Share This:

I recently discovered that my paternal great-grandfather Martin Collins (b. ~1820, Ireland) was married to a Sabina McCue (b. ~1830, Ireland) before he was married to my great-grandmother Margaret Smith (b. 1840, New York). Since I know so little about Martin's life/death and even less about Margaret's, I'm hoping that if I find information about Sabina, I might find out more about my GGF. I don't know exactly when either Martin or Sabina emigrated to America (there are 7 or 8 Martin Collinses who appear on immigration records in the early 1850s who were about the right age) and I can't find any record of Sabina's emigration to America at all. I do know that by 1853 they were both in Indiana, USA, where they were married in Shelbyville, Shelby Co, Indiana, on 11 Oct 1853. They had at least three children (Bridget, b. 1854, John, b. 1856, and Catherine/Katherine, b. ~1860-62. I grew up knowing that Katherine was my dad's aunt, but when I started working on my family tree, I became aware that she was born at least 2 (and maybe more) years before Martin married my GGM Margaret. I never heard of Bridget or John or any other siblings and I doubt my dad was aware of them. (Dad's mother died when he was a little over a year old and his dad, my grandfather William Collins, gave the children away, so Dad knew little about his biological family.) Anyway, I haven't been able to find out what happened to Sabina. Did she die? Were they divorced? Seems unlikely because I know they were Catholic. And my GGF Martin is just as elusive—I've only found him on three official records: the 1870 census in Shelbyville, by which time he was married to Margaret, and all of the children are there—Bridget, Johnny, and Katie from Sabina and Martin, Michael, 2 yrs old, and Margaret, a baby from the marriage to Margaret. I presume Michael and baby Margaret died young; and the two marriage records—the one to Sabina and the marriage registration dated 22 Jun 1864, also in Shelby Co, IN, for his marriage to Margaret. He doesn't appear on any other census and I haven't found a death certificate. Same for GGM Margaret. They both lived at least long enough for my grandfather William Collins to be born in 1876, and he was the youngest of the 3 children I know of. My fervent wish is to someday find out where in Ireland Martin was from, and in finding information about Sabina it's just possible that might lead me to more info about him. Since they both wound up in Indiana, which wasn't a place that most immigrants from Ireland went to, I'm thinking it's possible they might have known each other or at least each other's families back in Ireland. Any information will be gratefully received. Thanks.
 

jmazzeo

Saturday 8th May 2021, 10:55PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hello jmazzeo, well here is a task indeed: I have searched hundreds of records for Collins however I have not been able to find one record of a McCue born 1830 or 20 years either side.. I have looked through Roots.ie; Find my Past; Ancestry; and National Archives of Ireland. I have also looked for the name in the Griffiths Land Registry books and it appears to be that McCue is not an Irish name ; I wonder if it is Scotland?

    Collins is extremely common name here and around the world,  it is sad that you have so much informationa and yet you have no leads 

    I will keep looking but should you find anything which will help, please do come back to us. Well come back also to let us know if you do manage a find, we would be delighted for you.

    My name is Jennifer Jean and I am a volunteer with IrelandXo; you can find me by e-mail:-  killeedy1@irelandxo.com

    Good Luck in your quest for information

    Killeedy1 Limerick, Volunteer Ireland Reaching Out ☘️

    Sunday 9th May 2021, 12:11AM
  • Thanks, Jennifer, for responding! I'm going to upload a couple of documents so you can see what I have, just in case anyone else might see them and know something. If you prefer, in the future I can contact you directly through your email.

    What I have:

    • 1853 marriage record for Martin Collins and Sabina McCue in Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IN
    • 1860 US Census in Decatur Co IN showing Martin and Sabina with children Bridget, John, and Catharine
    • 1934 death cert for Catherine Campbell (her second marriage) lists her mother's name as "Winnie" and as being from Ireland. This confused me, since Martin's 2nd wife (my GGM) was Margaret, who was definitely not from Ireland, and I never heard of the other children. But it makes sense, because Katherine was born at least 2 years before Martin married my GGM Margaret, and although not unheard of, it doesn't seem to be the most logical explanation
    • 1870 US Census showing Martin now with Margaret (they married in 1864), with children Bridget, Johny, Katie, plus Martin (this is my great uncle Martin F. Collins, b. 1866 so the age is right), and 2-yr-old Michael and baby Margaret, who most likely died young because there's no mention of them again.

    Don't know if these will help, but you never know. THANK YOU!

     

    jmazzeo

    Sunday 9th May 2021, 11:04PM

Post Reply