Daniel Donovan born about 1828 Ballymartin, Dungourney parish, Cork - Went to Vermont - wife Ellen Crowley b 1835

E. Howell:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The RC parish corresponding to Dungourney civil parish is Imogeela. Unfortunately, their baptismal records start in February 1835 so Daniel's baptismal record is not available.I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland but I was unable to locate the marriage record. I then searched on the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie  and located a record in a parish further south in Co. Cork. This may be your couple but Donovan and Crowley are very common names in Cork and this could be a completely different couple. Do you know for sure that Daniel and Ellen were married kin Ireland?

You may want to add Daniel's emigration story to our XO Chronicles site and possibly someone will see a connection  https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

Have you considered DNA testing?

Let me know what questions you have.

Roger McDonnell

Area - CORK & ROSS (RC) , Parish/Church/Congregation - COURCY'S COUNTRY OR BALLINSPITTAL

Marriage of DAN DONOVAN of N/R and ELLEN CROWLY of N/R on 28 September 1854

HusbandWifeNameDAN DONOVANELLEN CROWLY

Witness 1JERRY DONOVANWitness 3MARY CROWLY

Thank you for your kind response.  I have been researching my family for about 10 years, and until yesterday, I was convinced that the couple you list above were my ancestors.  However, I was sadly mistaken.  I do not know if Daniel and Ellen married in  Ireland, as I have been unsuccessful in finding any records for this marriage on the irish genealogy website and on Ancestry, Rootsweb, and Find My Past. 

In addition, I have found no marriage records for them in the US or Canada.  It's a mystery, for sure!  The facts that I DO know are that Daniel Donovan was born in 1828 in Ballymartin, Cork, Ireland.  He became a US citizen 17 September 1857 in Rutledge, Rutledge County Vermont and worked as a quarryman there.  Sometime before 1859, he married Ellen Crowley and they had seven children in 11 years.  These include: 

1. Cornelius, c1859
2. Terrance, c1860
3. Timothy, c1860
4. Patrick John, c1862 (my great-great-grandfather, a railway engineer in Illinois and Iowa)
5. Ellen, c1866
6. Mary Ann, c1867
7. Kate, c1870

Daniel died on April 26, 1880, in West Rutland, Vermont; age at death: 53.  His headstone reads "A native of the parish of Ballymartin, County Cork, Ireland."  He is buried in St. Brigid's Cemetery, Rutland County, Vermont, USA.  

Again, thank you for your response.  I am new to this site and was guided here by another Ancestry member who helped me to correct the records that I had regarding my ancestors' marriage.  

Regards, 

Elizabeth Howell 

Elizabeth:

Based on your records that he became a US citizen in 1857  (which presumes he arrived before 1857) and the first child in 1859, I would assume a US marriage.

Roger

Dear Roger, 

I completed DNA testing, but I'm not sure it gave me any answers.  Can you tell me more about how my results can connect me with possible ancestors in Ireland?  

Thanks, 

Betsy 

Betsy:

Ancestry DNA provides marches in strength order so first and second cousins come first followed by third, fourth, etc. Some of the matches provide a public tree which should allow you to look for Donovan’s and Crowley’s in the tree. You will want to use the Ancestry message system to contact matches and see if you can determine which line a match and you have in common ( might be a different line than Donovan/Crowley).  Not all of you matches get back to you so don’t get frustrated. Hopefully you will have a Donovan/Crowley match who has more info on the family origins.

Roger

There were Crowleys from County Cork in Rutland County. Very common to marry someone from the home county.

My sister and I plan on making a trip to Ireland in April 2022.  Hopefully, we will find some answers.    Sadly, none of my DNA matches on Ancestry come from the Donovan line.  

Thank you for your kind responses.  

Betsy