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I am interested in finding more information my Burns/Gregory family who lived in Drumard, Kilmeena, Co Mayo up until the late 1870s. By 1881 the whole family was in America. 

I will be visiting Westport for three days in early June and would like to know whether there is anyone connected to this family left near Drumard or Cross (see below) before I go. (I doubt it, but I thought it was worth reaching out!)

On another message, I saw a link to a history of the Kilmeena parish so I will look read that over in advance of my trip. 

My Burns/Gregory family included: 

My 2nd great grandfather, James Burns, who was likely born about 1841 to 1845. He died in Pittsburgh in March 27th 1904; his death certificate listed his father’s name as James Burns (no mother’s name was listed). So I suspect but can’t prove that his father was the James Burns who was listed in Griffiths Valuation and was renting land and buildings in Cross

James’ wife was Honor Gregory, and she was also born around 1841 to 1845. Honor (known as Hannah in the US) died in Pittsburgh on October 28th, 1919; her death certificate listed her parents’ names as George Gregory and Margaret O’Toole. (Knowing that the death certificates are often inaccurate, I wonder whether the first names are incorrect and whether the O’Toole surname was Toole.)

James and Honora were likely married around 1861, and from what I gather there are no Roman Catholic parish records from their parish to determine when they were married. I base this guess on their daughter Anna’s birth date (6 Aug 1862) as reported on her death certificate. 

The 1900 US Census records indicated that Honora had 9 children, 6 of whom were still alive in 1900. I’ve found the identity of all but one child.

1 & 2) At least two children - Anna and Catherine (Kate) - must have been born before civil registration started in 1864 because I can find no civil records of their births to a male with a surname Burns and a female with a surname Gregory. Anna (Burns) Riddlebaugh died on 17 Jul 1944 in Etna, Allegheny, Pennsylvania and her birth date was listed as 6 Aug 1862. In other records she listed a variety of birth dates (1863 to 1866).

Kate (Burns) Gensler died on 30 Sep 1933 in Ingram, Allegheny, Pennsylvania and her death record listed her birth as Nov 1868. Kate claimed to have been born between 1866 and 1868 (depending on the record) but I suspect that she was born before 1864.

In the death records for both of these women, the informants had the deceased’s father’s name wrong (Michael on Anna’s death certificate, and Joseph on Catherine’s) and knew only the last name (Gregory) of her mother. (I am connected to their descendants by DNA matching, and Anna was on an 1881 immigration manifest along with three of her sisters and her mother, so I am pretty certain that the girls were part of this family.)

Other children born in Ireland included
3) Patrick: Born 1 Mar 1866 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland to James Burns (farmer) and Honor Burns, formerly Gregory. He died on 10 Apr 1868 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland, and Honor Burns was the informant.

4) Bridget (aka Delia):Born 21 Sep 1868 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland to James Burns (farmer) and Honor Burns (formerly Gregory). She died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania on 24 Jul 1964. Her married name was Delia A Hardiman.

5) Sarah: Born 17 Feb 1871 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland to James Burns (farmer) and Honor Burns, formerly Gregory. She died on 12 Apr 1872 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland and Honor Burns was the informant.

6) Honor (Hannah): Born 18 Feb 1873, in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland to James Burns, (farmer) and Honor Burns, formerly Gregory. She died on 6 Jun 1963 in San Francisco, California. Her married name was Hannah Mahoney.

There is a gap here and perhaps the “missing child” was born during this time. But I can’t find a record of a birth.

7) Margaret: Born 8 Feb 1879 in Drumard, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland to James Burns (farmer) and Honor Burns, formerly Gregory. I do not know what happened to Margaret after she immigrated with her mother and sisters. 

Born in the US:

8) One child (James Gregory Burns) was born in Pittsburgh on 18 Feb 1883 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He died on 4 Apr 1928, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was single.

Thank you for any hints or advice!

Mary Kennedy

Monday 18th Mar 2019, 01:37AM

Message Board Replies

  • I noticed on Griffiths' Valuation that James Burns was renting house, offices and 4 acres of a total of 45 acres on plot 6. Co-tenants were Timothy Carrolan, John Stanton, John and Michael Garravan and Richard Mullee. Sometimes co-tenants were relatives.  Carolan/Carolin, Garavan and Mullee households were still there on 1901 and 1911 census.

    There was a John Gregory renting 15 aces of land, no buildings, in Knockasproha townland, Kilmeena parish. There were only 2 households, Cannon and Malley, in Knockasproha/Knockaspreha on 1901 census, reduced to 1 in 1911.

    I couldn't find Drumard on Griffiths'. There were only 4 households on 1901 and 1911 censuses, Henighan, Barrett and McGlynn (x2).

    O'Toole and Toole might both have been used.

    Gregory doesn't seem to have been a common surname in Westport area, judging by civil registrations.

    There is one listing for Kilmeena parish on National Library of Ireland website: marriages in the diocese 1821-1829. There is a link to more information. It says baptisms at NLI haven't been microfilmed.

     

    Maggie May

    Friday 12th Apr 2019, 01:48AM
  • Thank you, Maggie for that info on co tenants - I will look into whether there were any Burns or Gregory marriages to people with those surnames. I also noticed the John Gregory on the Griffiths Valuation but because he rented land and no house I didn't know what to think of that. 

    I have two distant DNA matches with the surname O'Malley, and they cluster with other DNA matches that I know are from my Burns/Gregory ancestors. I've never looked into my connection to them, so perhaps I will now!

    Thank you!

     

     

     

     

    Mary Kennedy

    Friday 12th Apr 2019, 07:24PM

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