Looking for Ellen Sweeney's birthplace

Hi Gay,

Thank you for your message. I hope that someone recognises Ellen?s family and is able to help you.

The most important piece of information you need for Irish family history research is a specific place, in particular a parish as most Irish records on based on parishes. Without hits it may be difficult to find more information on Ellen. Do you have any documentation pertaining to the family that mentions any place names at all? This can include wills, marriage/death records,census records, letters, diary entries etc.

Do you know what age Ellen was when she was transported? It would help if you could narrow down her date of birth.

There are a few places online where you can search for church records, however these websites do not have complete collections:

www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.

www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.

I did a quick search for Sweeney?s in Limerick in Griffith?s Valuation, I found a Mary and Patrick:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&Submit.x=45&Submit.y=24&Submit=Submit&familyname=sweeney&firstname=&baronyname=&countyname=LIMERICK&unionname=&parishname=

Although Griffith?s doesn?t give any genealogical information it may be a starting point if all else fails.

Some other websites that you may find helpful are:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm

Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/

Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/limerick/index.html

From Ireland: www.from-ireland.net

Limerick Library: http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/

Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

Thank you for responding.

I have only records that Ellen came from Limerick but I don't know if it was  the city or the county. Apart from convict records most comes from old family history information from the 1970s I think with no actual records. her age has come from her convict record information. I have tried most of the links you have suggested but will work through the lists again. I may have missed something. How are you thinking Mary and Patrick are connected to her - siblings?

regards

Gay

Below is the information I have:

ELLEN SWEENEY

Birth 

1814 Limerick, Ireland

Marriage 1

William Murphy 1832 Limerick, Ireland,  Age: 18

Place of Conviction

Kerry

Convicted for stealing money on the 'never never' from Mr Stragel

Transportation

1842 10 Apr Age: 28

Left Dublin transported on the ship Hope. Convict number 407.

Arrival Tasmania 1842 Age: 28

Marriage 2

John Joseph Dale (1814 -1866) 1845Age: 31 Hobart, Tasmania

Death

1899  16 Aug Age: 85 Runnymead, Victoria

Ellen’s Parents

James Sweeney1780 –Caroline Sweeney1785 – 

Ellen’s Siblings

Bessy Sweeney

Given Sweeney

Mary Sweeney

Paddy Sweeney

Children

With William Murphy

(family story he died and there is a record of a letter given to Colonial govt that he died but have been coming across a William Murphy whose dates were 1811-1876 but don't know if he is related or not)

Mathew Murphy 1834

John Murphy 1836

With John Joseph Dale

Sarah Ann Dale1843

Alfred Dale 1846

James Henry Dale 1849-1910