Ward/Burns

Robert,

   I too have Ward/Burns(Byrnes) from the Carrickmacross area of Monaghan.  My great great great grandfather was Bernard Byrne (spelled Burns in many records in the US) who was born about 1786 in Ireland.  He married Catherine Ward (born October 1820).   They were in Philadelphia in November 1842 when their first son Francis was born.  They had 3 more children, Elizabeth, Peter, and Anna.  In the 1850 PA census they were living next to Francis Ward (born 1815) and wife Sarah with two sons, Michael (born 1847 in Ireland) and Thomas (born April 1850 in Ireland).  I think that Francis could very well be Catherine's brother since she named her first child Francis.  Catherine Ward had a sister Elizabeth born in Ireland about 1821.  Elizabeth's obituary stated that she was born in Parish Carrick, County Monaghan.  From checking surnames in the Irish census and the Tithe Applotment Books it is possible the families lived in the Raferah and Sreenty areas.  My cousin and I went to Carrickmacross in 2006 trying to find out more information on the families but were not able to find any information about them. 

   I know that Burns and Ward are both very common names in County Monaghan but there is a possibility that our families could be connected since you have a Bernard in your Ward family and Francis Ward had a Thomas and a Michael.  You may contact me if you think we could have a connection.  Hope your trip went well in September.

Bette LoPresti