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My cousin and I are planning to come to Ireland at the end of May or in September and we would like to have some more information about our great grandfather Daniel Joseph O'Neill and his wife, Mary Driscoll. According to Mary's tombstone she was from County Clare, but we are not sure if Daniel was from there or not. His death certificate only says he was born in Ireland. I haven't been able to find a birth or baptismal certificate for either one. According to the 1910 and 1920 US Census, Daniel immigrated to the US in 1864 or 1867 and Mary in 1869, in the 1900 US Census.

My great grandfather's parent's names are unknown, whereas my great granmother's parents were listed as Ellen Herbert and Patrick Driscoll, on her death certificate. They were married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 1870 and had their first child, Catherine, while living there. A subsequent move to San Francisco saw the arrival of 6 additional children, one of whom, Synon, died at age 5. The names of the other children were John Thomas, Mary Ellen, Daniel Joseph Jr., Margaret Elizabeth and James William. 

I would very much like to know where my grandfather was born, who his parents were, what they did for a living, if he had any siblings and where he lived (town, farm, etc). My father mentioned that Daniel might have had a brother who immigrated to Australia, but he didn't remember his name. I would also like to have more/similar information about my great grandmother. Would love to be able to go back even further and discover who my other ancestors were. I know the O'Neil clan was from Ulster, but don't have the lineage going back that far. 

Any information you can provide will be most appreciated!!  Thank you. Roberta O'Neill

Irishlass

Tuesday 5th Apr 2022, 02:11AM

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  • Irish Lad,

    Civil records in Ireland are from January 1st 1864. Church records vary and can be from c1800 to 1864. Many rural parishes do not have records prior to c1870.

    I attach records of Griffith's Valuation taken in Kilrush c1854 and printed in1855. It is a free site  www.askaboutireland.ie/Griffith's Valuation.

    The records have a Sinon O'Neill in Pound Street and a Patrick Driscoll in Russell's Lane. The first name "Sinon"/Synon" is fairly common in West Clare. The name is from St. Senan of Scattery Island in the Shannon estuary There is nothing to indicate that those two men are part of your family. The surname O'Neill is quite common in County Clare. There are a number of Driscoll's in the area from Ennis to Kilrush. You might consult with your relatives in the USA as to what they know abiout the family.

    You should check the US census from 1800 and note if the birth years for both Patrick and Ellen contain a regular pattern.

    Credit: www.askaboutireland.ie  and  www.findmypast.ie - Subscription site

    Regards,

    McCoy

    Tuesday 5th Apr 2022, 02:02PM

  • Irish Lad:

    The subscription site FindMyPast has a January 25 1849 baptismal record for a Michael Driscal with parents Pat Driscal and Ellen Herbert. The RC parish was Kilmurry Ibricken in Co. Clare. The family lived in Craggaknock townland in Kilmurry civil parish. There are two Craggaknocks-East and West but they would border each other. https://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634719#page/159/mode/1up

    Not sure why other baptismal records did not show up. You may want to search the parish register  https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0785

    I did not find a marriage record.

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 5th Apr 2022, 04:05PM

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