My great grandfather, John McInerney (ca 1830-1896), emigrated to the U.S.around 1849. Family lore maintained that he was one of eleven siblings, all but one of whom migrated to the U.S. during the Great Famine, and most of whom subsequently settled in Michigan. The family believed that they were born in Ennis and their parents were Michael McInerney and Bridget McNamara, who apparently remained in County Clare after their children emigrated. While I can find a Michael McInerney in Clonroad Beg in Griffith's Valuation of 1855, I have no idea whether this would be their father. Additionally,I can't find any evidence that there was a Michael McInerney married to a Bridget McNamara in County Clare. Since it appears that their oldest son was also named Michael, this would not typically reflect the traditional naming convention for the oldest son. So, I would be most grateful to learn anything about any McInerneys living in County Clare between 1820 and 1865.
Thank you!
Paula Doherty
Paula Doherty
Sunday 20th Mar 2016, 10:39PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Paula
As you're no doubt aware, Clare records are hard to find!
www.rootsireland.ie/ only has birth/baptism records for Clare - no marriages. The only John McInerney with parents Michael & Bridget (Not McNamara) is 1846 & not in Ennis
I couldnt find any McInerneys in the early Irish Censuses (free) in Clare
In the Tithe Applotments (free at titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/ - google if link doesn't work) there are 63 McInerneys in Clare including 12 Michaels (or abbreviations of Michael) from 1825 to 1833 in various parishes. i checked each to see if any was in Ennis but no luck!
Last suggestion is to try (if you haven't already) the nli R C registers (free at registers.nli.ie/); enter Ennis in the parish search and trawl through the marraiges & baptisms which come up.
Col
ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 21st Mar 2016, 06:10AM -
Thanks so much for this information and for the suggestion to search the RC registers, which I will definitely do!
I have a follow-up question: do you know if the RC parish of Ennis was larger (i.e. included more townlands) than Drumcliff? Or where I might look to locate the boundaries of these two parishes in the mid-1800s? I am still trying to understand the land-related differences between RC and civil parishes. My family was very Catholic and considered "Ennis" their home. They were also farmers.
Paula Doherty
Monday 21st Mar 2016, 11:17PM -
Sorry Paula I'm no Clare expert I'm afraid.
I've loked at both civil and RC parish maps of Clare but Ennis is not included; it is listed as a poor law union (region) rather than a parish.
Maybe you can ask the Drumcliff people or try the Clare County Library website which is excellent for Clare records.
Col
ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 23rd Mar 2016, 04:54AM