Mathew Sullivan/Matthew O'Sullivan of Shronebeha, Banteer, County Cork, Ireland.

Dear Mary-Ellen:

Thank you for your query.

The Roots Ireland record that you refer to of 1832 is from the parish of Donoughmore which is adjacent to Banteer.  I also looked at the Census Form which stated the age of 76.  Sometimes the writing is not clear and numbers can be taken either way.  Having said that, I know that ages were often wrong--either given incorrectly or taken down incorrectly and it would seem that this may have been the case.  Have you looked for a death record for his wife?  That would also help to tie in with the same person as well as baptism/birth records for his children. 

The death record (I'm assuming Civil death record) can be wrong as the information given is not accurate.  Many mistakes are on the death records.  I would take it as your ancestor unless you come across other information that can be confirmed/denied.

I hope that this is of some help.

Kind regards,

Jane.

Hi Jane,,

Thank-you for your reply. The baptismal records for his Children are all in The Roman Cathlic Church of Banteer, the civil registrations for these births are in the registration district of Kanturk and they were all living in Shronebeha at that time from 1873 to 1890. Julia O'Callaghan my great grandmother and his second wife whom he married in 1879 was also a resident of Knockeenatuder on the civil Marriage record. Julia was baptized in 1846 in Dromtarriffe, Cork and  she died before 1901 in the census records. The civil death record at this stage I will not be able to locate easily as all the free access records are not her and Julia O'Callaghan/Callaghan was a very common name in the reistration district of Kanturk. I would have to pay for evey possible death record in the registration district of Kanturk that has no free access. My uncle Matthew O'Sullivan is buried in  Saint Fursey's cemetery and his last address was Egmont Place, Kanturk. The death record is my great grandfather as he died at Shronebeha and Nora/Honorah O'Sullivan my great aunt was present at his death. I had a look at when Saint Fursey's was built and it was in 1828. I have also found a record for a John Sullivan baptized in Glantane, Co Cork in 1835 with parents Mathew Sullivan and Mary Sweny my grandfather was born John Sullivan in 1888, but according to my uncle he was the youngest. The first child was born to Mathew Sullivan and Ellen Callaghan named Ellen O'Sullivan in 1875 after that they were all children of Mathew Sullivan and Julia Callaghan. Second born Mary 1879, Nora 1881, Mathew 1883, Jeremiah 1884, Cornelius baptized 1884 and born 1889 in US records, Denis baptized 1884 (is all I can find on him except census and later marriage) and John 1888. I found yesterday after my first post another record that has caused me to think another possibliity, it is for Mathew Sullivan baptized 1829 in Greenane in the parish of Kanturk to a Mathew Sullivan and Mary Clifford. The last name of Clifford is not supported well by my DNA results at this stage, but I do match to some peolpe with their ancestors as Sweeney, but that could be coming from the Buckley's my grandmother's line. The only record I can find from Donoughmore in 1832 is for Mathew Sullivan baptized 17/04/1832 to a Mathias Sullivan and Mary Murphy of course this could be a possibility, but looks a little further away than the other two records. The record I first found for Mathew Sullivan in Banteer Parish has no residence, it was dated 4 Sep 1832 Mathew Sullivn with parents Mathew Sullivn and Mary Sweeny, witnesses John Porter and Johanna Sweeny, there is a Thomas Porter as a witness on the 1835 record in Glantane for a John Sullivan with parents Mathew Sullivan and Mary Sweny. I am thinking on circumstantial evidence it is highly likey my great great grandmother was Mary Sweeny as I match to two peolpe with relatives from Glantane but of course they are a little distant. Murphy is a very common name so of course I match to people who have Murphy ancestors.                                        

Once again thank-you for your reply, I think I've just about put every thought down, I might just have to lake a leap.

Regards

Mary-Ellen 

Dear Mary-Ellen:

Thanks for that information.  I would tend to agree with you particularly with the DNA that if you are showing matches to particular locations, they can be a good indicaiton of where your ancestors came from.  Personally, my Sullivans (some of them!) came from Dromtariffe parish too, which as you correctly noted is full of Sullivans. 

One thing that I will say about the DNA testing (and this is a personal opinion) is that I have found it very helpful with Gedmatch (if your results are on that site) to see what others match your Sullivan matches.  That can really narrow down results--particularly with very common surnames. 

If you want to discuss this further with me, please email me at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com.

Kind regards,

Jane.

Hi Jane,

I will do that and thank-you once again.

Regards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Margy-Ellen        

Mary Ellen,

there is an article in the Mallow Field Journal 2018 called 'Life in Viscount Lismores Banteer Estate'. In the article there is a piece on the lives of Matthew Sullivan and his family and a letter that his daughter Nora wrote to the land agent is quoted. If you contact Jane she will pass on your email and I will arrange for a copy of the article to be forwarded to you. Alternatively, if you like you can contact the jounal secretary Charles Mortell @ cmortell@eircom.net. The letters come from the Looney papers in UL reference P43/287 https://www.ul.ie/library/looney-papers. Unfortunately the library is closed at present. I can tell you that Julia O Callaghan Sullivan was desceased by 1894 if that helps in your search

kind regards

Margaret

PS this is Julia's death record https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1890/06101/4741212.pdf

Hi Margaret,

 Thank you for confirming Julia O'Callaghan's death record. I had thought that was it through process of elimination but had no other record to confirm this was the case.

I would love it if Jane could organise to forward the article 'Life in the Viscount Lismore Banteer Estate'. How do I go about contacting Jane. I am vey excited to hear this news.

Kind regards

Mary-Ellen Gallard

Hi again Margaret,

I just noticed Jane's email on an earlier message, so assuming that has not changed I will contact her via that email.

Kind regards

Mary-Ellen Gallard

Hi Mary-Ellen:

I have replied to your email. 

All the best,

Jane

Hi Jane,

Thank you I look forward to seeing that article. 

Regards

Mary-Ellen

Mary-Ellen,

I am just wondering do you know what happened to Nora Sullivan? Did she stay in Ireland or emigrate? Did she get married? 

many thanks

Margaret

Hi Margaret,

Nora Sullivan maaried John Foley in1919 in Clomneen. I have found a birth record for their daughter Bridget Mary Foley in Millstrret at Rootsireland.ie and I know she married a Michael Murphy in Dromtarriffe in 1959 as it states that on the records notes. I remember my relatives talking about a Biddy Foley and I now know that was Bridget Mary Foley. From my research Nora died in the Millstreet District Hospital in 1922.

Kind regards

Mary-Ellen 

Hi Margaret,

Sorry I just noticed my bad typing I'm sure you can see my mistakes. I do need some sleep. Thank you for your help and I look forward to finding out more soon.

Kind regards

Mary-Ellen

Hi again Margaret,

I just remembered I don't think I mentioned my great grandfather's Mathew Sullivan/Matthew O'Sullivan's  father's in law were both named Cornelius Callaghan, one living in Cahir  his first wife's father and the other from Knockeenatuder my great, great grandfather Cornelius Callaghan born about 1816 and died in 1901 in Knockeenatuder, Clonmeen, County Cork, Ireland.

Regards

Mary-Ellen

Hi Mary Ellen,thank you for your reply. I was wondering what happened to Nora , thank you for letting me know. That is interesting that you have a Cahir connection- so do I however it is much more recent than yours. The name Cornelius Callaghan appears to have been a very common one.

Best Wishes

Margaret