WOW!
You are obviously related to my husband, Peter.
We are preparing for an Ireland trip so I have been working on geneology and have some clues for you regarding John Farrell.
I found a ship manifest for the "Jacob Wedervelt" listing Luke and Ellen Farrell (no Garret, no John) arriving in NY,NY on Oct 6, 1851. Not verified but Luke is not a common name. Then there is a death obit for Oswego NY for a Luke Farrell, wife Ellen and son John but nowhere can I account for when John got to Baltimore. So I doubt the Oswego thing since I cannot verify.
My husband is from Baltimore and the all his family and cousins live in Towson (referred to as Towsontown in docs). I am excited hearing the three brothers migrating together and peaked by the Red Bank NJ theory. It fits with Edward F Farrell, son of John. His daughter, Mary Hasse, settled around Phila. His wife, Emma, lived in Absecon, NJ. And his fortune was made in Maryland racing and business in Atlantic City. John also served in the Civil War and apparently required "medical attention" for something.
I attached photos of "old man" John who looks just like Peter and another of him with his sons.
I have more information that you may be interested.
I too can find nothing in Irish records for Luke or Ellen Doyle. Rumor is they came from Ballina as that is the name Edward gave the Farrell farm in Maryland.
