Seeking to connect Michael Cornelius Griffin to his Irish roots

One marriage match for Co. Kerry so far James

http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/search.jsp?name2fm=&name2l=Kenny&namefm=michael&namel=Griffin&location=&dd=&mm=&yy=&submit=Search&sort=&pageSize=100&type=M&diocese=KERRY+%28RC%29&parish=&century=&decade=&exact=&ddB=&ddM=&ddD=&mmB=&mmM=&mmD=&yyB=&yyM=&yyD=&locationB=&locationM=&locationD=&member0=&member1=&member2=&member3=&member4=&member5=&member6=&member7=&member8=&member9=&namef0=&namef1=&namef2=&namef3=&namef4=&namef5=&namef6=&namef7=&namef8=&namef9=&namel0=&namel1=&namel2=&namel3=&namel4=&namel5=&namel6=&namel7=&namel8=&namel9=&keyword=

The Tithe Applotment Books online for surname Griffin

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=Griffin&firstname=&county=&parish=&townland=&search=Search

Griffins in Killarney in 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=Griffin&firstname=&county=Kerry&townland=&ded=Killarney&age=&sex=&search=Search&relationToHead=&religion=&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=

Kenny in Killarney 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=Kenny&firstname=&county=Kerry&townland=&ded=Killarney&age=&sex=&search=Search&relationToHead=&religion=&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=

Placenames

http://www.logainm.ie/Viewer.aspx?placeID=100005&tab=data

Have you seen these?

I'm sorry I won't have enough time to search these more thoroughly. Do let me know if something pops?

Best wishes

Martine

Martine ... I am between laughter and tears.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  You have given me what I couldn't find for over ten years.  My cousins will be amazed to hear the news.  How I wish I could lean through this screen and give you a kiss on the cheek.  I may have to look you up some day, when I come to set foot on the sod of my ancesters in Killeenardnasack.  Once again, a huge thank you.

Martine ... the records you pointed out indicated that Michael Griffin and Catherine Kenny were both from Castlemaine, he from Killeenardnasack and she from Fibo (Feibaug, Febouch or Feboch depending on the record).  Wonderful news, that.  But, is there a map anywhere that would show me where Kileenardsack and Fibo are?

Martine ...You will have to forgive my being so slow figuring out that I should have entered my reply to you as a REPLY instead of as another entry.  Anyway, I will re-enter them here:

I am between laughter and tears.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  You have given me what I couldn't find for over ten years.  My cousins will be amazed to hear the news.  How I wish I could lean through this screen and give you a kiss on the cheek.  I may have to look you up some day, when I come to set foot on the sod of my ancestors in Killeenardnasack.  Once again, a huge thank you.

One more question ... the records you pointed out indicated that Michael Griffin and Catherine Kenny were both from Castlemaine, he from Killeenardnasack and she from Fibo (Feibaug, Febouch or Feboch depending on the record).  Wonderful news, that.  But, is there a map anywhere that would show me where Kileenardsack and Fibo are?

Oh James, I am delighted for you!

First step is the Civil Parishes map of Kerry all 87 of them!

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/civparlist.html

A little information about Castlemaine

http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/castlemaine/index.html

Castlemaine is in Kiltallagh

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/kiltallagh.html

No luck yet with Fibo and Kileenardnasack.

Will have to go now. Give it a shot yourself and let me know how you get on.

Martine

Hi James, Fibo is sometimes listed as Fibo, Keel. This may help

http://castlemaine.multiply.com/photos/album/86/Catholic_Parish_of_Keel_Castlemaine_Co._Ke..

and Keel is in the adjoining old CivilParish

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/kilgarry.html

Don't forget  to let us know?

Martine

If you are on Facebook some of us are there at 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/175684842565187/ 

It would be great to meet up again!

Martine

Hi Martine:

I have managed to locate Killeenardnasack.  It is not a Townland but rather a named area within the Townland of Gortaleen in the Civil Parish of Kilgarrylander in Co. Kerry.  This seems like a plausable answer because it is immediately adjacent to the Townland of Fybagh.  That would mean that Michael and Catherine grew up within shouting distance of each other.

I am not sure I understand the all I should yet about  the Civil Parish of Kilgarrylander vs the RC Parish of Castlemaine and the RC Parish of Keel.  The records you pointed me to in the database referred to Castlemaine.  But, it appears that they lived in the parish of Keel.  How does that work?

