Searching for Ancestors at Ballylongford, Parish Aghavallen

Noeleen:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The transcriptions of the baptismal records for Ann and Michael show Dargan for the maiden name of the mother. See record for Ann below. Do you know if Ann and Michael stayed in the area? 

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

Roger McDonnell

Area - KERRY (RC) , Parish/Church/Congregation - BALLYLONGFORD

Baptism of ANN CONNOR of BALLYLONGFORD on 5 July 1864

NameANN CONNORDate of Birth5 July 1864 (BASED ON OTHER DATE INFORMATION)AddressBALLYLONGFORDFatherJOHN CONNORMotherANN DARGAN

Further details in the record

Father OccupationNRSponsor 1FRANCIS ROCHESponsor 2JOHANNA ROACHEPriestREV.J.FITZGERALD

I have learnt in researching that the spelling of names comes down to the literacy of the writer. Anne's name was actually Durkin I believe. On Michaels actual birth certificate, you can actually see that Durkin is clearly spelt. The same with her daughter Ann. Her birth certificate says Durkin. I haven't been able to trace if Anne was actually Irish herself. It says on their marriage cert from India that she was European and a spinster. Apparently over there they used to call the Irish European. And oddly enough I just had the DNA test last week, here in Australia. They say it takes 2 weeks. I honestly don't know what happened once they returned to Ballylongford. I am currently investigating The first daughter Alice, as it is too much of a coincidence that an Alice Connor got married in India with the same birth year and a John Connor attended the wedding. My great grandmother who turned up in New Zealand gave her name as Agnes Bridget O;Connor. But because they were RC, she could have taken a name of a saint. I can't work out whether it is Bridget, as it is her birth date a particulars on the marriage certificate, or Agnes giving Bridget's birth date. A bit of a mystery to be sure.  On some of her children's birth certs from New Zealand say Connor.

I also should have said that according to his Military file he was a weaver.

Noeleen:

Hope your DNA tests gives you some close matches on this line. I have tested with Ancestry and Family Tree DNA and also posted my data to Gedmatch  www.gedmatch.com   I have had some breakthrus with DNA matches.

Roger 

I am quite excited about what the results will show. Would you mind telling me why you chose to have a second DNA done. Did they show the same or different. 

Noeleen:

I tested with two companies to expand my match pool. Most people only test with one company so if they don't also upload their data to Gedmatch, I would never find them.

The ethnicity data was the same on both tests. I came out at 98% Irish on one and 99 % on the other. They have different algorithms for ethnicity.

Once you get your matches, you contact the close ones to try to determine which line you are connected to. Don't be surprised if you don't get responses from some of your matches.

Roger

Hi Roger,

Just thought Imwould let you know I received my first DNA test back. It says 80% British & Irish. I was so excited. I also had a DNA test done with Family Tree, just to see if they match. It's a relief to know that all my research for Ireland was right. 

Noeleen:

Great news! Hope you have some fairly close matches.

Roger