John O'Callaghan (b. 1814) Crossmolina, Co. Mayo married to Bridget Syron

Dear Pat

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

As RC records for Crossmolina don't begin until 1831 for baptisms and 1832 for marriages there will be no parish records available for anyone who was baptised or married before that time. There are no O'Callaghan family listed on the 1855 Griffith's Valuation and none on the Tithe Applotment Books. Was Bridget also from Crossmolina?

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Hi, I have just a little bit of information which may help your search, but not about CALLAGHAN.  My FOY ancestors are linked to the SYRONs so I am familiar with the name.  It is sometimes confused and written as SYNON (may help in a search).  Patrick Andrew FOY/FOYE (1814-1898) married Mary SYRON/SYNON (1816-1924) 1834 in Backs/Knockmore Diocese and there were other marriages between these families.  Patrick's residence was given as Carramore and we have other records of this residence in my FOY family.  Patrick Andrew FOY/FOYE emigrated to Waukegan, Lake, IL, USA, which is just north of Chicago (Cook County) abt 1849 and appears there in the 1850 US Census.  My g'g'grandparents Patrick Edward FOY+Catherine MANLEY/MUNNELLY also went from Carramore to Waukegan in 1849 so they are likely close relatives. Most of the children in these families later settled in and around Chicago.  Another Patrick FOY b abt 1812 in Co Sligo at age 40 was living in St. Ambroise de Kildare, Berthier, Quebec, Canada.  I think he m Annie MORAN.  When it says "Co Sligo" he may have lived on the east side of Ballina neighborhoods, as the border between Mayo & Sligo was moved.  Just before they emigrated my FOY-MUNNELLY family lived in Rathreagh neighborhood of Ballina.  Some of the SYRON group also lived in McHenry Co IL, USA which is close to Waukegan and to Wisconsin.  In 1860 they were in the town of Grafton.  John Higgins SYNON was son of John SYRON/SYNON (1801-1870) + Mary HIGGINS (1812-1885).  He m Anna Josephine "Annie" FOY (1856-1905) in Cook County, IL.  His brother Edward was b Hillier, PEI, Canada.  Some of the SYNONs went through NY to WI, and another group went to MA, NY & CT.  Edward SYRON/SYNON (1844-1916) m Kathryn "Kay" COTTAR (1856-1892) before 1864 emigration; some of this group later resided in Westchester NY.  A Bridget SYRON (sister or wife?) b 1846 was in this group.  Some of the SYNON family connect to the RANKIN family in WI.  The HIGGINS/HIGGENS also connect to my MANLEY/MUNNELLY cousins, all from Co Mayo, who emigrated from the Belmullet area via Ontario to western & central NY state, and there are more FOY-MUNNELLY marriages and baptisms in the Backs Diocese.  I have an extensive family tree at Ancestry.com with more details.  (Note: Problem with "Carramore" is that there were a number of places with that name.  Based on additional info in my particular family I believe it is Carrowmore-Lacken ne of Ballina, or the Carrowmore just sw of Ballina, but there are also family members near Belmullet, where there is another place by that name so I have not entirely ruled out that possibility.)  In Waukegan my FOY was a farmer but his children engaged in other professions.  Mary K SYNON b 1881 Chicago was daughter of John Higgins SYNON and Anna Foy SYNON, became one of the first female journalists in America, known as a "Reform Journalist" opposing discrimination based on race and social class.  After getting the scoop on a union meeting during a great strike she secured a position at the Chicago Journal newspaper, later became a newspaper syndicate correspondent working in Ireland and London the The New York World newspaper.  I hope some of this may be clues for resolving your question.

Bit late - but just saw this

Callaghan is a family name from Behy townland in Moygownagh Catholic Parish on the Crossmolina - Moygownagh parish border. John is certainly a name found in that family and there was a John alive in 1808 there with a brother.

www.moygownagh.ie

Liam Alex