At the centre of the story is
Corbo, a townland of approx. 372 acres halfway between Roscommon and Lanesborough, just of the Lanesborough Road.
https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/ballintober-south/kilbride/drumdaff/corbo/You can see the area on Google Maps (go to Streetview to ‘drive’ around)
In Griffith’s Valuation (printed 1857) there is a Michael Madden in Corbo with just over 19 acres and one of the better houses in the townland. This may or may not be the farm of Michael Flynn.
Fast forward to 1892 when a widow
Anne Madden marries
Michael Flynn, a veteran from the American Civil War.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1892/10644/5878153.pdfThe bride’s residence is Corbo and it’s possible she came to the farm through her first marriage. Anne’s maiden name was Shrulin, her father James Shrulin already dead. Ages aren’t given on the marriage but the 1901 census was only a few years later-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Roscommon/Drumdaff/Corbo/1668472/ If the ages are correct then Michael was born c1831 (certain old enough to be Civil War vet) and Anne considerably younger (20 years, so born c1851). Also in the household, besides a farm servant (not surprising they needed someone to do the majority of the hard labour) is Anne’s widowed sister-
Ellen Nevin! So, if Anne’s father was a James Shrulin then it stands to reason that he was also Ellen’s father.
One bit of information we didn’t have earlier was that
Anne died before her husband Michael. Her death here (only Ann Flynn died between 1901/1909 in Roscommon district)?
Anne Flynn,
Lanesboro St., Roscommon, age 72, married, informant-
nephew John McDonnell-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1906/05569/4563860.pdf (born c1834 which is much nearer Michael’s age but far off 1901 census age)
I did find Michael Flynn was granted administration of Ann’s estate (a small sum) so she didn’t leave a Will.
http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014915/005014915_00393.pdf Roscommon Messenger, 10 Feb.1906: Death and Funeral of Mrs Anne Flynn, Corbo, Kilbride. The death took place on Monday morning last of Mrs Anne Flynn, member of a family well known and highly esteemed in the district. Deceased had been living with her brother in Roscommon, and for some time past had been …By 1909 Thomas Nevin is at Corbo.
Now, on 9 Jan.1909
Michael Flynn dies (finally found Michael’s death which took a while since wrong image was attached to entry)- widower, Pensioner American Army, informant-
nephew Thomas Nevin of Corbo-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1909/05468/4530642.pdf So far seems pretty simple.
Thomas Nevin went off to America c1885, by 1901 his widowed mother Ellen was living at Corbo with her sister Anne Flynn (no sign that Michael or Anne had any children). Thomas Nevin comes back to Ireland with children Annie, Ellen & Thomas after first wife dies (little Winifred raised in N.Y. by aunt).
1909 was a busy year at Corbo. In January Michael Flynn dies; in April Thomas re-marries (those young children need a mother, after all, and if, as it seems, his mother Ellen's in poor health then a wife could look after the house and mother-in-law as well).
Ellen Nevin d.24 July 1909 at Corbo-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1909/05451/4525276.pdfRoscommon Messenger, 28 Aug.1909: Late Mrs Ellen Nevin. On Monday last, _ inst, was celebrated the month’s mind for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs Ellen Nevin, of Corbo, whose interment look place at Derrane cemetery on 26th July last. The following clergymen assisted Rev. J. Neary, CC, Derrane, celebrant; Rev. J. O'Dowd, CC, …