Galway Genealogy Consultant Needed - Visiting July 25-28

Hi, I don't have any guide or group - but a quick search on roots.ie reveals a Catholic baptism of Martin Joseph McGrath on 24 April 1864 in Rahoon parish to parents John McGrath and Catherine Kelly. Sponsors are: Peter Lydon and Bridget Coneely. Address given is Bathinghouse. Then a John McGrath of Bathinghouse dies on 28 March 1870.

There is a birth of a John McGrath at an address Bath House, Rahoon Parish on 21 Aug 1820 to a James McGrath and Sarah Feeney.

Amanda,

Do you have the marriage and death record of Martin Kelly. They should show his parents names. His birth was recorded on April 14th 1864.

According to the Civil Register - No 288 for 1864 - a declaration was made on September 13th 1864 and his birth was registered on September 14th 1864. This would indicate that John McGrath

accepted parentage.  It is possible that Catherine Kelly emigrated to the USA following the birth and that her son Martin was reared by relatives until he was strong enough to travel?

A John E. McGrath is recorded in Rahoon in 1865.

Regards,

Amanda,

Clarification,

Did Martin return to Ireland, marry Barbara O'Dea in Rahoon in 1884 (from RootsIreland, unfortunately Martin's father's name is not on the marriage Record), and die in Salt Hill, Rahoon in 1947, age 83, farmer?

4210243.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Records from Ancestry

Geneanet

Kate McGrath, Martin's mother, (may not be yours) died in Salt Hill in 1919, widow, age 81, Martin present.

4414335.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

There is a Martin on the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

Regards- Mary

Katharine 1901 and 1911 censuses

Regard- Mary

Amanda,

Record from Ancestry. Is this the Martin Joseph Kelly you are researching? How did you know his parents' names? Was the civil birth registry passed down through the family?

Regards- Mary

Amanda,

If you are in the U.S., there are many experienced Irish genealogy researchers who might help you.  Have a look at apgen.org  (Assn. of Professional Genealogists).  Good luck.

 @Gearóidófathaigh @McCoy and @Mary

Thank you for your help with this! @Gearóidófathaigh @McCoy can you attach or link to where you are seeing the information you found?

Here are the facts I have:

1) Attached is the birth record I have. It was not passed down, but discovered through research.

2) He never went by McGrath. He lived and died Martin Joseph Kelly. His children were all born in America and were given “Kelly.” (Florence, Josephine, Mary, George, John Kelly) My great grandfather was George. My grandmother Marian said her father George and Grandfather Martin never talked about family. Martin would tell her he came over to America when he was 7, was born in Salt Hill Galway, and that was it.

3) I have his naturalization papers to America. Confirming he arrived in New York in 1871, he was seven years old and is listed as a solo passenger. No parents are listed with him. I do not see any family surnames either on the ship manifest. These papers I know are accurate.

4) His marriage certificate in Pennsylvania does not record his parents names. Just birth, Salt Hill Galway 1864. All documentation I have on him never mentions parents.

5) His death is still a mystery. I know he’s alive in Southern California in 1940. His wife and children are all buried there, but I’m unable to uncover his death cert, grave, etc. There is one potential match in the cemetery but the birth date is 3 years off. And we definitely knew his birth year, so I haven’t accepted as fact yet.

The mystery behind his parents Catherine Kelly and John McGrath is what I’m after. Who are they? Birth? Death? Graveyard? Why Kelly? Was John McGrath married to someone else? Why is Martin alone on the ship at seven to America? 
 

I would love any documents, links, etc. I very much want to visit graves or homes while in Galway. Thank you!

Amanda,

Attached is a copy of the Civil Birth record of Martin Kelly in 1864 - Galway.

A John McGrath, Letteragh, parish of Rahoon is recorded as having been charged in the Petty Sessions Court in Galway in 1865 for being in possession of a stolen ass. Witnesses recorded: John E. Lewin who is a retired Head Constable of the RIC, his son - Agustus Lewin, ? Harding, Anthony Kelly, Pat Faherty and James Clarke. The record does not specify which witnesses were for John McGrath.

The charge was dismissed.

Credit: Subscription Site -  www.findmypast.ie

Regards

Amanda, 

The Martin McGrath I provided information above is not yours. I can't confirm Katherine McGrath surname nor Martin's father first name.

Like you, I have researched Martin Kelly's records in the States (on Ancestry paid subscription) and did not find his parents' names.

This might be his adopted family, 1880 census

Name Martin Kelly

Age15

Birth Date Abt 1865

Birthplace Ireland

Home in 1880 Campbell, Steuben, New York, USA

Dwelling Number 164

Race[White]

Gender[Male]

Relation to Head of HouseSon[adopted Son]

Marital Status[Single]

Father's Birthplace Ireland

Mother's Birthplace Irelands

Attended School Y

There was a Catherine Kelly who married in 1872. Maybe that is why Martin was sent away?

8156862.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Mary

Catherine Kelly's husband was Martin McGrath (widower). This might be his death record. He died in 1895 in Salt Hill, his son Martin witnessed. This might be the family I previously provided information on.

4686558.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Mary

Amanda,

Have you tried contacting the parish? Sometimes they can connect you with a family member.

