OBrien research

Kevin:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I checked on Roots Ireland and they had ten John Brien/O'Brien baptismal records in the 1830s in Co. Waterford with parents John and Mary. Three were in 1838. None of the baptisms was in Clonea/Rathcormack parish. So I think we have hit a brick wall without more info such as his mother Mary's last name.

Have you taken any DNA tests yet?

Roger McDonnell

Roger,

   Thanks for the quick reply!. I only found out that John's parents names were John and Mary last year when I found his death certificate. So I have no other information on them which is why I am still looking. John and Catherine Kirwan had their first so, also John, baptised in St Ann Fews Feb 22nd, 1860 in Waterford and Lismore Parish in Kilrossanty. Second son was Patrick baptised on Apr 2nd, 1862 in Stradbury Church in in Waterford and Lismore Diocese. Third son Edward Mar 28, 1865 in the same Church. My Granfather Martin baptized Apr 28th, 1869 . John's wife Catherine Kirwan and the Kirwan family look like they were born in Mothel & Rathgormack Parish in Waterford County. That's about all I have.

   As for DNA I took the Ancestry test a fews years ago and have no close matches with an O'Brien surname. The only close matches are 2nd and 3rd cousins in the US and they don't look like O'Brien's but McBrides and Conahan's. I did the match with "The O'Brien's) DNA and have all the same but 2 and the estimated match to Brian Boru 40 generations ago. So not much there for me.

I do have a picture of John from about 1880 that I attached and its the only one I have.

Any and all help are gratly appreciated. Thanks again and have a good night.

Kevin O'Brien

Kevin:

You can add John's story and excellent picture to our XO Chronicles site  https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…;  and maybe someone will recognize the family. I would upload your raw Ancedtry DNA data to a volunteer run site called Gedmatch www.gedmatch.com   This is a free site which will aloow you to see if you have matches with people who tested with another DNA company (and also loaded their data to Gedmatch). It expands your matching pool.

Roger

Hello Kevin,

Hope you're keeping well.

I see from his birth record (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1869/03392/2244114.pdf) that your grandfather was born in Millerstown, a small townland about three miles from Stradbally village.

I'm involved with the Stradbally Photographic Archive, a community project gathering photographs of local people and places. We publish a photograph every week in the local newspapers. By any chance would you be interested in us publishing the photograph of your great-grandfather, perhaps with a little bit of information about him? No strain if you'd prefer not. My email is cianflaherty96@gmail.com

Best wishes,

Cian