I thought I would summarize where I am now in view of the recent Carlow records available at rootsireland. I will conclude with some questions that have kept coming to mind as I have assimilated everything. I'd first like to thank all of you who offered their time and experience in helping me dig into my past. I am very grateful for your help.
I will try to summarize as clearly as possible what I have so far.
My family has always believed that my g-grandfather, John P. MacDonald (1876-1926), was of Scotland origin. However, when I started my research years ago, it quickly became clear that his father, Patrick MacDonald, was born in Ireland. Both the 1870 and'80 census of Fall River, Mass. indicated this. As a matter of fact, his obituary states he was a prominent member of the AOH in Fall River! Patrick was married to Anna (Anne, Annie) O'Brien, also of Ireland. John P. was born in Fall River. I obtained a copy of his baptism and it names Edward and Maria O'Brien as Godparents. An interesting note is the fact that John P. himself may have started the Scotland theory, as he puts his father, Patrick's place of birth as Scotland on his WWI draft reg.
Anyway, Annie died in 1881 and her parents were named as John and Catherine on the record of death. Both the 1880 & 1870 census have Catharine living with Patrick and Annie. I found an obituary for Catharine O'Brien in 1889, which states the funeral was at her son, Michael's house in Fall River. Both the 1870 & 1880 census have Michael O'Brien and family living on the same street as Patrick and Annie.
Patrick remarried in 1887 to Eliza O'Neil (widow of Patrick Cavanaugh).
I located a naturalization record for Patrick McDonald, laborer (his occupation on both censuses and city directories) on familysearch. His birthplace was named as County Carlow. There being several Patrick MacDonalds living in Fall River at the time, I systematically eliminated all other Naturalization records. No other laborers with that name from Fall River were naturalized during his lifetime. Then I found a nat. record for Michael O'Brien from Fall River (mason), born in County Carlow.
Patrick died in 1890. His parents were named as Thomas and Sarah. These are also the names on both his marriage intention to Eliza Cavanaugh and the record of marriage to the same. That brings me to the newly issued Carlow church records. The first thing I checked was a bap. record suggested by 2 listers on this board. Sure enough, I found a Patt, b. 1839 to Thos. MacDonald and Sally Neil, Borris, Carlow.
I then found Anne Bryan, of John Bryan and Catherine Doyle. I subsequently located several siblings of Patrick and Anne, all of the same parish. Edward and Michael were 2 of her brothers. Incidentally, I found the marriage of an Edward O'Brien to Catherine Doyle in Fall River as well. It is interesting that all these names are in close proximity to my ancestors in Fall River.
So, right now, I am optimistic that I have struck gold. Here are some questions.
First, I have really tried to find other records of baptism on rootsireland by eliminating Carlow and doing a search with the same info, and come up with no results for Patrick, father Thomas, mother Sarah. I have tried with just the father's name, and just the mother's, and any variants. The only results are the ones I found in Borris, Carlow.
With Annie O'Brien, I get more results across all counties. However, I would imagine the one in Borris would be the likely one. As I stated, her parents and brothers all come up in that parish. Please let me know your thoughts on the likelihood that I have come across something worth considering.
Was it common for emigrants to go to England before the States? The reason I ask is because I simply cannot find a marriage for Patrick and Annie. However, the Michael O'Brien of Carlow living next to them in Fall River had a son born in England. The rest of his children were born in Mass.
Patrick and Annie's firstborn, Sarah, was listed as being born in Mar, 1870 Fall River on the census, and her later death cert. But there is no civil birth record. I realize that is a common problem. I've run into that a lot. I just wonder if she was born before Patrick and Annie emigrated.
Also, the name Bryan. Is it synonymous with O'Brien?
Are Raheen and Rahana synonymous (addresses given).
Finally, any ideas on why my g-grandfather John P. MacDonald started naming his father's place of birth as Scotland? I know anti-Irish sentiment was rampant in the 19th century, but it looks as though he started listing Scotland much later in life.
I apologize for the length of this post. Any info warmly appreciated.
Thanks again
Steve