RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Galway => Topic started by: Janethepain on Sunday 18 October 15 10:55 BST (UK)
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The above Margaret was my great grandmother who came from near Clifden.
From her age given on her marriage certificate, in Glasgow in 1874, she is estimated to have been born in 1852. Her parents were Michael Burke, and Norah Conley ( possibly Connelly and its variations, or Connell). As Honoria/Honora/Honor & Nora/h are family names in subsequent generations I guess that her mum's proper name was Honoria - which was not uncommon at that time.
The family story goes that Margaret had at least 2 elder sisters, Catherine and Delia (Bridget), who went to The States, with Margaret and her younger brother, Thomas still at home with the family in Connemara. The Father died, and one of the sisters came home and took Thomas to America. We have been able to trace Thomas to Greely County, Nebraska, based on the fact he was reputed to have made and lost a fortune, so his facts were remembered. But we have no idea about the other 2 sisters.
We have no idea why Margaret went to Glasgow, instead of to the USA with everyone else, and interestingly Margaret doesn't say her Mother was dead on her marriage certificate, though I assume she was.
Anyway I would love to find out if the family is traceable in Ireland, despite being told it was impossible, that Burke was the most common Surname there, and Michael the most common Christian name.
The family were Roman Catholic, and this all happened before civil registration was begun.
We believe Margaret came to Glasgow in the early mid 1870's as she has not been found (by me) on the 1871 census, but married my great grandfather in 1874. As was a common story then, she became a lodger in their home, and ended up marrying one of the sons!
There may be a few other facts I know, but have forgotton to put here, so please ask away!
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Catholic Parish registers now online- hopefully you will find the records cover the period you need to search.
http://registers.nli.ie/
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Was a more specific townland ever mentioned ?
Tara
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https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WVX-PRG
Common Names Though
Tara
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Also
Do you have an occupation for Michael ?
Tara
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Thanks, Agadowey,
My sister and I spent a wet and windy February week in Dublin 4-5 years ago. We spent about 2 days at the microfiche consules at I think, the National Library. If you've done it yourself, you know that reading the 'fiche ranges from very difficult, to absolultely impossible, or at least that's how I remember it!. We found very little, mainly because most of my Irish ancestors left Ireland for Scotland early on in the 1850's or before. Only 2 lots were later on, and that was Margaret Burke, and some ancestors from Derry. We found the Derry relatives, but it only confirmed what we already knew from the civil records. I found nothing for Margaret Burke and family. However I was working under time pressure, so perhaps if I take my time on line, I will be more successful! I will try that!
Tara
Unfortunately, no, a Townland was never mentioned. It is so frustrating that for many of us, the age at which we become interested in family history, in this way, often coincides with when your elders, be they aunts/uncles/grandfather or grandmothers are all gone!.
On Margaret's wedding certificate her father is called Michael Burke, and his occupation is given as Shepherd. Mum is Norah, maiden name Conley.
On her death certificate in 1817, Dad is given as Miles(!!) Burke, and his occupation is Farmer. Her mothers Maiden name is given as Foley.
I would say the wedding certificate is more likely to be accurate!.
Re the death you found, It was for a Michael Burke who died at 60 years in 1920, in New York, but Margaret's dad was dead before she married in 1874. So that isnt him. However it did include lots of the names - Michael Burke, Norah, and Connolly. It just emphasises that these names are very very common !
Thanks for your help!
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Hi There
No
The link I sent you was for a BROTHER to Margaret.
Tara
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What paperwork did you get Clifden Connemara from ?
Tara
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Sorry, Tara for the confusion. Her brother's name was Thomas, and I know where he died, in Greely County Nebraska, USA in the early 1930's I think.
We know that Margaret was from near Clifden, because my grandmother said so - she was her daughter, and lived close to her mother until she died. I know this is oral hand down of information, but it is only a couple of generations, and lots of my grannies siblings families also know that their mum or Granny came from near Clifden.
