My great-great grandparents Edward Fox and Maria Glynn (see photo) came to St Helens, Lancashire, in the 1830s (they apparently eloped) and were married there in 1836. He was a horse dealer, she was from a family who lived in Ballydoogan, Fohena. Thomas Glynn is mentioned in Griffiths as holding land there, but I am not sure what connection he had to Maria, possibly he was her brother. Her parents were Mary Ann and James Glynn. Mary Ann (and an unmarried daughter, Bridget) lived with Maria in St Helens and died there in 1856. Her death certificate says she was the widow of James Glynn. A couple of letters have survived in the family from a James P. Glynn, written in 1892 and 1894, and giving the address “Ballydugan, Fohena, Ahascragh”. James is asking for money to prevent his father being sent to the workhouse. Maria had died in 1891 and it seems this is money she (or her sister?) had left him – though there is no mention of it in her will.
I know there are still Glynns in the area, but does anyone know of any connection to Maria?? She was apparently literate, a ‘hedge teacher’, and she and Edward had 8 children, all of whom did well – despite Edward dying in his 30s and Maria being left to bring them up alone. Two of their sons became doctors, and one a priest.
teenymee