My 4th great-grandparents were Felix Connolly (born about 1805) and his wife Sarah McElroy (born about 1815). They had two children in Ireland, Mary & James, both born around 1840. They immigrated to Rhode Island between 1840 and 1845. I found a possible ship passenger list for them, which oddly lists Sarah with her maiden name. In Rhode Island, Felix & Sarah had six more children: Patrick, Felix, Ann, John, William, and Catharine.
I have several DNA matches connected through who I believe to be Sarah's sister, Mary McElroy (born about 1810). Mary's gravestone says that she was from Clogher, Tyrone. Besides that, I have no other information about Sarah, although I found a possible death record in Rhode Island for her that lists her parents names as John & Ann.
Felix and Sarah are both basically untraceable before arriving to the U.S. I have not been able to find birth records for either Mary or James in Ireland, nor a marriage record for Felix and Sarah in either Ireland or Rhode Island. I would love to know more about their lives in Ireland, although I understand that the records are sparse during that time so the chances may be slim.
Monday 3rd Jun 2024, 12:06AM
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If the McIlroys were from Clogher, Tyrone then baptismal records will not be available since they start in 1856. Marriage records start earlier (1826) but there is a 4 1/2 year gap between 1835 and 1840 which is the likely time period for the marriage of Felix and Sarah. See index from the National Library of Ireland
https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0296
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 3rd Jun 2024, 10:51PM