Searching for info on John O'Brien born May 3 1847 County Mayo

Joe:

I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find a baptismal record for a John O'Brien in Co. Mayo with the listed parents names. Not all RC parishes in Mayo have records back to 1847.

I tried to search on Ancestry.com but did not get any good leads. Did his parents emigrate to New York with John? Who did John marry? Did he remain in New York?

Roger McDonnell

Thank you Roger.  Very kind of you. No his parents did not emigrate to the US as far as I know. John married Margaret who was born in NY.  He did remain in NY and passed away in 1913.

Thanks for your help

Joe Wissler

Joe,

The following baptism has many similarities to your John--his name, parents' names, month/day of baptism one day after your John's birth.  But, this John was born before yours, in 1838, and not in Mayo.  What do you think? Are you sure about Mayo?

[MOTHER GIVEN AS BIDDY AND SP2 GIVEN AS JUDY]

Hi Patricia,

Thanks so much for looking into this for me.  Although, the similarities are remarkable, the age and location are absolutely incorrect.  John O'Brien was born in 1847 and as far as I can tell, absolutely in County Mayo.  I do appreciate the time and effort you put into checking this.

All good wishes,

Joe

Hi Joe,

Obviously I wasn't sure if it was your John.  But I do know that ages for Irish immigrants vary widelly in the records--census, death, and others.  People in Ireland didn't celebrate birthdays and a lot of them did not know when they were born. And they weren't asked for ID all the time like we are today.

Hi Joe,

Griffith’s Valuation of Mayo in 1857 has one head of household named Lawrence O’Brien:

            O'Brien          Lawerence   Moyhastin    Aghagower   Co. Mayo

You can see the page at askaboutireland.ie.

In the Tithe Applotments, there was:

Bryan Larry  Booterstown   Menon Avenue     Booterstown            Mayo

I hope this helps.

Hi Patricia,

After your message I went back on to Ancestry.com and found that they have updated my origins due to my DNA.  And now pinpoint the Connacht area of Mayo and a few other areas of Ireland including Kilkenny.  And the more I think about it the more I agree that the year of birth could be wrong for so many reasons.  1847 is the year listed on his gravestone but I concede it could be incorrect for just the reasons you suggested.

Thank you so much for all your hard work and time.  I am grateful for the effort you have made on my behalf.  

All good wishes,

Joe Wissler

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WM8-DNL Death of John O'Brien born 3/5/1847, died  6/6/1913.

Hi Joe,

I can't begin to count the number of headstones, census records, death records, etc., I have seen that have the wrong  age on them.  One of the headaches of doing Irish genealogy.  Anyway, it's very interesting that Ancestry now has you with ancestors in Kilkenny. 

Griffith’s Valuation of Kilkenny, 1849-1850, lists the following Lawrence Brien/Bryans as heads of household (from rootsireland.ie).  You can see more detail at askaboutireland.ie.

Griffith  Brien      Lawrence            Mungan               Rower   Co. Kilkenny       

Griffith  Brien      Lawrence            T/thomastown/chapel Lane         Thomastown      Co. Kilkenny

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Gardens/grange Road     St. Canices          Co. Kilkenny       

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Castletown         Whitechurch       Co. Kilkenny       

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Town Of Callan South/bridge Street          Callan    Co. Kilkenny

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Moanamought Commons             Callan    Co. Kilkenny       

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Derrylacky           Derrynahinch      Co. Kilkenny       

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            T/goresbridge/barrowmount Road            Grangesilvia        Co. Kilkenny              

Griffith  Bryan     Lawrence            Roachpond/walkin Street Lower St. Marys             Co. Kilkenny

From the Tithe Applotment Books...

Thank you for all your help everyone.  It is very much apprciated.

Joe Wissler