Today I have made a huge breakthrough with my Ronan family and I hope there are chatters out there who can put some meat around the bones (not a good analogy for a veggie) or may even have known the family members noted below (the younger ones obviously!!).
My GGM, Mary Ronan b circa 1855 moved to Liverpool and before she married my GGF James Carson in 1886, she married John Bo(w)land in 1882. He died in late 1883. Mary and James had at least 4 children (boys) the youngest being Myles. I've been intrigued by this name as it isn't overly common. As quite a lot of children were named after family members, I decided to check the Ronan's. On checking the 1911 Ireland Census, lo and behold! 3 Myles Ronans.
The most interesting of these records was:
Parish: Kilrush, Barony: Scarawalsh, Townland: Ballyandrew
Myles (51), mother Ellen (74) brother Patrick (40) all born Co, Wexford.
Living with them is John Wood (31) nephew born England and Lucy Boland (27) niece born England. Wow!!
Not only that, but on the same schedule, in Ballyrock, is Matthew Ronan (48) wife Mary (40) and 8 children ages ranging from 16-3.
I hadn't even considered that Mary and John Boland could have had a child, as she isn't with the Carson family unit in the 1891/1901/1911 E&W census. I identified a Lucy born around the right time in Liverpool and received the cert this morning. She is the child of John and Mary and must have been born around the same time as John died.
Does anyone have any local knowledge of the Kilrush/Ballyandrew area or the Ronan family that they can share? I wonder why Lucy would have been sent to live in Wexford and not stay with her mum. Can anyone advise on a family church or where I may find earlier records?
I feel a visit coming on!
Kit