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Hello,

I’m hoping you can direct me to documentation about my great-grandfather John Kelly and his birth family, e.g., a baptism record of John Kelly (Catholic, born Newport or Rosturk or nearby) which may reveal his mother’s name; a marriage record of parents; birth/baptism records of siblings. (Sorry John Kelly is not a more distinctive name to research!)
Trying to find this info for his 98 yr old granddaughter. The Newport Historical Society replied that baptismal records in Newport (Parish of Burrishoole ) only go back as far as 1872 and civil records only to 1865.

Details:

John Kelly was born in Newport, Mayo, according to the  UK 1911 census. Birthdate is 17 Jun 1858 according to the UK 1939 Register.
Father is Patrick Kelly (occupation labourer) according to John Kelly’s marriage certificate in 1882 in Hartlepool, Durham. His mother’s name may have been Mary, but that is an assumption based on what he named his eldest daughter.

I found a Patrick Kelly tenant in Griffith’s Valuation 1855 for Rosturk townland, Newport Union, Burrishoole parish which may be a match.
Family lore is that John Kelly walked across Ireland with his brothers to escape famine and headed to England. This would be during the West Ireland crisis of 1879-1882. I believe I have located my John Kelly in the 1881 UK census in Middlesbrough.

John Kelly fathered 10 children in Hartlepool and Newcastle on Tyne, seven of whom lived to adulthood. He was a police constable in Newcastle for many years.

Thank you for any assistance,

DM

Saturday 15th Feb 2020, 02:36AM

Message Board Replies

  • Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    We would really like to be of assistance but as the Newport Historical Society indicated, there would be no church records available for 1858 baptisms in the Newport area and civil registration did not start until 1864.

    The Griffiths Valuation record may be a lead but if Patrick was a labourer, he may not have been listed in the Griffiths. Only those farmers who were leasing or owned land were listed.

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 17th Feb 2020, 11:58PM

  • Hello Roger,
    I have some more family information now from the 1871 census in Hartlepool, so hoping with your help to take another stab at uncovering any lingering records in Mayo. (Clearly, the "walking across Ireland" to get to England family story did not apply to my great-grandfather!) 

      Patrick Kelly  born 1826  Newport, Mayo 
      wife Mary Kelly born 1841 (or 1839)  Newport, Mayo. Maiden name  MULLEN or Mullan or Mullins.
      son John Kelly  born  June 1858  Newport, Mayo  - my great-grandfather
      dau Mary (or Maria) Kelly born 1862 (or 1863 or 1864)   Newport, Mayo
      son Patrick Kelly  born 1864 (or 1865)  Newport, Mayo
         James Kelly  born 1829 Newport, Mayo  (brother to Patrick born 1826 above) 

    In particular, the Patrick Kelly born 1864/65, would you be able to tell if he is from the Patrick Kelly + Mary Mullen parents?

    Was it the custom to announce births and marriages in the local newspaper? I'm going to try and see if I can identify any relevant items.
    If everyone gives Newport, Mayo as their birthplace, is that in fact the correct "townland" and/or "parish" to research primarily? I'm still murky on the townland/parish divisions.

    There is an intriguing notation in the 1881 UK census about my GGgrandmother Mary Kelly being a "former laborer farm work" which I hope applies to Ireland, so maybe that Griffith's Valuation reference I have is indeed for my GGgrandfather Patrick Kelly; I just don't know the connection of Rosturk townland vs Newport townland.

    Best wishes,
    DM

    Friday 18th Sep 2020, 08:19PM

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