Sorry I missed your Facebook session.  That might have been interesting.

Regards

Jim

Dear Jim, I'm sorry I have been so long in replying, changes to the website meant that I couldn't find your post and didn't receive notification of your message. but all is well now. I hope you and yours had a lovely Xmas. 

I will do my best to explain.

Townland Names were the placenames that local people used to describe to other local people where they were from.

Then you have Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes which might have the same names but have different boundaries.

The Civil Parishes describe in essence tax districts.

Finally there are Poor Law Unions which were set up to dispense relief to people who were starving.

To give you an example my grandmother grew up in the townland of Tonavane (a myriad of spellings) in the Civil Parish of Annagh, the Roman Catholic Parish of Tralee, and the Poor Law Union of Tralee.

People might live in one RC parish and marry in another. Sometimes this was because they worshipped in that church, other times there might have been a row with a priest!

Anyway, it might be an idea to write to Castlemaine RC Church to ask for a copy of the entry of the marriage record 

http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/parish.php?parish=Castlemaine&sec=priests of Michael and Catherine and do ask for their parents names because otherwise it may not be included. Do remember that this may take some time as the work is usually done by the priest or volunteers and some parishes have more help than others. Let me know how you get on as I would love to know.

Martine

I just searched "Killeenardnasck" on Google and was led to this page.  There are so many similarities between these ancestors and my ancestor Mary Griffin who married William West, both of whom were from the area during this era.  They moved to Garafraxa, ON in the 1850s.  Now gotta figure out the link...thanks so much!!!!

Jenny

dear Jenny

do you have this son John?

http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/d560b80148228

In Haste

Martine

Hi Martine,

Thanks for the response! I have seen that record and it led to some questions which I haven't figured out yet.  William West and Mary Griffin had a son John.  On Canadian census records, it seems his birth year should be 1836 rather than 1834.  There is also an Elizabeth born in 1832, but she didn't settle in Canada.  I have also found an Irish marriage record for William and Mary, but the marriage date is1841, which seems a bit late for starting a family.  However, I haven't found any other records for William West and Mary Griffin in this area, so perhaps I shouldn't get hung up on these inconsistencies.

There is very little about Killeenardnasck on the web, which makes me more curious. Do you know where it is?  I know the general area, but no specifics.  Hope to plan a golf and genealogy trip in the next 4 years.

Thanks from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!

Jenny Davin

Hello Jenny:

I am descended from the Griffins of Killeenardnasack and would love to talk to you.

If you reply to this message we can see what can be arranged

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Jim Griffin

Hello Martine:

Sorry for the long absence.  Home renovations have kept our minds and hands occupied on things other than genealogy.

When I came back, I tried to use the links you so kindly provided me in your response of 4 Dec 2012 by only got blank pages when I followed them.  Did those links expire at some point in time?

Regards

Jim Griffin

Hi James, they are all working for me so do check your firewall/anti-virus settings..it may be knocking out the links. Did you get in touch with Jenny or she with you?

Martine

Martine, a chara

Yes, I got in touch with Jenny.  She is wondering whether or not to hire a professional genealogist. I suggested that she put together what she knows, show it to you and ask you if in your opinion that would be a good idea and if so could you suggest someone to do the work she needs done.

I copied the links to an email message on my machine and they seem to work from there.  So, I'm still able to explore.

Can I tap your knowledge again?  I've noted in the Griffith Valuation for Gortaleen in 1853 that each person shown as living in Gortaleen is listed under one of 8 primary identifiers (numbers) and a secondary identifying letter.  For instance, Michael Griffin is listed under 8g.  Does this suggest that there were 8 named areas within the townland of Gortaleen?  Is there any way to relate this information to an Ordnance Survey map, say the one from 1830?  And, finally, is Killeenardnasack within the portion of Gortaleen located south of the main road which bisects the townland, and is labelled "KILLEEN" on the 1830 Ordnance Survey map?

Jim

For some reason I have only just received your message. Could you leave an email address where I can contact you directly to explore the details? 

Really looking forward to hearing from you!

Martine

Hi Martine:

Sorry to take so long to get back to you.  The exams at the university are just through.  So, I should have more time to think about genealogy.

My e-mail address is:  James.Griffin@bell.net   

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Jim

Hi Martine, 

I would like to proceed with more research on my ancestors from County Kerry.  Can you recommend a genealogist who can help?

Thanks,

Jenny