Good morning!
Forgive me for such a lengthy post. My hope is that detailing all my research and needs as clearly and completely as possible will help you better understand the connections, more easily identify which records I may need, and, crucially, avoid performing duplicate research. If you read through this whole thing, you are a treasure. I truly appreciate any help, and I welcome any questions you might have!
My great-x2 grandfather, James J. Traynor, was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in the 1860s. Trying to figure out his point of origin and establish other members of his family has been a journey of twists and turns, but I feel like I'm finally on the brink of a breakthrough. Although I believe I have found several of his family members—these people are all over each other's records, lived in many of the same cities, and even baptized at the same churches—the trouble is that I'm lacking much of the definitive documentation that would prove the exact relationship. I believe that Irish records may hold some of the keys. I'm hopeful that, by posting here, someone may be able to help me solidify these connections with documentation. What is missing? What else is out there that can help me prove (or disprove) these connections?
I believe that James J. Traynor's family may come from Dunlavin in Co. Wicklow and Ballymore Eustace in Co. Kildare. Unfortunately, several of the scans available online for the years that James's family would have lived there (1840s-1850s) are virtually illegible; as such, many of these records don't even appear in the indices on RootsIreland, Ancestry, and similar sites. I'm not sure if there's a way to hire a researcher to go through the original records, but, if there is, I'd certainly explore that option.
I believe that James J. Traynor is the son of Michael Traynor and Anna Cooney/Coonan. I can prove that he has one sister, Elizabeth Traynor, but I believe he has at least one additional sister, Bridget Traynor, and potentially a brother, Michael Traynor. I also believe he had two relatives (possibly cousins) named Bridget Coonan/Cooney and Hugh Coonan/Cooney, whom I believe are sister and brother.
Also tricky is the fact that there's a Michael Traynor and an Anna Costello who were apparently living in the same area of Ireland, so I have to be diligent to keep their records separate from Michael Traynor and Anna Cooney/Coonan. (Why can't anything be easy?)
First, I'll list some basic information about these people, including some information I can prove from various records. Afterward, I will post a more detailed timeline showing how/why I think everyone is connected. I hope that the basic info up top will help serve as a guide for who these people are and how they're connected.
THE PLAYERS
1. James J. Traynor (my great-x2 grandfather)
Born: 1840s-1850s in Ireland
Arrived in US: 1860s
Wife: Hannah Mangan
Children: James J., Mary A., Anna, Michael, Elizabeth C., Thomas, Catherine V., Joseph F., and John E. Traynor
2. Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner (James J. Traynor's confirmed sister)
Born: 1850s-1860s "near Dublin," Ireland
Arrived in US: 1860s-1870s
Husband: Albert J. Brunner
Children: Anna M. and Catherine Brunner
3. Bridget M. (Traynor) Rountree (James J. Traynor's suspected sister) ***my father and I both have THREE 3rd-4th cousin DNA matches to descendants of Bridget (Traynor) Rountree
Born: 1840s-1850s in Ireland
Arrived in US: 1860s
Husband: Patrick J. Rountree
Children: Bernard J., Michael F., Peter A., Anna, Elizabeth, Joseph A., and Mary T. Rountree
4. Michael Traynor (James J. Traynor's suspected brother or other relative)
Born: 1840s in Ireland (or, according to one record, 1820s in Ireland)
Arrived in US: 1860s
Wife: Anna C. Brannan
Children: John B. and Rosanna C. Traynor
5. Michael Traynor and Anna Coonan/Cooney (James J. Traynor's suspected parents)
6. Bridget (Coonan/Cooney) Brady (James J. Traynor's suspected relative)
Born: 1840s-1850s near Dunlavin, Wicklow, Ireland
Arrived in US: 1870s
Husband: James Brady
Children: Elizabeth, James F., Rosella A., Mary A., John J. Thomas, and Margaret C. Brady
7. Hugh Coonan/Cooney (James J. Traynor's suspected relative)
Arrived in US: before 1881
WHAT I'M HOPING TO PROVE OR FIND:
- Confirm the exact relationship between James, Elizabeth, Michael, and Bridget Traynor
- Confirm James Traynor's parents and, if possible, discover any additional siblings or family
- Locate baptismal record for Elizabeth Traynor
- Confirm James's place of origin in Ireland (believed to be Dunlavin and/or Ballymore Eustace)
- Confirm Bridget Coonan and Hugh Coonan (or Cooney)'s exact relationship
