According to the online register for Lismore RC (http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0112) my great great grandparents married on 22 Jan 1826. Witnesses were Michael Farrell and Daniel Foley. Would like more information about g.g.grandparents (their life in Ireland) as well as both witnesses (are they relatives?). Here's what I know:
ELLEN FARRELL was born in Ireland in 1808 (per 1850 US Census) or 1805 (per Manhattan [NY] Registers of Death for 6 Aug 1860]. She might have had a sister named Johanna (whose parents were Michael and Ellen Farrell). She might have had brothers named Richard and Michael. Any way to verify any of this?
MICHAEL FOLEY is a complete unknown who most likely died between 1836 and 1845. Any way to find out when and where he was born, died, and/or what his occupation was?
Ellen and Michael FOLEY apparently had 5 children:
--MARY: b. Ireland in 1832 (per 1850 US Census) or c.1826 (per death notice in the New York Herald). Any way to find out when and where she was born/baptized?
--DANIEL: baptized 22 Dec 1828 in Lismore; sponsors were John Cahill and Bridget Phelan; died 2 Feb 1878 in NYC, NY
--MICHAEL: baptized 12 Aug 1831 in Cappoquin; sponsors Richard Farrell and Mary Cahill; died 3 Feb 1891 in NYC, NY
--JOHN (my great grandfather): baptized 15 Jan 1833 in Cappoquin; sponsors Daniel Hely [Foley?] and Frances O'Grady; died 22 Aug 1903 in NYC, NY
--ELLEN: baptized ELEANOR 8 Apr 1836 in Cappoquin; sponsors Samuel Daret and Johanna Singleton; died 24 Jan 1897 in NYC, NY
The 1850 US Census for Manhattan lists Mrs Ellen Foley (42), Mary Foley (18), John Foley (15), and Ellen Foley (12). A 1845-46 city directory for Manhattan lists "Foley, Ellen, wid. Michael, 135 Wooster".
I don't know when ELLEN FARRELL FOLEY and her children left Ireland or when they arrived in New York City (after daughter Ellen was born in 1836 and before 1845-46 listing in Manhattan city directory). I don't know if MICHAEL FOLEY died in Ireland or somewhere lese. I don't know if the family went first to Canada (or why I allow myself to consider this possiility). I have been unable to find any ship registers or immegration information (but I keep looking).
Any additional information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Knechtgary
Saturday 27th Feb 2016, 12:32AMMessage Board Replies
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My apologies for the very late response. Have you managed to learn anymore about these ancestors?
Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support
Monday 11th Apr 2016, 11:09AM -
No new information since I posted the query.
Knechtgary
Monday 11th Apr 2016, 03:05PM -
I haven't been able to locate a death record for Michael, though this isn't surprising given that these were not often recorded/retained, especially for the early period you refer to. As a long shot you could have a look on rootsireland.ie or familysearch.org and search for a baptism for a Michel Foley in that period (+/-) 5 years and see from those results if any of the sponsors named on those records match either of the witness surnames on the marriage record of 1826. It is not the best way to go about things, but given the vacuum of parish records pre-famine and the fact that we are only guessing that Michael was originally from Waterford and not a neighbouring parish, there are a lot of variables to consider.
Clare
Genealogy Support
Wednesday 13th Apr 2016, 01:17PM -
Is there any way to figure out where the Foley family or the Farrell family might have lived in the 1820s and 1830s? I may be visiting Ireland and would love to find one of my ancestral homes.
Knechtgary
Sunday 1st Apr 2018, 06:42PM -
We know from my great-great-grandfather William Foley's gravestone in Wisconsin, USA, that the family was from County Kerry. However, we believe they were originally in Waterford. Was there a migration of Foley to County Kerry before 1840. They apparently were in New York state by 1942 when my Great-grandfather William H Foley was born. I suspect that they had some training as merchants and they were educated and spoke English when they got here. Most of my other Irish immigrant ancestors spoke only Irish. Thank you.
Ellen Foley
Tuesday 30th May 2023, 12:58PM