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AGNES BRIDGET GAFFIGAN was born and lived in San Francisco before she came to Ireland to marry my grandfather MICHAEL JOSEPH McCARROLL (sometimes known as Carroll). They had met in San Francisco, after Michael joined his two brothers and he took out American citizenship.

Agnes B. left for Ireland when she reached her majority. Instead of being married in the Fintona - Beragh area, where Michael's family lived and they later chose to settle (after residing in Omagh at least until 1914), they were wed at St. Patrick’s Church in Dundalk, County Louth. The problem is that we don't even know if they traveled together, or where in Ireland they had landed, or even where they stayed before they left for County Tyrone.

Mickey stated on his marriage certificate that he was a merchant living in Beragh, Co. Tyrone.  Perhaps she left for Ireland after Mickey had established himself.  But after marriage he and Agnes went on to Omagh, and then to Fintona, where McCARROLL was to establish his business and became a publican/auctioneer/seller of shoes and coffins at their public house on Main Street in Fintona.

The usual way that we look at arrivals is to search for the boat that they were on and the time of arrival at Ellis Island, or Philadelphia, etc.  But, here we would like to search the other direction.  And they were citizens of the U.S., but Agnes was emigrating to Ireland.  But we don’t know where they (or she) arrived in Ireland, but probably sometime in the first half of 1912

They may have even traveled from America to Queenstown and instead of an overland trip in Ireland they might have gone to Liverpool. From there they may have made Dundalk their landing in Ireland.  Any suggestions on how we might sort this out?

So, I cut and pasted - and then emailed it to Lisnaskea and asked them if they knew what an emmett was.  We just have to wait for the emmetts, because they may be sleeping at the moment, but as soon as they check in, if they check in, I will let the board know.

Regards, Jim Carroll

I was wondering what is the meaning of the word "Emmetts."  I note that there are team sports, such as hurling, in Lisnakea, Co. Fermanagh, and a team associated with Irish football in Eskra, Co. Tyrone.  But the meaning of the term Emmett escapes me.  Anyone know?

I have posted this message to another board, but because it looks to one name from Ireland I am reposting it to this board.  That name is AMOS, a name that is not that common in Ireland or Scotland.

In the search for my great grandfather, JOHN AMOS GAFFIGAN, we found that he probably came to the States with his mother and brother in July 1867 aboard the SS Iowa from Glasgow (with a stop-over at Moville, Donegal), and then aboard the Moses Taylor from Nicaragua to San Francisco, we have run into an identification problem.

It seems as that MARY AMOS GAFFIGAN (she apparently was widowed from Patrick Gaffigan in Scotland) and her children were sponsored by either one or both of her sisters, who were at the time residing in San Francisco. They had stopped earlier in New Haven, Conn. to get bearings from either their relatives or sponsors, but have no idea who that might be.

These Gaffigans, who had started out in Scotland, were met in San Francisco by a MRS. CHARLES (ISABELLA) CAMPBELL, who lived at #6 Thompson Avenue, in the South Park area of San Francisco.

The other sister was Miss ANNIE AMOS of #5 South Park or Thompson Avenue.  It may be that Anna, or Annie, was previously married to a McKEE, according to compilations of census data.  Whether by divorce or being widowed, we believe that she went by that name later in life.

It was indicated in various census data that all three of the ladies had been born in Ireland, but where, or when - we simply do not know.

It appeared that they first lived on the other side of the South Park or Thompson Avenue the South Park Matt House, in the home of Annie.  Mary’s brother-in-law was Mr. CHARLES CAMPBELL who was evidently employed as a “collar maker” at the Kimball Company, at 4th and Bryant.

They lived on that block that also had a Miss Kelly and her daughter, the CRENNAN family (John married a MAGGIE CRENNAN), the Driscolls, and the Goodenoughlys. Catherine's daughter, Maggie, had a sister named Rosa, and appeared that they were possibly from New York.  We don’t know that background.  But, according to Catherine’s obituary and other census data she was born in County Leix (Laois) in Ireland.

The Gaffigans landed about August 1867 but had to move to Alameda in 1868 with Annie Amos because of the San Francisco earthquake that year.  They resided with a Dr. Lambert for the rest of the year and returned to San Francisco in 1869, where they resided with a Mr. James O'Connell who had a stationary and book store at 310 5th street.

We would like to confirm that these ladies were the sisters of Mary Amos Gaffigan, and would like to see just where they had come from in Ireland or Scotland before they arrived in San Francisco.