A TIMELINE OF MY EVIDENCE (people of note are bolded - I have only included records that actively help to build the connections)
May 6, 1842: Michael Traynor and Anna Coonan marry in Ballymore Eustace, Kildare, Ireland. Witnesses: Patrick Coonan, Judith Hagerty. (Source: RootsIreland/NLI)
February 9, 1845: James Traynor, son of Michael and Anne Traynor, is baptized in Dunlavin, Wicklow, Ireland. Witnesses: Patrick Tuomy, Judith Nolan. (Source: RootsIreland/NLI - record is illegible to me, so I'm going by the index)
May 6, 1845: Bridget Coonan, daughter of Patrick and Ellen Coonan, is baptized in Ballymore Eustace, Kildare, Ireland. Witnesses: John Toomy, Catherine Traynor. (Source: RootsIreland/NLI)
November 8, 1846: Bridget Traynor, daughter of Michael and Anne Traynor, is baptized in Dunlavin, Wicklow, Ireland. Witnesses: James Traynor, Mary Traynor. (Source: RootsIreland/NLI - record is illegible to me, so I'm going by the index)
February 8, 1858: Hugh Coonan, son of Patrick Coonan and Eleanor Quinn, is baptized in Ballymore Eustace, Kildare, Ireland. Witnesses: James Halpin, Bridget Halpin. (Source: RootsIreland/NLI)
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1860s: James J. Traynor, Michael Traynor, Bridget Traynor, and Elizabeth Traynor immigrate to the United States. (Source: US census records)
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February 9, 1868: Michael Traynor marries Anna Brannan at St. Matthew's Church in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA. Witnesses: Thomas Traynor, Catherine McGrath. (Source: church sacramental records)
September 20, 1868: John B. Traynor, son of Michael Traynor and Anna Brannan, is baptized at St. Anne's Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: James Traynor, Mary Reilly. (Source: church sacramental records)
February 24, 1870: Bridget Coonan, daughter of Patrick Coonan, marries James Brady in Dunlavin, Wicklow, Ireland. Witnesses: Peter Leniston, Sarah Halpin (civil record) or Sarah Halfpenny (sacramental record). (Source: RootsIreland/NLI for the sacramental record, IrishGenealogy for the civil record. The civil record only lists the fathers' names. A RootsIreland transcript lists Bridget's mother as Julia, but the mother's name on the microfilm scan is completely illegible. It could possibly say Helen, which would go along with the 1845 Bridget Coonan baptism record listed above.)
December 10, 1870: Rosanna Traynor, daughter of Michael Traynor and Anna Brannan, is baptized at St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: Michael Neeson, Mary Gallagher. (Source: church sacramental records)
January 5, 1871: Elizabeth Brady, daughter of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is baptized in Dunlavin, Wicklow, Ireland. Sponsors: Brian Molloy, Mary Molloy. (Source: church sacramental records)
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Early 1870s: Bridget (Coonan) Brady immigrates to the United States
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June 15, 1873: James F. Brady, son of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is baptized at St. Patrick's Church in Verplanck, New York, USA. Sponsors: Michael Hannan, Johanna Nilan. (Source: church sacramental records)
June 14, 1874: Bridget Traynor marries Patrick Rountree at St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA. Witnesses: John Rountree, Elizabeth Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
April 5, 1876: Rosella A. Brady, daughter of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is born in New York, New York, USA. (Source: death record and census records)
February 13, 1879: James J. Traynor marries Hannah Mangan at St. John the Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Witnesses: John Mangan, Elizabeth Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
March 2, 1879: Mary Ann Brady, daughter of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is baptized at St. John the Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Witnesses: James Traynor, Marianne McCarron/McCann. (Source: church sacramental records)
November 29, 1879: James Traynor, son of James J. Traynor and Hannah Mangan, is baptized at St. John the Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: James Mangan, Elizabeth Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
1880 United States Census:
James J. and Hannah (Mangan) Traynor are living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Patrick and Bridget (Traynor) Rountree are living in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA.
Michael and Anna (Brannan) Traynor are living in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA.
James and Bridget (Coonan) Brady are living in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA.
