Michael Forkin of County Mayo

[sestanley]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me some advice about trying to find my Irish Gt. Gt Grandfather:

He was Michael Forkin, born circa 1830 in County Mayo. He married Mary, and moved to Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England, where my Gt Grandfather James was born in 1857. Does anyone connect with this, and Is there any way I can ever find Michael in Mayo?

Thanks,

Susan.

[Ticker]

Hi Susan

Sorry we haven't been able to help you so far on this one.

Have you had a look at all the usual general resources I tend to suggest? 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,83852.0.html

You could also look at these Mayo specific sites which may help.

CENSUS RETURNS

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,9011.0.html

PARISH RECORDS

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,9015.0.html

GRIFFITHS VALUATION

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,9020.0.html

Perhaps you would like to have a look at these resources to see if there is anything that might help you.

Please come back with any further queries or to let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Ticker

[Christopher]

Hiya Susan,

There are a large number of townlands in Co. Mayo but interestingly enough at the time of Griffith's Valuation in the county in 1856/7 the surname Forkin only appeared in three of those townlands ....

Aghamore, Kilbeagh, Killedan

Christopher

[JAP]

There are a large number of townlands in Co. Mayo but interestingly enough at the time of Griffith's Valuation in the county in 1856/7 the surname Forkin only appeared in three of those townlands ....

Aghamore, Kilbeagh, Killedan

My understanding is that Aghamore, Kilbeagh and Killedan are Civil Parishes with each containing many townlands.

A search for the string Fork in Co Mayo in the Griffith Valuations on the Failte Romhat site (not complete) finds quite a number of entries for FORKIN (in the above parishes) - and also for what is surely just a spelling variant FORKAN (in the parishes of Kilmovee and Kilbeagh) plus one FORKEN (in the parish of Began).  There are also entries for FORKER (in the parishes of Kilturra and Kilcolman) and FORKRAN (in Kilconduff and Meelick) which might be variations of the same name.

Of the 14 entries for FORKIN on the Failte Romhat site, 2 are in Co Galway with the rest in Co Mayo.  And similarly with the 21 entries for FORKAN - 2 are in Co Galway and the rest in Co Mayo.  Only 2 entries for FORKEN - 1 in Galway and 1 in Mayo.

JAP

[JAP]

Susan,

A few questions - assuming you are still looking for Michael ...

Is this his death (from FreeBMD) - Michael FORKIN, aged 59, in 1878 in Burton.  If so, have you searched for a death/funeral notice in local newspapers (that's how I found the Co Mayo townland my Ggfather came from) or might there be a gravestone with an inscription?

Do you have Mary's maiden surname?  If not, the birth certificate for your ancestor James should give it.  I can't see the birth of a James in Burton on FreeBMD (which is, admittedly, incomplete).  There's a James FORKAN in Sculcoates in the East Riding of Yorkshire in 1854, and a James FORKIN in Walsall in Staffordshire in 1856.

Do you know when Michael and Mary moved to England?  Do you have Michael and/or Mary on all possible censuses (including 1841 and 1851 if you don't know when they moved to England)?  Perhaps there is a more precise birthplace on one of them (not the 1841 of course).

Do you know whether Michael and Mary married in Ireland or might they have married in England?  I notice that there is the marriage of a Michael FORKIN in 1858 in Congleton, Cheshire (on the border of Staffordshire) with a Mary O'FLYN on the same page.

I also notice a marriage of a James FORKIN in 1857 in Burton on Trent - perhaps related to Michael?

Regards,

JAP

[Christopher]

There are a large number of townlands in Co. Mayo but interestingly enough at the time of Griffith's Valuation in the county in 1856/7 the surname Forkin only appeared in three of those townlands ....

Aghamore, Kilbeagh, Killedan

My understanding is that Aghamore, Kilbeagh and Killedan are Civil Parishes with each containing many townlands.

A search for the string Fork in Co Mayo in the Griffith Valuations on the Failte Romhat site (not complete) finds quite a number of entries for FORKIN (in the above parishes) - and also for what is surely just a spelling variant FORKAN (in the parishes of Kilmovee and Kilbeagh) plus one FORKEN (in the parish of Began).  There are also entries for FORKER (in the parishes of Kilturra and Kilcolman) and FORKRAN (in Kilconduff and Meelick) which might be variations of the same name.

Of the 14 entries for FORKIN on the Failte Romhat site, 2 are in Co Galway with the rest in Co Mayo.  And similarly with the 21 entries for FORKAN - 2 are in Co Galway and the rest in Co Mayo.  Only 2 entries for FORKEN - 1 in Galway and 1 in Mayo.

JAP

Sorry about that JAP. Your understanding is correct. I should have said Parishes.

Christopher