My great grandfather, John Connolly, was born in Lisbellaw, Fermanagh in May of 1870. His parents were John Connolly (sometimes found Connelly and Conley) & Mary Monaghan. I have found his birth record & his parents marriage record via Family Search. It appears that they had seveal children born in Lisbellaw and Newtownbutler. John was married in NYC about 1896. I have no immigration information and would love to learn more about any of his family who remained in Fermanagh.
Monday 9th Sep 2013, 04:42PM
Message Board Replies
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What was John Connolly senior?s occupation and what was the family townland (address) at John?s birth? By any chance was it Killee?
Ahoghill Antrim
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John Sr. occupation unknown. He and Mary Monaghan did marry in Cavan about 1865. I have located these birth records at Family Search with the assumption that they are all children of my John & Mary: James, Patrick, (born Newtownbutler) Rose Anne, William, John, Robert, Michael, (born Lisabellaw) Thomas and Margaret (born Kilee, 1876 & 1881). That is the only Kilee connection I am aware of. I have living uncles who have little recall of their grandfather, John Jr. It is believed he came to NY alone as a young man.
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I think this might be your family in the 1901 census. Note that John jr was still in Ireland then:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Fermanagh/Lisbellaw/Killee/1352685/
and in 1911, buy which time John senior has died (c 1910) and John junior has left:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Lisbellaw/Killee/518793/
The Griffiths revision records show John Conlon acquired the farm in 1874. The farm changed from John Conlan to John Connolly in 1896. It?s unclear to me whether that was a real change of tenant or whether they had previously just spelled his name differently. John Senior appears to have died around 1910, and William took over the farm then. It remained leased at that point but he bought it in 1920 under the Land Act (ie with a Government mortgage). His name was still against the property in 1930 when this set of records stops. The property was plot 16 in Killee, and consisted of a farmhouse, outbuildings and just over 17 acres of land. The farm today is just off the B140 road between Lisbellaw & Tempo.
http://applications.proni.gov.uk/dcal_proni_val12b/RelatedVolume.aspx?9…
Ahoghill Antrim
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My ggrandfather, John Jr. is in the 1900 US Census with his wife & 2 sons, one being my grandfather, James. So it may be that I have been on the trail of a different John Connolly. I am in the process of requesting records through the church in NYC where I believe they were married and will hope their parents names are given & birthdates confirmed. Thank you so much for the information you have provided.
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Hi Marriane, I just came across your message whilst searching a Connolly family from the same
area that you were searching. The Connolly family that I have a connection with are the ones that
that the Antrim contributer above listed for you. Both Connolly families have quite similar christian names. After searching on the 'Irishfamilyhistoryfoundation' site, I came across your John's brothers
and sisters. You may have these already but here goes anyhow: i Parents John Connolly and Mary Monaghan have the following children, all registered in Lissbellaw: William 1868, John 1870, Michael 1874, Thomas 1876, Patrick 1878 Robert 1872 James 1883 Mary 1890, Margaret 1881.
None of this family are on the 1901 or the 1911 Irish census. John and Mary the parents may have died. The rest of the family may have emmigrated to USA as well, have you followed this up. Did you check the shipping papers to USA? I hope this helps
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Thank you for your message but I am now unsure that this John was my great grandfather. Mine was living in NYC in 1900 per US Census. I alos now believe he was born in County Leitrim. Someday I will know for sure!