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I'm trying to find my great grandparents John Simmons and Annie Boyle. I only know from the few records I have that they were both born in Ireland, but no county or Catholic parish is listed. John was born around 1849 and immigrated to New York City in either 1881 or 1883.  Annie was born around 1854. I don't have an immigration year for her. I don't know if they met and were married in Ireland or the USA. John was employed as a Mason/bricklayer in the Bronx, N.Y. according to the 1900 and 1910 U.S. Federal Census, and the 1905 New York State Census. Further, I have no dates of death for either of them, however in the 1900 Federal census John is listed as a widower. They had at least three children, Eugene (b. 1882-?), John jr. (1883-1917), and William (1892-?). All three were born in NYC.

A now deceased aunt told one of my siblings that John was born in Kilkenny (did not state if it was the city or county). No records of this could be found through the Kilkenny Family History Research Center at the Rothe House. Recently I found a handwritten note from the same aunt where she states John was born in Tipperary. I could not find any record of a John Simmons in either the county or city of Tipperary. DNA testing for myself, siblings and a first cousin reflects that our Irish ancestry is most likely from Monaghan, Louth south Down and Fermanagh.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John Simmons   

Audreymolly2

Tuesday 29th Mar 2022, 07:27PM

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  • Findmypast gives  baptisms for the following two children in St. Jerome’s in the Bronx.  The surnames are spelled “Simon” and “Samon,” but I believe they are children of the couple you are researching.

    FIRST NAME(S) WILLIAM

    LAST NAME  SIMON

    Father's first name(s) John

    Father's last name Simon

    Birth date 06 Jul 1892

    Birth year 1892

    Baptism date 24 Jul 1892

    Baptism year 1892

    Location Bronx

    PARISH ST JEROME

    Archdiocese New York

    County The Bronx

    Language English

    State New York

    Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)

    Country United States

    Subcategory Parish Baptisms

    MOTHER'S FIRST NAME(S) ANN

    MOTHER'S LAST NAME BOYLE

     

    Sponsors: John McDonnell, Ellen Woods

     

     

     

    FATHER'S FIRST NAME(S) JOHN

    FIRST NAME(S) MARGARET

    FATHER'S LAST NAME SAMON

    LAST NAME SAMON

    Birth date 09 Mar 1890

    Birth year 1890

    Baptism date 23 Mar 1890

    Baptism year 1890

    Location Bronx

    Parish St Jerome

    Archdiocese New York

    County The Bronx

    Language English

    State New York

    Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)

    Country United States

    Subcategory Parish Baptisms

    MOTHER'S FIRST NAME(S) ANNIE

    MOTHER'S LAST NAME BOYLE

    Sponsors: Frank Hogan, Susan Morgan

    Patricia

    Tuesday 29th Mar 2022, 09:20PM
  • Thank you Patricia. My grandfather's family (John Jr listed above), were parishioners at St. Jeromes, and lived one block from the church. My father and several of his siblings were born and baptised there. Unfortunately they are all deceased, so I have no one to ask questions of. I've had William in my family tree on Ancestry.com., but I did not know about Margaret. I agree that she is most likely a great aunt, who I will also add to my tree.

    Thank you again for your time and effort.

    John Simmons

    Audreymolly2

    Wednesday 30th Mar 2022, 03:37PM

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