Mary McLeavy is my grandmother’s grandmother, born Oct 1842. Family lore said she grew up in “Lough, County Antrim.” Her siblings were named John McLeavy (born June 21st, 1834), Frank 1844, and Bridget 1846 (died). Her mother, Margaret Agnew (possibly) died in or near Crossmaglen, Armagh, on Jan 6, 1847.
She emigrated to the US in 1856 at the age of 14, through New Orleans, following her two brothers. She married Edward Patrick Griffith (an Irishman from County Mayo) in San Francisco in 1871. They settled in Santa Cruz, California, where they raised 8 children: Kathrine, Morris, Marie, John Edward, Cecelia, Martin Mathew, Matilda, and Francis . She died in 1926.
I see that there were McLeavys in the townland of Shean, Parish Forkill in Griffith's Evaluation and I am wondering if there are any McLeavys still in the area!
I am posting in Antrim, and Creggan Parish, Armagh as well.
Thanks so much!
Catherine Haynes
Sunday 5th May 2013, 02:57AM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Catherine,
Thank you very much for your message.
I hope that someone who recognises the family name makes a connection with you.
In the meantime have you tried looking in church records for information? Most Catholic records are held locally so you may need to write to the local parish priest for possible assistance. One website that you may find useful is the Irish Times where they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. It also shows you where copies of the records are available. For parishes in Antrim, follow this link:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/antrimrc.htm
Most surviving Church of Ireland records are still held by the local clergy, although some are in the National Archives of Ireland and others are in the Representative Church Body Library in Dublin. Here are their websites: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/ and http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42
Lists of these surviving registers can also be found at the National Library of Ireland.
Civil registration began in Ireland in 1864 so any births, deaths or marriages in the family after this date would be recorded in these records. Civil records are available from the General Register?s Office in Dublin. Here is their website:
http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm
You can search the indexes to these records up to 1958 online at:
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408347
Also, have you tried searching the 1901/1911 census records to see if there were any McLeavy?s still in the area at that time? If not, you can do so here:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
Some other websites that you may find useful are:
Some other websites that may be helpful are:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
Family Search: www.familysearch.org
Ireland Genealogy Projects: http://www.igp-web.com/antrim/index.htm
Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/antrim/index.html
Alternatively, you could try contacting the Ulster Historical Foundation for assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk
Please be patient - as our programme has only begun to rollout across the island of Ireland and volunteers in some areas may not yet be organized.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
Tuesday 11th Jun 2013, 10:56AM