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I am still looking for parents & siblings of Michael McMahon born about 1845 in Dungannon, Tyrone and died in Victoria Australia in 1912.

He was my Great grandfather.

His parents were Francis McMahon and Ann/Anne Keogh/McKeon or McKeogh. I was told that he migrated to Australia with other siblings in 1865 on the "Donald McKay". He married Mary Ann O'Byrne at Beechworth Victoria in 1871 and had 12 children.

His first 6 children were born at Eldorado, the second 6 were born at Springhurst where he had a land grant. He died of peritonitis at Rutherglen Victoria Australia.

I may have found a brother, Francis James who was born in 1835 & lived in Melbourne where he died in 1918.

If anyone can help it would be much appreciated. After years of looking I have come to a dead end!

Margaret

mickey1945

Wednesday 29th Dec 2021, 05:12AM

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  • Margaret,

    Death registration only started in Ireland in 1864, so if Francis or Ann died before that there’s probably no record. I searched the records 1864 onwards. This was the only Francis death in the Dungannon area that I could fine. A widower who had been a labourer and died in Dungannon workhouse:

    https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1880/06461/4858145.pdf

    If the admission records still exist you might find out a little more about him from them.

    Here’s an Ann McMahon death in 1878. She was a farmer’s wife and they lived in Altaglushan. I haven’t been able to work out who her husband was, though it probably wasn’t a Francis, as I can't find a Francis death to match it.

    https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1878/020515/7199059.pdf

    Dungannon is in the RC parish of Drumgath. Their baptism records start in 1821. I have searched them on Ancestry, but don’t see any mention of Michael or of other children born to Francis & Ann.  Nor did I see there marriage. The records are also viewable free on the nli site, in case you want to check them yourself.

    http://www.nli.ie

    Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

    The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with FTDNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 29th Dec 2021, 07:57AM
  • In Griffith’s Valuation of Tyrone, in 1851, there were four heads of household named Francis McMahon, one in the town of Dungannon:

    *Macmahon Francis Drumcoo-Town Of Dungannon Drumglass Co. Tyrone
    Mcmahon Francis Annagh Beg Carnteel Co. Tyrone
    Mcmahon Francis Corlaghdergan Dromore Co. Tyrone
    Mcmahon Francis Corlaghdergan Dromore Co. Tyrone

    I hope this is helpful.

    Patricia

    Wednesday 29th Dec 2021, 08:18PM

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