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Seeking lead on John O'Riley / Reilly Birth record for 03 FEB 1818 in County Cavan.

Seeking lead on marriage record with Anna Littlefield (DOB 1820) in County Cavan(?) circa 1839-1842.

Seeking source guidance for 1750-1850 records. I continue to work through Griffith's Valuation with variations in surnames, first names and spouses.

John's Civil War Discharge listed Lavey, County Cavan, Ireland as the place of his birth.

John O'Riley/Reilly is believed to be the son of Philip Reilly (O'Riley) DOB 1797 and Honora Higgins (1797-1880).

This is based on an 1873 letter to an uncle from the daughter of Matthew Riley 1825-1885 of Troy, NY, who is the brother of Philip Reilly.

Matthew immigrated about 1840-1850 from County Cavan with Mary Riley DOB 1831 from County Cavan.

Philip's parents were John and Jane Riley (typical Cavan names). 

I have been unable to confirm the information on anyone before 1843 except for John O'Riley and Anna Littlefield in the US Territorial Census of 1840 and a Church Centennial Record history of the first catholic mass at John O'Riley's cabin in Wisconsin in 1843

Seeking source

William D Riley

Friday 8th May 2020, 08:49PM

Message Board Replies

  • William:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not locate the marriage record for John O'Reilly and Anna Littlefield. Also did not find baotismal reocrds for any children of Philip O'Reilly and Honora Higgins. The problem is likely because Lavey RC records do not begin until 1867. Older records were destroyed, lost etc.

    I looked at the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Lavey civil parish and there were three Philip Reilly records. Presuming your Philip did not emigrate, die before 1855 and was leasing land, he could be one of the three listed  https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/cavan/lavey.htm

    You show Honora Higgins Reilly's year of death as 1880. Did she die in America or Ireland? If she died in Ireland, we may be able to locate a death record

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Saturday 9th May 2020, 02:37PM

  • Thank you for the response. This provides several leads for further investigation.

    What local resources or contacts could I make to get closer to an answer?

    William

    William D Riley

    Saturday 9th May 2020, 03:58PM

  • William:

    Civil registration of deaths started in 1864. For deaths from 1864-1877 only index records are available at the free Irish government site www.irishgenealogy.ie   For deaths from 1878-1969 the site has the actual image of the death record. Lavey parish is in the Cavan registration district (FYI there are seven different registration districts that cover part of Co. Cavan). I see a Honora Reilly death index record in 1872 who was age 80.

    NameHONORA REILLYDate of Death1876Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg AreaCavanDeceased Age at Death80Returns Year1876Returns Quarter2Returns Volume No8Returns Page No76

    Honora Reilly was a common name so it could have been another person. Eventually, the site will be updated to include the images of deaths from 1864-1877 but we don't know when. You can write to Ireland to get a copy of the record for a fee but again the record may be for someone else.

    Finding records of people in sources other than Griffiths and death records is difficult. There are no surviving censuses until 1901.

    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Saturday 9th May 2020, 05:29PM

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