as his children were listed in family obituaries.  James' mother's name appears to be Ann.

Any information on this family would be greatly appreciated!  My email address is jsromano1@gmail.com.

Thank you!

John Romano 

 

Sunday 9th Aug 2015, 07:18PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi John

    As you may know the Lillis McDonough public member tree on ancestry.com has James McDonough born in Sligo in 1825 to parents John McDonagh & Ann Cordon. No source is provided with the record however.

    I couldn't find that record but did find this one on www.rootsireland.ie/: (subscription site)

    Name:James McDonoghDate of Birth:

    Date of Baptism:04-Apr-1826Address:
    Parish/District:RIVERSTOWNGender:MaleCountyCo. Sligo

    Denomination:Roman Catholic
    Father:JohnMother:Maria RoganOccupation:

    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:Patrick GaffineySponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Bridget Rogan

    I couldn't find either marriage I'm afraid.

    There are 55 McDonoughs in Sligo in the Tithe Applotments (free online) including several Johns but Riverstown is not in the list of parishes or townlands!

    The Irish Census of 1851 is the earliest which includes Sligo but there are no McDonoughs listed.

    Griffiths Valuation (free) has 60 McDonoughs in Sligo but Riverstown is not in the list there either.

    Perhaps you could contact the owners of the trees which have the Sligo records to ask for their sources.

    I couldn't find John's birth in 1776 + - 10 years anywhere either.

    I wonder where the Lillis McDonoughs got their info/

    Col

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 10th Aug 2015, 07:24AM

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