The Morgans of Rathvilly, Carlow

The 1901 census has James birth in Wicklow.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Carlow/Rathvilly/Rathvilly_Village/1038306/

Searching LDS site

https://familysearch.org/

I found a James Morgan marriage and an Ellen Fagan marriage Devlin March qtr 1883 Ref 3 -144. Pages in the register can have up to 4 couples on it. The chances are this is your couple, but to be sure you need to get a photocopy of the original entry, which will give the names of both fathers as well as place of residence of bride and groom.

http://www.groireland.ie/

You can download marriage application and return by FAX. Remember to tick Photocopy box rather than Full certificate, and quote ref. Devlin, March qtr 1883 3-144.

Devlin is in Westmeath.

Bob Graham (County Fermanagh XO)

Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for your help. I will certainly chase up James & Ellen's marriage certificate. 

Best wishes,

Marea Whitley

Hi Marea

I believe we may be related because looking at your first posting your grandmother Mary Morgan was my dad's elder sister. I was named after him, Leo and at Christmas time we always got cards from our Australian relatives Pat Cahill and if I remember his wife was named Gloria. You have named 5 of the children above but Susan and my dad came after Ellen or Aunt Lill as we knew her, dad would have been 5 when Mary left in 1913, he was only a few months old when my grandfather James Morgan died.

I have been researching the Morgan family myself and got back as far as my great-grandmother and children. Aunt Lill always used to say that my brother Jimmy (James) was the 7th generation of Morgan called James. So hopefully we can exchange some family history. I hope to go over to Ireland next year and check over a few headstones and parish records. I think the Morgans did settle around Donard in Co. Wicklow there is a James Morgan in the Griffiths Valuation 1848-1864 along with a John, Patrick and Thomas Morgan.

Hi Leo,

Thank you so much for contacting me. It is very difficult tracing your Irish family history from here in Australia and it is wonderful to hear from a relative. 

Yes, my grandmother, Mary Morgan, had two more siblings, Susan and Leo, that I haven't mentioned in my post - I can't think why I forgot to put them in - maybe I was just so excited to find this website! My mother, Eileen, has a studio photo of her uncle Leo as a young man. And from memory, she met him on her first visit to Ireland in the 1980s, but I can't be 100% sure about that. I will ask her. On that visit she was with her brother, (my uncle), Pat. I believe Pat's wife Gloria came on the next visit in the 1990s.

So you are my mother's cousin. We were in Ireland in 2011 and met with some of mum's Morgan cousins. What a shame we didn't get to see you! We saw Kathleen who still lives in Rathvilly with her husband, and I was overjoyed to walk the streets and see the fields where my grandmother grew up.

I didn't have time to do any family history research while in Ireland but desperately want to get back and spend time researching the family. I have met a brick wall with James Morgan and Ellen. I purchased the wedding certificate of a James Morgan & Ellen Fagan, but am still not sure these are our ancestors. I purchased Ellen's death certificate and it told me nothing. I tried to purchase James' death certificate only to be told there is no record of his death. Which is ridiculous because I have the photo you have attached of his headstone which I took while in Rathvilly. Maybe the church at Rathvilly is the only way to get this info. I would love to have any information you have on both James and Ellen. Are you on Ancestry.com? If so we can connect there.

There is a Robert Morgan from the US who has contacted me who is also tracing his Morgan ancestors from Dunlaven. He is a descendent of a Thomas Morgan who may be the one you mention in your message. Not sure if he is or isn't related but his email is rjmorgan69@aol.com I am sure he would love to hear from you. 

I attach the info I have so far on the Morgans, not that it has done me any good, but maybe you can sift something from it.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

I will tell my mother. She will be absolutely thrilled that you have contacted me.

Marea

.

Hi Marea

I am delighted you got back to me and sent so much information which I still have to digest. What I have looked at tell me that the Morgans you have looked at are the wrong branch. James Morgan my grandfather your ggrandfather in the 1901 census stated he was IC (church of Ireland) Ellen his wife was named Smyth and she filled in the 1911 census.Now at that time to be married outside the faith (RC) was a stigma. Grandfather was a postman who brought the post from Baltinglass to Rathvilly, Aunt Lill said as much as did daddy. The Morgan's of Baltinglass were shoemakers and had a small shop, I was told that by people when I worked in Baltinglass in the 1960's, and granduncle Joe was the last of the shoemakers. He had a brother John and a sister Honore his mother's name was Mary, all CoI. They are buried in Baltinglass cemetery. Joe my brother confirmed this because a council worker told him he had been out cleaning up the graves in Baltinglass cemetery and there was a lot of Morgans buried there but they couldn't belong to us as they were all protestants. My brother said more than likely they were on our grandfather's side. Aunt Lill told me that uncle Jimmy had buried granduncle Joe, the last of the cobblers and stopped along the way to help himself to refreshments. So I think I am on the right track from my internet research but need to verify it all by checking out graves and church ledgers.I am attaching the 1901, 1911 census forms from Rathvilly and Baltinglass. Note the Peter Barrett Census which was witnessed by grandfather, Peter Barrett was grandmother's uncle. Your grandmother Mary is not residing at home but is working with Margaret Lawler she is only 14 years of age. BTW all the children of James & Ellen were brought up as RC.

Next time I'll attach the 1911 census and G/father's death certificate.

Regards Leo

Hi Marea

I know I sent you quite a bit of information on James and Ellen Morgan my grandparents but I left out one item which shows the relationship with Peter Barrett and grandmother- who was his niece-so I am attaching it now. Had to shrink it to fit hope you can make it out.

Regards

Leo Morgan