My parental grandmother, Margaret, Came to the United States in the late 1890s. Here she married Thomas Bergin and they lived in Brooklyn New York. I have Margaret's birth certificate and it looks like she was born August 1, 1875 near Ballyhaunis. The birth certificate list her parents as Thomas Rielly (sp?) and Margaret (Waldron) Rielly. The certificate says they lived in Holywell. I've been to Ireland a number of times and been through the Ballyhaunis area. There seems to be a small cross roads a few miles out of town that the maps listed as lower Holywell. I am looking for help in trying to track down any information about her parents and birthplace. Would love to hear from someone who has any information. Thank you.
Tommy B.
Friday 4th Mar 2022, 09:50PMMessage Board Replies
-
Thomas Reilly and Margaret Waldron had at least 7 children, according to RootsIreland.
Reiley Catherine 1859 Co. Mayo
Honor 1860 Co. Mayo
Reilly Patrick 1865 Co. Mayo
Riely Mary 1867 Co. Mayo
Riely Michael 1869 Co. Mayo
Rielly Ellen 1872 Co. Mayo
Reilly Margaret 1875 Co. MayoThe family lived in the townland of Holywell. See here:
https://www.townlands.ie/mayo/costello/annagh/ballyhaunis/holywell-uppe…
I hope this is helpful.
Patricia
Friday 4th Mar 2022, 10:21PM -
Patricia,
thank you for the information you provided. It dovetails nicely with bits and pieces of information we received about 10 years ago from a Father Steve Farragher in Ballyhaunis.
I'm going to assume that you are a volunteer researcher who lives in the Ballyhaunis area. If so, maybe you can clear up a couple of further questions I have about this family. You are using RootsIreland as the source. Do you have any idea when this data was compiled? From where, church records?
On the maps I don't see a townland called Holywell. I see a Holywell Upper and a Holywell Lower. Are they all one and the same? I know there are many holy wells in Ireland and I wonder if I would be able to locate the Holywell supposedly in the north end of this town land that's called Saint patrick's well.
based on the information you provided about the family and their ages, I can only assume the Thomas Rielly and Margaret Waldron would probably have been born in the 1830s or thereabouts. Is it correct to assume that there will be no records of their births or marriage available? If there are where might I find them even if that meant visiting the area and looking through church records.
You've opened up the rabbit hole and I am willing to climb down into it. Again, thanks for your help with this matter. It's nice to know there are people like you who are willing to take on the task. Tommy Bergin
Tommy B.
Sunday 6th Mar 2022, 09:13PM