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I am a decendant of Thomas Dray, who was born around 1818. The only place in Ireland that I have found records inthe correct time frame and names is in Kilkenny in the parishes of Aghaviller and Tullaherin. He married Catherine Mooney in Canada in the late 1840's.

Their oldest son was Edward James Dray, born 1848 in St Johns, New Brunswick, Canada. They traveled south into New York State and traveled the Erie Canal to Buffalo where they are found in the Black Rock section of Buffalo in the 1850 Census. They settled quickly in to Buffalo's Old First Ward along with many of their countrymen.

Thomas was a ships carpenter; a skill that he must have learned after leaving Kilkenny. Would love to learn more about the Dray family. He named his children Edward James, Mary Catherine, Daniel P, Thomas F, William J and Margaret.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Monica

 

Research Gal

Wednesday 24th Jun 2015, 09:38PM

Message Board Replies

  • Monica:

    I was not sure if your ancestor was Roman Catholic or another denomination. I checked Roots Ireland and located an 1818 baptismal record for a Thomas Dray in the Thomastown RC church (see below). There were records in other years for four different Thomas Drea baptisms.

    I also looked at the Tithe Applotment listings for the 1820s and 1830 for Kilkenny and there were a number of Dray records about 30 but many duplicates. None were in the parishes you mentioned in your note. What records do you have that point to Aghaviller and Tullaherin? http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/

    Roger McDonnell

     

     

    Name:Thomas DrayDate of Birth:

    Date of Baptism:12-Jan-1818Address:Not RecordedParish/District:THOMASTOWNGender:MaleCountyCo. Kilkenny

    Denomination:Roman Catholic
    Father:Edmund DrayMother:Catherine MullinsOccupation:

    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:John NealSponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Margaret Walshe

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 24th Jun 2015, 10:41PM

  • My maternal greatgrandmother is Mary Ann Drea, 1858-1911. She was born and died in Mancester, New Hampshire. She married James Joseph Griffin 1857-1933 and had 3 children in Manchester: Mary Magdalene Griffin 1885-1967; Michael, b. 1882 and Joseph, b. 1883. The Dray roots go back to Tullaherin, Thomastown, and Inistioge. Mary Ann's parents were Patrick Drea (Dray) 1825-1865 and Mary Gooley. Both of these were born in Kilkenny and died in Manchester. Mary Ann had siblings - Margaret, who married Frank Griffin and had many children and lived in Londonderry, New Hampshire. I would like to talk with you further and can be reached here, or at brienoc@att.net, or at cell: 203.788.6993.

    jboc1016

    Tuesday 15th Aug 2017, 09:07PM

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