McMenamin, Martin, Dorin, Bonner in Finn Valley

Hi there,

My sister Mary and I are looking for descendants of the McMenamin family of Ballybofey origin. My direct ancestor, Patrick McMenamin (changed to McMenamy in America) was born in Ballybofey in 1797, and died 13 March, 1851 in Florissant, St Louis Missouri, USA. His birthplace was carved on his tombstone (erected by his younger brother Bernard). Patrick married Anna Martin (1810-1885) around 1829 in Ireland, and they had eight children that we know of while living in Ireland-- Bernard Patrick, Michael Bonaventure, Mary Frances, Peter J, Margaret Mary (my 2nd great grandmother), Frances, Matthew, and Anna. All of them immigrated with their parents to America, and we've traced their lines down.

From the probate of Patrick's younger brother Mathew (1805-1850), we discovered the names of his siblings-- at least those who were living in 1850. Mathew was a Jesuit priest, and judging from the accounts of his possessions in his probate, one of some wealth. According to the cemetery records, he died along the banks of the Missouri river twelve days after his arrival in America. He lists as his heirs three brothers (including Patrick) and three sisters.

The three sisters were Catharine, Nancy and Margaret A. Catharine was married to a John Dorin and, December of 1851 was listed as living in "Stoneduff, Donegal, Ireland." We believe Stoneduff might (?) be Tonduff. They had at least one child, Mary, born around 1830, who immigrated to St Louis and is listed as living with her uncle Bernard in the 1850 census.

Nancy married a John Martin and is listed in the probate as living in "Welchtown, Donegal, Ireland." We believe this is Walshtown, as we find a John Martin listed there in the 1830 Tithe Applotment. They had two chidren that we know of: Bernard Martin, born around 1825, who immigrated to St. Louis and is living with his uncle Bernard in 1850, and Margaret. We found a marriage record for Margaret to a Denis McMenamin (possibly a cousin?) 15 April 1856 in Walshtown, Kilteevoge, Donegal, witnessed by Peter and Carl Martin.

We've found the birth records for five children born to them: Peter (17 April 1864), Dennis (17 April 1866), Mary Anne (15 June 1868), Patrick (25 March 1871), all in Letterkenny, and Margaret (3 Oct 1874), in Roneagl [sic].

The last sister, Margaret A, married an unknown Bonner (spelled alternately Bonner and Bonar in the probate) and was widowed by December of 1851. She lived in "Goland, Donegal" at the time. We believe she was likely widowed before 1828, as we find a "Margaret Bonner" in the 1828 Donaghmore Tithe Applotment. In the Griffiths Value of 1858 she's listed as still in Donaghmore. We don't know if she had any children.

The other two brothers besides Patrick were James (1795-1862) and Bernard (1800-1868). Bernard immigrated first, before 1830, and married Mary Jane McReynolds in St Louis. He became a prominant and wealthy landowner. James married a Margaret Boyce in Ireland and they immigrated with seven of their eight children in 1848-- leaving behind one son, Peter, who was in the priesthood. He also did very well for himself. Patrick died less than two years after immigrating, and his widow Anna died in poverty in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1885.

We believe that Patrick and James are listed in the 1833 Tithe Applotment books as owning land in both Little and Big Dooish. Patrick, listed as "Patt McMenamin," co-owned the land with a "Widow McMenamin," which we believe might have been their mother.

In addition to making connections with any descendants of these lines and learning anything possible about the next generation back, we would love to know if Patrick McMenamy's wife Anne Martin and Nancy's husband John Martin were related.

Mary and I have completed a lot of research about the descendants of James, Patrick, and Bernard here in the United States and are happy to share it upon request.

Best,

~Jessica M.