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Greeting everyone,

I am searching for information on my great grandmother Catherine Armstrong (nee Cawley).

By searching the records available online I have identified the following information on Catherine Armstrong (née Cawley):

  • Baptised 01-November-1858, Emlefad and Kilmorgan, Sligo  (Ballymote area)

  • Father: John Cawley

  • Married 23-March-1876, in Achonry, Sligo 

  • Spouse: James Armstrong (born 1850; Farmer)

  • Residence in 1901: Tullyhugh, Sligo

  • Residence in 1911: Tullyhugh, Sligo

  • Died 1930, registration district Tobercurry (to be confirmed - possible index record sourced).

I have been trying to find information on Catherine's parents and siblings. The only definite information I have from the records I have sourced to date is her father was 'John Cawley'.

 

I have searched the Catholic Parish Registers (baptisms) for Cawley baptism records, in an endeavour to identify Catherine’s siblings. In the Ballymote area of County Sligo alone, there were 47 Cawley’s baptised between 1856 & 1880. There are a number of likely candidates, however working through them is additionally challenging as there appears to be two John Cawley’s producing children in the same time period and in the same parish; although it could be the same John Cawley, if his first spouse died and he remarried. I do not have any information on the parish of 'Emlefad and Kilmorgan', other than it's location.

With this post I am hoping to make contact with Ireland reaching out members with on the ground knowledge of the area and families (possibily Cawley descendants).who might be able to assist me in my search information on Catherine, I am conducting my research from 12,000 miles from Ireland in NZ. 

Any pointers as to where I might look for further information would also be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Bernard

 

 

Wednesday 22nd Jun 2016, 10:38AM

Message Board Replies

  • Bernard:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    We do not have a parish liaison in the are around Ballymote. The RC parish of Emlefad and Kilmorgan is now the parish of Ballymote  http://achonrydiocese.org/parishes/sligo/ballymote/  It is unfortunate that the 19th century parish register did not show the mother's maiden name.  I did find three John Cawley marriages in the parish (which you may already have) which might assist with the baptismal records.

    The 1858 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Emlaghfad civil parish shows John Cawley living in Ballymote 

    http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/sligo/emlaghfad.htm

    Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

    Roger McDonnell

    Date of Marriage:24-Feb-1846
    Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
    County:Co. Sligo
    Husband JohnCawly
    Wife MaryMorrison

    Date of Marriage:08-Jan-1852
    Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
    County:Co. Sligo
    Husband JohnCawly
    Wife AnneWyms

    Date of Marriage:11-Jan-1857
    Parish / District:EMLAFAD & KILMORGAN
    County:Co. Sligo
    Husband JohnCawley
    Wife MaryKilcawly

     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 22nd Jun 2016, 07:02PM
  • Hi Roger,

    Thank you for your feedback.

    I have now located those marriage records on the Rootsireland website.

    On the Ancestry website I found a series of Cawley baptisms for 1858 (+/- 10 years). One of the baptism is for my great grandmother Catherine Armstrong (nee Cawley), born 1858. I suspect a number of the other baptisms with John Cawley as the father are her siblings, but I do not know how I can go about proving it. Any ideas? The URL to obtain the details is below:

    http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=IrelandCatholicParish&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsln=Cawley&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1858&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=10&msbpn__ftp=Sligo%2C%20Ireland&msbpn=5318&msbpn_PInfo=7-%7C0%7C1652381%7C0%7C3250%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C5318%7C0%7C0%7C&msbpn_x=1&msbpn__ftp_x=1&gskw=Emlefad&gskw_x=1&MSAV=1&uidh=223

    A few of the later baptism records a little more information other than the father’s name, i.e. record the mother’s given name. There is a ‘John & Mary’ and a ‘John & Bridget’. The ‘John & Mary’ might relate to one of the two ‘John & Mary’ marriage records which you identified.

    I have searched Griffith’s valuation for John Cawley. See URL below. There is a John Cawley who is a tenant of six properties and the landlord. Whether all the properties relate to the same John Cawley is an unknown, at least to me.

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&familyname=cawley&firstname=john&baronyname=&countyname=SLIGO&unionname=&parishname=&Submit.x=36&Submit.y=12

    Yes, I have thought about an autosomal DNA test and will probably go down that route.

    However, in the meantime do you have any ideas as to how I may be able to progress my research using the paper trail?

    Cheers,

    Bernard

    Sunday 26th Jun 2016, 06:03AM
  • Bernard:

    I looked at the 1876 civil marriage record transcription. It showed that Catherine was from Tullyhugh so the family was there in 1876 and the father John was still alive. The 1858 Griffiths Valuation for Achonry parish shows seven Cawley/Cauley/Cauly records but none in Tullyhugh  http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/sligo/achonry.htm

    I also looked for civil death index records for a John Cawley (and variants) in the Tobercurry registration district between 1876-and 1901. Only one record is a possibility First name(s)JohnLast nameCawleyAge at death90Birth year1804Registered year1894Registered quarter/yearJan - Mar 1894Registration districtTobercurryVolume4Page377CountySligo

    Hope some of this information helps.

    Roger

    Date of Marriage:23-Mar-1876
    Parish / District:Tubbercurry
    County:Co. Sligo 
    Husband
    JamesArmstrong
    Address:Caramorane
    Wife Catherine Cauley Address TullyhughDenomination:Roman Catholic
    Roman CatholicOccupation:Labourer
    Not RecordedAge:Full
    20Status:

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 26th Jun 2016, 06:24PM
  • Hi Roger,

    Many thanks for the information which you have provided.

    I will continue my investigations and no doubt touch base with you again a later date.

    I just have one question for the moment.

    On the civil registration transcription on the rootsireand website the address of James Armstrong is given as Caramorane. I have checked a list of County Sligo townlands and I can find no townland of that name. Do you think it might be a transcription error? I have noted two possibilities below:

    • Carrowmore       - Leyny - Achonry - Tobercurry
    • Carrownaworan - Leyny - Achonry - Tobercurry

    Cheers,

    Bernard

     

     

    Thursday 30th Jun 2016, 01:03AM
  • Bernard:

    Could be a transcription error. You would have to see the orginal record to know for sure. Carrownaworan is only 2.7 kilometers from Tullyhugh so I'm inclined to belive that is the correct townland. Carrowmore appears to be further away.

    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 30th Jun 2016, 05:10PM

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