Hello everyone! I'm hoping someone can help me pinpoint the townland in Co. Clare my family, the Gavins, are from.
Here's what I know.
My great-great grandfather, Michael Gavin Jr., was, according to his gravestone, born on April 30, 1849, in Clare. He died in Niagara Falls, NY, in 1905.
His parents were Michael Gavin Sr., born ca. 1816 in Clare, and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, born ca 1818 in Clare. In the 1900 US census, Elizabeth (at that point a widow) is recorded as having been married in 1841.
Michael Jr's siblings born in Ireland were: Patrick (born ca. 1843-1845, in Clare), and Bridget (born ca. 1845-1847, in Clare). One sister (Mary) was born 1850/1851 at sea as the family was headed to America.
[Other siblings born in America: Margaret (1852), Ellen (1853), Jenny, Annie, John (1860).]
The entire family died in the States.
Elizabeth's death cert lists her parents as Michael Fitzgerald and Mary McMahon, though I'm not sure how reliable that information is. Michael Sr's parents are not listed on his death cert.
I cannot find any reference to a townland anywhere in any of the Gavin papers I have encountered in the States. Even nauralization records only list Michael Sr.'s origin as "Ireland." Obituaries offer only the information that they were of Clare. I cannot find any records of their arrival in the States on passesnger lists (though of course, they did arrive!). I have looked at deeds, probate records, death certs, US church records, obits, passport applications, and nothing gives me a nuge towards pinning down a townland.
Can anyone help me find the Gavins' townland?
Thank you so much!
Amy
Friday 21st Jun 2013, 03:01AM
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I should also mention that a few years ago I commissioned a report from Clare Heritage Centre, which never got out of the preliminary stage, as I was told no records of the family's births or marriages existed in the church records (the family was RC).
I have spent much time on the excellent Clare Library site and going through the Tithe Applotments and Griffith's Valuation as well as the more recent 1901 and 1911 censuses...I see several Gavins there, but without a townland or even a parish to direct my search, I feel like I'm tilting at windmills.
Thanks again for any and all help!
Amy
Friday 21st Jun 2013, 01:30PM -
Amy:
Your note mentions that you reviewed the head of household listings from the Griffiths Valuation survey for Clare. Griffiths was published for Clare in 1855. This would be too late for the two Michael Gavins but possibly the grandfather was still living and since the oldest son was Patrick, it is likely the grandfather was Patrick. There are three Patrick Gavins listed in Griffiths. Unfortunately, there are many Michael Fitzgeralds (father of Elizabeth) on the listing. You may want to match up the locations of the Patrick Gavins with the locations of the Michael Fitzgeralds to see if you can identify a possible area. Again, this is all predicated on your Patrick and Michael being listed in Griffiths.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Friday 21st Jun 2013, 02:31PM -
Roger, thank you for the great suggestion. That sounds like a fun project for tonight!
Amy
Friday 21st Jun 2013, 02:39PM