One of the problems is that I dont know exactly when Michael died, but I suspect that this is what spurred his daughter to come back and get Thomas, and for Margaret to go to Scotland, so I cant imagine he died that many years before Margaret appeared in Glasgow. But I really don't know for sure!
Of course I also realise this was all taking place in the aftermath of the 'great' famine, and that life must have been hellish for all concerned!
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1. Was Margaret still alive in 1911 ?
If so what POB is on the census for her ?
2. The link was for another possible brother that was not part of the family story.
3. Was Margaret RC?
Clfden RC records are online but I can't spot the family.
4. The reason I asked for townland was that while her daughter said her Mum said Clfden, well Margaret might just have referred to the nearest big town. Their records could show up in other near parishes Rahoon, Moycullen, Killanin are just a few examples.
5. I'm also concerned in the vast differences in her parent's names - I would normally go by the marriage as the info would have been given by Margaret.
Death info is usually given by a child.
If we are to presume a child gave it, and got it wrong then it makes taking the Clifden avenue with a punch of salt too.
So, have you started looking through the church records that Aghadowey posted for you ?
Tara
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1 Margaret died in 1917 - as far as I am aware it was always simply Ireland - but I will check out the 1911 census tomorrow. Sorry for the typo (1817) In my original post.
2 ok - but possibly too young.
3 Yes as I stated in my original post
4 I absolutely understand this point , but I can't magic up a town land where none has ever been given. I have always assumed she meant near Cliften, rather than actually in Cliften, that is what her only living grand daughter (my aunt) believes. It is also what I said in my posts.
5 The names were given by a grandchild who had never met them, close to 40 years after ever their daughter (the dying g woman) last saw either of them. In my experience grand children often don't know the names of long dead relatives. However you may be unaware that irish names were often miss transcribed in Scotland, due to inability to understand the accent (you have to laugh) and a superior attitude on the part of the educated enumerators to the lower class imigrants. I can see both mistakes being made quite easily, especially Foley for Conley.
I do think there is a difference between not knowing or not remembering your grandparents names under a stressful circumstance (mum just died), and not knowing where your mum came from - she probably talked and sang about it on a daily basis, if she was like everyone else in her family! They were an intelligent and articulate family, going from illiterate in the case of Margaret to a graduate as was one of her sons!
Yes I have started searching the online church records - no luck yet !
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Most of the churches in the area have records going back to the 1850"s so just be super patient and go through each page slowly and steadily as the writing can be tricky.
Rootsireland has most of them transcribed but you will have to pay €30 for a months sub and no guarantees that you would find them.
Tara
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Thanks Tara for your assistance, ps - the 1911 census just said Irish too!! I think that is all they were obliged to put , though some did put more, after all Ireland was not yet independent at that point.
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A wee update from me - not that I have found anything definite, but I finally got around to doing a DNA test, and I chose (for my first shot anyway) to get an ancestry autosomal test, mainly because they have the biggest database.
I have listed as likely 3rd cousins, 2 I think sisters (from comparing their trees), The confidence level is extremely high, one has 123 centimorgans in common, over 6 segments of DNA. From what I have read, they are a certainty (just about) to be a direct connection at 3rd/4th cousin level, probably 3rd cousin level.
On top of that they have all the right names, Burke, Michael Burke, even Miles Burke, marriages to Connolly - but I just don't see where they fit in with what I know! And they have not responded to my message!
There are also 3 other 4th Cousin connections, but again no easy fit into their trees. 4 of the 5 tree's are US based (from memory) the last one is in Australia, with, as far as I know at the minute, no one still in Ireland.
I will have to look for one of those 'free weekends' that ancestry do around the holiday seasons, and see what I can find. Or take a deep breath and look at Family search a bit more deeply. I find it hard-going!
PS Any suggestions welcome and gratefully received!
PPS I lost the will to live searching the catholic parish records, but, you're right, I should go back and finish it some day!!