John McNamara born 1801 Clare, Ireland died 1893

Dear Carolyn:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out.  

It will be almost impossible to find any information about John McNamara as the baptism/birth date of 1801 is very early for any records.  Bodyke is in the civil parish of Kilnoe and those records are available to view online through the National Library of Ireland at this link:  https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0764

In addition, the records have been transcribed and they are also available (along with other useful records) on the Clare Library Website.  The link for Kilnoe civil parish is here:  http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilnoe.htm  

I see baptismal records on the transcribed registers for Dennis, Peggy and Ellen from 1834-1844, and certainly there may hae been other children not listed.  

The baptismal sponsors including Dennis McNamara and Martin Tuohy may be  worth looking at and tracing forwarfd to see if they remained in Ireland.  They may have been relatives (most likely were) and further information would give you more research to work with.  

I see a Denis McNamara living at Drummod townland in Bodyke (Kilnoe) in the Griffith's valuation taken in 1855.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  You might also consider creating an Ancestor Profile for John McNamara on the XO Chronicles feature on the site.  The link to create a profile is here:  https://irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-database

A very Happy Easter to you.  Stay safe.  Any questions, please let me know.

All the best,

Jane

Dear Jane

Thank you for the information.  After a bit more research, I have found the shipping records which states that Mary McNamara and her children, James, Margaret Theresa, John, Bridget, Ellen and Catherine came from Ireland to Victoria, Australia onboard the Atalanta in 1858.  From the records, I don't think that John McNamara was with them, as it says "gone to father who was at Forest Creek, Victoria, Australia ".  Forest Creek was a gold mining town, and although I have found a John McNamara who travelled to Australia possibly as a miner onboard the Hoogly in 1846, this would be soon after their last child Catherine's birth in Ireland, I am yet to confirm this is my John McNamara.  It would appear to be sometime after John McNamara travelled in 1846 before the family travelled after him to Australia, some 12 years in 1858.  So, will continue my search on my ggg grandfather John McNamara.  I have confirmed Mary Toohey McNamara was born 1807 and died 4 December 1901 from her headstone which is on Billion Graves.  She is buried at Chewton Cemetery together with her son, James and a newphew William.  Chewton is where Forest Creek, Victoria, Australia is.  I also have confirmed that my ggg grandmother Mary Toohey McNamara's parents were Michael Toohey and Ellen Slattery.  Michael Toohey and Ellen Slattery lived in Clare, Ireland and would have been born around 1780 and 1785, I think.  If you think of anything else, please let me know.

Kind regards.  Stay safe.  Carolyn

Hi Carolyn:

Thanks for the futherI information.  It is very useful that you have Mary Toohey's parents' names as Michael Toohey and Ellen Slattery.  You can look them up in the Civil Deaths Index on Irish Genealogy. As you believe that their dates of birth are 1780 or thereabouts, I did see a civil death record index for a Michael Tuohy in 1870 aged 80.  I have attached the screenshot for you.  As to Ellen Slattery Tuohy,  there is a civil death record index for an Ellen Tuohy in 1877 aged 100.  Again, I have attached a screenshot for you.  

If either or both of these parents died before 1864, (and they may have), another angle to research is the graveyards.  

The civil parish of Kilnoe contains these two transcribed graveyards:

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/kilnoe_church_graveyard_bodyke.htm

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/bodyke_church_graveyard.htm

There are both Tuohy headstones and Slattery headstones in the first graveyard.  

Tuamgraney (Tomgraney) has five transcribed graveyards:

You will see them listed at the bottom of this link:

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/index_graves_civil_parish.htm

The first graveyard in Kilnoe contains headstones associated with the Tuohy family in Drummod.  I think that you should definitely look at these.  If you think that there is a connection, come back to me and I will make contact with a local person who might have more knowledge.  

Stay safe and well.

All the best,

Jane

Hi carolyn, 

 John is a family name and I am looking for McNamara's, my dad is from Ireland but it's unclear which part in particular. Can I just ask if any of the McNamara's did not immigrate to Australia and perhaps countinued their family in Ireland. 
 

thank you! And good luck in your search 

Niamh McNamara

Hi carolyn, 

 John is a family name and I am looking for McNamara's, my dad is from Ireland but it's unclear which part in particular but Clare has been mentioned. Can I just ask if any of the McNamara's did not immigrate to Australia and perhaps countinued their family in Ireland. 
 

thank you! And good luck in your search 

Niamh McNamara

Hi Niamh:

What information do you have about your McNamara family?  I too have McNamaras who came from Tulla, County Clare, and there was a John in the family.  Please feel free to add any information to this thread or you can contact me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com.

All the best,

Jane

Hello Carolyn,

I am descended from Dennis McNamara.  Dennis and Mary were the two older children of John McNamara and Mary McNamara Toohey, who ended up in the U.S. with their aunt and uncle.  I had never known what happened to the rest of the family, but according to your post, the other 6 children went to Australia with their mother.  I would love to compare notes with you and try to put together the history of this family!

Thanks,

Mary

Hi Mary.  Have you had your dna done on Ancestry or MyHeritage.  I am on both sites.  So, it would be interesting if we are connected on there.  If you would like to email i am on carolyn.mcpherson1@yahoo.com

Thanks, Carolyn