1880-1881: James J. and Hannah Traynor, Michael and Anna Traynor, and Bridget and James Brady all move to Wilmington, Delaware, USA
1881-1883: James Brady and Hugh Cooney both live at the same address in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. (Source: Wilmington city directories)
1881-1888: James J. Traynor and Michael Traynor live a couple houses apart on the same street in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. (Source; Wilmington city directories)
May 8, 1881: Mary A. Traynor, daughter of James J. Traynor and Hannah Mangan, is baptized at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Sponsors: Hugh Cooney, Bridget Brady. (Source: church sacramental records)
July 20, 1882: John J. Brady, son of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is born in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Bridget and James's places of birth are listed as Dunlavin, County Wicklow, Ireland. (Source: birth record)
July 23, 1882: John J. Brady, son of Bridget Coonan and James Brady, is baptized at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Sponsors: Hugh Coonan, Alice Payne. (Source: church sacramental records)
September 13, 1885: Anna Brunner, daughter of Elizabeth Traynor and Albert Brunner, is baptized at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: Patrick Rountree, Rosanna Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
June 20, 1886: Michael Traynor, son of James J. Traynor and Hannah Mangan, is baptized at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Sponsors: Thomas Maloney, Ann Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records - I suspect Ann Traynor is Anna (Brannan) Traynor, who often went by Ann/Anne)
October 16, 1887: Catherine Brunner, daughter of Elizabeth Traynor and Albert Brunner, is baptized at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: Patrick Rountree, Bridget Rountree. (Source: church sacramental records)
September 16, 1887: Elizabeth C. Traynor, daughter of James J. Traynor and Hannah Mangan, is baptized at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Sponsors: Michael Traynor, Johanna Dunning. (Source: church sacramental records)
June 2, 1889: Mary T. Rountree, daughter of Bridget Traynor and Patrick Rountree, is baptized at St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: John B. Traynor, Rosanna C. Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
Early 1890s: Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner moves to Camden, New Jersey, USA.
February 1, 1891: Thomas Traynor, son of James Traynor and Hannah Mangan, is baptized at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Sponsors: Cornelius Carlan, Rose Ann Traynor. (Source: church sacramental records)
January 23, 1892: Bridget (Coonan) Brady dies in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, and is buried in Cathedral Cemetery in the same city. Her death record does not list parents and her newspaper death notice does not list surviving family. (Source: death record, newspaper article)
April 27, 1893: Rosanna Traynor, daughter of Michael Traynor and Anna Brannan, marries John McCloskey at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Bernard Rountree, son of Bridget Traynor and Patrick Rountree, is listed as a guest. (Source: newspaper article)
June 1, 1895: Michael Traynor dies in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, and is buried in Cathedral Cemetery in the same city. His death record does not list parents and his newspaper death notice does not list surviving family. (Source: death record, newspaper articles)
1900 United States Census:
Bridget (Traynor) Rountree is living in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA. Her birth month is listed as November. (Bridget Traynor's 1846 baptism listed above occurred in November.)
James J. Traynor is living in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. His birth month is listed as February. (James Traynor's 1845 baptism listed above occurred in February.)
Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner is living in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Her birth month is listed as July.
1905 New Jersey State Census:
Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner is living in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Her birth month is listed as February.
1910 United States Census:
James J. Traynor is living in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
Bridget (Traynor) Rountree is living in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA.
Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner is living in Camden, New Jersey, USA.
July 12, 1913: Bridget (Traynor) Rountree dies in Haverford, Pennsylvania, USA. Her newspaper death notice does not list surviving family. However, her death certificate lists her parents as Michael Traynor and Anna Cooney. (Source: death record, newspaper articles)
1915 New Jersey State Census:
Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner is living in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Her birth month is listed as March.
1920 United States Census:
James J. Traynor is living in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner is living in Camden, New Jersey, USA.
June 15, 1923: James J. Traynor dies in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, and is buried in Cathedral Cemetery in the same city. His newspaper obituary lists a surviving sister, Elizabeth Brunner of Camden, New Jersey. His death certificate lists Michael Traynor as his father, but it does not list a mother. (Source: death record, newspaper articles)
January 10, 1924: Elizabeth (Traynor) Brunner dies in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Her date of birth is listed as March 14. Her newspaper death notice does not list surviving family. Her death certificate, filled out by a neighbor, does not list any parents. (Source: death record, newspaper articles)
If you made it this far and you aren't googly-eyed, you are the champion of the world. Thank you so much for reading through; I'm grateful for any attempt to help. If there is any additional information you need or you have any questions, please let me know!
Warm regards,
Michael Traynor
