Looking for Patrick Flanagan information from 1830-1850

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your message.

Unfortunately it may be difficult to find more information without a more specific place of origin in Offaly. Most Irish record sources- church records, land records, census records- are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Ireland, preferably a parish or placename, it may be difficult to do anything more with these records.

Do you have any documentation-official or unofficial- that mentions any townland, parish, village or town names?

Have you tried looking into his emigration? Generally more information was given at the port of arrival rather than that of departure so it may be a place to find more information-and perhaps even an exact place of origin. For US immigration information check the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/

Do you know Patrick?s parents? names? If you do you may be able to find them in the land records pertaining to Ireland in the 19th century. Although these do not offer any genealogical information they can sometimes be used to tie a person to a specific place.  There are two:

The Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1838) found at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

and Griffith?s Valuation (1848-1864) found at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/     

Have you tried searching Family Search to see if you can find record of Patrick or any of his family? This is a huge database of genealogical records that includes births, baptisms and marriages for up until c. 1880. Unfortunately these collections are not complete but you may be lucky and find either a birth record for Patrick or his parents?? marriage record. You can search this here:

www.familysearch.org

Some other websites that you may find useful 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

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

Census Records 1901/1911: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

Alternatively you could contact Irish Midlands Ancestry for assistance-a fee may apply. Here are their contact details:

Irish Midlands Ancestry,

Bury Quay,

Tullamore,

CO. Offaly.

Phone: +353 (0) 57 9321421       Email: info@offalyhistory.com

I hope that this is helpful. Remember to post any new information you find, especially a parish name. Remember to post as much information as you can with regard to the people you are researching. 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 the information.  I have tried most of the resources you mentioned above, but unfortunately I do not know Patrick's parents names.  I have found a modest amount of information about Patrick and his family in Peoria, Illinois, but unfortunately nothing going back to Ireland.

Patrick did spend at least the early part of his career working various jobs in the whisky business in Peoria.  Since Tullamore had a distillery and Griffiths Valuation lists quite a few Flanagan families in Tullamore and the surrounding areas, I am guessing he might have come from that area.

The family was very Catholic.  Where were the closest Catholic churches and are baptismal records available?

Thanks for your help!

- Mike

Hi Mike,

I think that the two main churches in Tullamore parish are the Church of the Assumption and St. Comcille?s Church, Durrow:

http://www.tullamoreparish.ie/mass-times

There is also a contact page on the above website.

You can use the Irish Times website to see what records are available and also where you may access copies of them. For Tullamore parish follow this link:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&churchid=933&CityCounty=Offaly&CityCounty=Offaly&parish=Tullamore

As you can see there are baptismal records available in the parish from 1809. Most Catholic records are still held locally so you could try writing to the local parish priest for assistance. Alternatively, you could contact Irish Midlands Ancestry as they have copies available, however you will probably have to pay a fee.

Hope this helps!

Best wishes,

Emma