Are there family histories written by families in Co Mayo ? For example, it seems like the existing family of
Cardinal Gibbons of Partry might have done their family history and deposited a copy in the South Co. Mayo Family History Center or library. Are there written histories of the Gibbons families who lived in different areas ? I am especially interested in Gibbons around the Westport area.
My John (maybe James)Gibbons was born about 1827, probably in Co. Mayo. In 1849, he arrived on The Courtney in New Orleans. He did not appear on the short passenger list of The Courtney's two voyages, so he may have come as crew. He then got a job as crew on another ship that sailed to St. Louis, MO. On the 1850 U.S. census, he was living with his son, Thomas Patrick, age two, in St. Louis, MO. There was also a Catherine Gibbons, age 24, living in the household. I can find no further trace of Catherine. I assumed she was John's wife but she might have been his sister. In 1852, John married Margaret McGiven ??? in Louisville, KY and settled down. On his citizenship application, John's son, Thomas Patrick, definitely claimed that he (Patrick Thomas) arrived on the Courtney in April 1849 and that he was born in Co. Mayo. Father, John Gibbons, could not be identified on any naturalization papers.
I found a John Gibbons in the Royal Constabulary, age 22. Since John had the sailing skills to be hired as crew to cross the Atlantic, I expected him to be involved in fishing or shipping. There was a salmon fishery in Co. Mayo where he might have been employed. John was 23 when he arrived in the US so he had worked a few years at something. John never farmed in the US. He worked on the river docks for years, then became a plumber. Maybe John learned his crewing skills at the docks in Westport. Since John did not emigrate until April 1849, it appears that he was able to survive the worst of the famine and I would suspect he was not a farmer.
There was a story that John was related to the Cardinal who was from Partry. But probably every Gibbons family in the US claimed that relation. The Cardinal Gibbons family did arrive in New Orleans about 1849 and his mother and sister settled there.
I found a possible baptism for John's son, Patrick Thomas:
Jan 24, 1847 Amagh ???? Pat, son of John Gibbons and Bridget Cannon. Sponsors Pat "Do" and Cecily Walsh. This was in the Islandeady baptismal records, p 89 Dec 1846-Feb 1847. What does the "Do" mean ? Isleandeady is about 3 miles from Westport where there were Gibbons families. I would really like to read a history of those Gibbons in Westport and Newport.
I am not sure this is my John and Patrick because I really expected John's wife to be Catherine. However, John did name his first daughter with Margaret McGiven, Bridget Gibbons, born 1852. There were no girls named "Catherine " in either John's or Patrick's familes in the US.
On the 1900 US census, Thomas Patrick Gibbons claimed he was born in March . A genealogist told me that half the men in Ireland claimed to be born in March (St. Patricks Day.) The year of Thomas Patrick's birth varies on the censuses and his army papers. I think 1847-1848 is right.
John's father might be Thomas F. Gibbons who was born 1808, according to the 1850 census. He married and moved to St. Louis in 1855. I think the "F" might refer to descent from the Fitzgibbons of many years back.
So I am still looking for a birth date for John Gibbons abt 1827. And a marriage abt 1846-47. A baptism for Patrick Thomas Gibbons abt 1847-48. A possible death for Patrick Thomas mother and John's wife about 1849.
If anyone can direct me to any Gibbons family histories in Ireland, I would much appreciate it. Thank you for reading this.
suem600
Friday 27th Dec 2019, 10:34PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Suem, the easy bit first "do" is short for ditto meaning same as above so the person shared a surname with the previous or person listed above.
I looked at the subscription site Roots Ireland and there are about 21 Patrick Gibbons born 1844 to 1850. However you have the only one with a father John already.
Again I found a marriage in Islandeady with this record, spouse is Bridget Conway, however I noted the witness is a Cannon and wonder is there are transcription error and if you try both names maybe you will get more siblings, you can see the actual entry here but only search by month and year and read as best you can.
Date of Marriage: 14-Jan-1846
Parish / District: Islandeady RC parish County: Co. Mayo
Name: John Gibbons Bridget Conway
Husband's Father Wife's Father
Name: Gibbons Conway
Witness 1 Witness 2
Name: Thomas Cannon Mary Hyland
There is at least one Mayo Genealogy page on Facebook if interested, you apply to join as it is private, takes about 24 hours to get approval.
regards
Pat
St Peters Louth, IrelandXO Volunteer
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Pat, thank you so much or your help with the Gibbons. I will check both Conway and Cannon to see if they might have immigrated with the Gibbons. Neither Cannon nor Conway was used as a baptismal sponser. Sue
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I also have been told my Gibbons family is related to Cardinal Gibbons. My 3x Great Grandfather Martin Gibbons was son of Stephen and Barbara(Heneghan) Gibbons. I believe he had a sister Margaret and a brother John who both went to America. Martin was in the RIC he came to Australia 1860-61. He was apparently from Ballinrobe/Partry area. Have connected with some relatives in America but would love to connect with some in Ireland. Maybe our families are connected,
Saandie