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Hello from Boston...go Celtics! :)

I am looking for information regarding my great-great grandparents.  Here's what I know with certainty:

My great-grandmother Elizabeth M. Raftery (married: Bower) was born in Loughrea abt 1885 and emigrated to Boston at 9 (about 1899/1900).  She settled in Wellesley MA where she died in 1929 at the age of 44.  On her death certificate, her parents are listed as Patrick Raftery and Nora Boyle, also both of Loughrea.  I have only approximate birthdates for both Nora and Patrick (1855-65) and I know nothing of siblings.  Also, I'm told that Nora may be short for Honor, Honora or Honoria.

I appreciate anything you might be able to offer.  I just found out that my great-grandmother hails from Galway, after always believing she was from Cork.  Having studied in Galway in college, I couldn't be happier!! I've always felt a kinship with Galway and now I know why ;-)

Cheers,

 

Bob Williams

BDub

Friday 8th Jun 2012, 07:41AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Bob,

    There are Roman Catholic church records for the diocese of Loughrea (Clonfert). These date from 1827 for both baptismal and marriage records. You can find these at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 2435, or the Church of Latter Day Saints , film no. 1279215. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest for more assistance.

    Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864 however. You can access the website here: http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

    Have you tried checking the Ellis Island records (www.ellisisland.org) or the Castle Garden records (www.castlegarden.org)? Generally, more information was given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at, this could be a good place to find more information.

    You are right about the name Nora, so be sure to check for all variant spellings of the name.

    You could also try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at. Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38). Microfilm copies of the books for all of Ireland are available at the National Archives of Ireland (NAI) http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/tithe-applotment-books-and-the-primary-griffith-valuation/ or the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS).

    There are some fragments of early census records for Loughrea. These include: 1821,1841,1851. You will find these at the National Archives of Ireland.

    1838-48 Reproductive Loan Fund records. Records of loan associations which includes the Loughrea area. UK National Archives T.91 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

    Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

    Kind regards,

    Sinead Cooney

    Genealogist (Ireland XO)

    Monday 18th Jun 2012, 01:14PM

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