Christ the King Salthill – The Salthill Parish Website

Salthill - Wikipedia

Regards- Mary

@McCoy - Thank you! Yes, that is the same birth record I have. Fun find on the criminal charge…I’ll dig more.

@Mary - Yes, I have that document of his potential adoptive parents (Mulverhill) saved as highly plausible! The fact that one parent is “Anne Kelly Mulverhill” makes me wonder if “Anne” is a sister or cousin of “Catherine”?

I think the key is finding out Catherine Kelly and John McGrath death date. I had a hit on Catherine possibly dying in 1868 and John in 1870. I filled out the paperwork to get their death certificates but never heard back.

The document you found on Catherine Kelly marrying a Martin McGrath is very interesting and perplexing. I guess anything is possible. 

Amanda,

I am not sure where you found the name Ann Kelly Mulverhill. My research on Ancestry suggests the adoptive mother was Ann/Nancy Walsh Mulverhill. She married John in 1856 in Elmira New York. They raised their family In Campbell, Steuben, New York and moved to Paint Post, Steuben later in life. Their children were Michael, Mary, Margaret, Ann, John, Joanna (Josephine), and Catherine (Lena). She was over a 100 when she died.

If you go to website, you will find the marriage date inaccurate. I assume the numbers were transposed.

Regard- Mary

Save

@Mary - Yes, I’m thinking of another record I found on an “Anne Kelly”… so many names! :)

The Mulverhill record is very intriguing and one I feel is highly plausible that it’s my grandfather Martin Kelly.

I’ve reached out to the Parish but and hints on the death or family of Catherine Kelly or John McGrath would be wonderful… that’s where I’m stuck. 
 

Thank you!

Dear Amanda,

I'm just wondering if you are still going to be here at the end of July as planned?

All the best

Thomas

Amanda,

Having you checked if Martin attended any school following his arrival?

Regards,

Amanda.

 If you decide that Catherine Kelly McGrath who married Martin McGrath in 1872 was your Martin Kelly's mother.

Kate McGrath,died in Salt Hill in 1919, widow, age 81, Martin present, was son of Martin who married a Kate Kelly married in 1872.

4414335.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Marriage

8156862.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Death Record of Kate's husband Martin 

4686558.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Martin's, Kate's Kelly McGrath husband, father's death record. Maybe, 1876, age 73, Salt Hill

7212682.pdf (irishgenealogy.ie)

Regards- Mary

@Thomas - Hello! Yes, I’ll still be in Ireland July 25-28. I’m in Southern Kerry now, but will be near Galway during the above dates. Would love any assistance. Thank you!

@McCoy - He did not attend school when he arrived. Martin and his son George could not read/write….my grandmother (George’s daughter) told me that. So I don’t think any school was involved. Martin ended up working in a gas field. His son George too.

@Mary - Thank you for these documents! I really appreciate it. I looked through them and will hold onto them in case there is a connection. I just can’t imagine putting my 7 year old on a boat to America, then marrying, and then birthing another son and calling him Martin. Disturbing to think about. Why it’s a mystery and I’ll look at every option.

@Gearóidófathaigh - Could you send me the birth and death record of the John McGrath you found? Thank you!

Amanda,

I think the Martin McGrath (abt. 1865) on the 1901 and 1911 censuses that Kate was living with was her husband Martin's (dead) son. Martin was a widower when he married Kate in 1872, so Martin would be her stepson.

Regards- Mary

@Mary - good observation. I appreciate this research and am digging to see if this in fact could be what happened to Catherine. Thank you.
 

@Thomas - I’ll still be in Galway July 25-29 if you have any guidance, thank you!

Amanda,

It seems to me that part of your problem is that John McGrath and Catherine Kelly weren't married. I think that the Ancestry record that records Martin McGrath assumes that Martin had his father's name, which he obviously didn't.

According to townlands.ie, Salthill is in Rahoon civil parish.

I will be in Galway on Saturday and we could meet if you like. You can send me an email to kjordan@irelandxo.com and we can arrange a time and a place.

Best wishes, Kieran

@Gearóidófathaigh - Could you send me the documents you found in John McGrath, I’m unable to see the birth, death you are seeing, thank you so much!

Amanda,

Apologies to Gearóid for following up on this.

Here is the record of the baptism from the Rahoon parish records on April 24th 1864. The civil records give the birth date (April 14th 1864), while the church records give the baptism date. This record gives the address as Bathinghouse. Even though there is 10 days between the records, I think it is likely that they are the same. If the couple were unmarried (as indicated on the civil record), it is easy to see that there would be 10 days between the records. The issue of being married/unmarried is a bit contradictory. This record doesn't mention anything about marital status, while the civil record says unmarried and Martin is given his mother's name. I suppose in a large populated parish the priest may not have known the couple and didn't ask.

I haven't been able to find where Bathinghouse is. There were two previous messages on the board trying to locate Bathinghouse, but no answer to date.

Best wishes, Kieran

@Kieran thank you! I sent you an email to see if we could meet today. Are you able to connect at lunch or afternoon? Let me know, thank you! (And if you could email this image, that would be wonderful as it won’t download here. I can’t see the whole image.) 

@Kieran I got it to download. :) See the two records attached. This is why I’m confused. Look at the connection between my two documents and your image. I’d love to discuss/understand this better.

Let me know about meeting today. Maybe my email got stuck in spam. Thank you! 
 

Amanda