Donovans from Clonakilty

[22SIMON90]

Hi I'm trying so hard to trace our family in Clonakilty, Cork but with the popular surname of Donovan I'm struggling.

We have
Parick Donovan born in 1850 in Clonakilty
he marries
Ellen Wren also of Clonakilty
we know they have John Donovan born 1879 in Clonakilty  baptised at church of the immaculate conception, clonakilty 3 june. He moves to Wales then.

Also we have Cornelius Hallanan  born in Ireland 1847 who moved to Wales  very young  and he married Mary Hookey ( or is it Hickey?) hard to read their marriage cert  born 1850 ireland. If any one can help me to progress with either line of the family we would be so very grateful as we've hit a dead end!

[heywood]

Hello,

if you don't have the marriage certificate of Patrick and Ellen, you could apply for that which would give you their father's names.

Family Search pilot site http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start
has Irish Civil registrations and there looks to be a marriage July -September 1878 for Ellen Wren and Patrick Donovan
Clonakilty Vol 5 pg 31

http://www.groireland.ie/

best wishes
heywood

[heywood]

What do you already have about Cornelius - censuses etc?

Just found his marriage - as Hallahan to Mary Hickey 1870.

What is his father's name on the marriage certificate?

[heywood]

I think this is perhaps Cornelius in 1871 - do you have this? As you are not sure re Mary's name, it seems that you haven't got this entry. (providing it's him  )

1871 RG10; Piece: 5400; Folio: 132; Page: 34

John Hickey 48 yrs
Ellen Hickey 50 yrs
Cornelius Allen lodger 24 yrs
Mary Allen lodger 21 yrs
all born in Cork

[shanew147]

what religion are your Donovan family ?

The Irish Genealogy website include records for the RC parish of Clonakilty - see : www.irishgenealogy.ie

Once you have additional details, such as father's name, you could search the baptisms for likely matches.


Shane

[heywood]

That site looks a good help Shane 

[22SIMON90]

For Cornelius Hallanan  and Mary bridget we have A certificate of Baptism For Mary Bridget Hallanan daughter of Cornelius Hallanan and Mary Hookey. Her name actaully is Hickey, it is terrible writing on the certs.
From 1878 at St Illtyd's Church in Dowlais Wales

We know they change their name to Alllen on the Census, maybe due to Irish/ welsh accents and Allen being easier to spell?

For Patrick Doovan and Ellen Wren we have
A Baptismal Certificate for John Donovan son of Patrick Donovan and Ellen Wren both of Clonakilty, Co Cork. At the Church of The Immaculate Conception, clonakilty 1879. Sponsors were Sylvester Donovan, maybe patricks brother or father? and May Wren Ellen's mother or sister?

[22SIMON90]

I don't have a marriage cert for Cornelius and Mary we only know her maiden name from their children's baptism certs.

I had a look at the  piolt family search and found the record you pointed out. How do i order their marriage cert though? Looking at the  general reg office it only gives you a date range back to 1920 and I'd need 1878 how would i go about getting a copy of that? That would as you say give me their parent's names.

[heywood]

Hello again,

This looks to be the marriage of Cornelius and Mary on Free BMD
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

September quarter 1870  Merthyr T.  11a 603
Cornelious Hallahan
Mary Hickey

Marriage certificates would seem to be the way forward for you. This would give you Cornelius' father's name and perhaps help with further searches.

As already stated, Patrick and Ellen's from Ireland would give you their father's name.

The site which Shane gave you has a strong candidate for Ellen's baptism.