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Thomas Robert Anderson was born in Moycashel, Co. Westmeath, 7 Jan 1843, according to his US Navy records. I would like to find proof of that. We do not know "why" he was born there. The only other family record we have is for the marriage of his parents, WILLIAM ANDERSON and CATHERINE BOYLE, 22 Dec 1839, in Mohill, Co. Leitrim. No witnesses were named in the record (from rootsireland.ie website) We have no idea what William's occupation was. The family was CATHOLIC. My sister searched the records for Moycashel at the NLI without success.

We do not know what happened to father William,who was reportedly born in Scotland, but we know that Catherine married a second husband (no record of it yet), Patrick Geoghegan, a National School teacher, and had 3 children with him.  One child was born in Mohill, another in Kilronan area, and the 3rd in Dysart area (from memory). Catherine died in 1876 and Patrick in 1901.

My great grandmother, JANE MARIA ANDERSON, Thomas' sister, was probably born about 1850, place unknown as yet. She and her mother, Catherine, and step father, Patrick Geoghegan, and siblings were living in or near Ballymintan, Co. Roscommon at the time of Jane's marriage to my great grandfather, John Reynolds, of Moher, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, in Feb 1873. Patrick was teaching in Ballymintan at the time.

Any suggestions for proceeding, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

Friday 29th Jun 2012, 07:52PM

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  • Hi there,

    That is indeed a puzzle. Perhaps Thomas' occupation is a clue? Perhaps William his father was also an army man?

    Do you know when the second marriage took place? Was it long after the first one?

    We must wonder what happened to William. Did he die young and then his wife remarried? One can guess and keep guessing. Do you have any family records such as bibles, letters or other documents? Or family folklore?

    If he was in the army, it might explain the different location.

    Could you please post your message on the Mohill parish page here: http://www.irelandxo.com/group/mohill-leitrim

    Just to explain, Moycashel was a Barony in County Westmeath.

    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 2nd Jul 2012, 03:57PM

  • Hi Sinead,

    Thanks for your response. To answer your questions: NO, unfortunately we have no idea what William's occupation was, and we have no memorabilia that would give us a clue. Perhaps he was in the police force, army, or even a teacher. Family did not even know his given name until we found the marriage record. Family had him recorded as "John".

    Catherine's 2nd marriage (to Patrick Geoghegan) must have taken place by 1852 as their 1st child was born in Mohill in 1853. Our assumtion is that Patrick must have been teaching in the area then. Perhaps Catherine Boyle Anderson was originally from the area and maybe my great grandmother was born there as well. We have no records to prove anything at this point.

    I believe that Moycashel is also a townland in Co. Westmeath, based on an online map that I have viewed.

    I previously posted to the Mohill parish and have also linked family in to this site.

    Thanks, again.

    sherey

    Monday 2nd Jul 2012, 04:35PM

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