Burke

Margaret:

A couple comments about the Griffiths Valuation survey. The survey was completed in Co. Galway in 1856. Based on the 1858 marriage in Pennsylvania, your John Burke may have left Ireland before the Griffiths survey in Galway. Also, I just looked at the Griffiths data for the name Nevin and there were none in Co. Leitrim. The name is found in many counties but not Leitrim. FYI Leitrim and Galway are in the same province (Connaught) but Co. Roscoomon lies between the two counties.

Let me know if you have questions or if I can assist further.

Roger McDonnell

Roger:

Thank you for your reply.  I must have been in quite a hurry - a couple of corrections to my post.

John Burke married Mary Nevin in Ireland - their son, Francis Burke, is my ancestor that left Ireland around 1850-1852, ending up in Pennsylvania.  It was his child's baptismal record that indicates Edward Joyce as a sponsor.(while in Pennsylvania).  Both Francis Burke and Edward Joyce (and their immediate families) moved on to the same town in Iowa.

So, it is possible that the parents of Francis, John and Mary(Nevin) Burke, remained in Ireland and could be listed on the Griffith's Valuation.

Since the Burke's and Joyce's both relocated to Pennsylvania and later to Iowa, (this would be my Francis Burke and Edward Joyce), as well as the bapitsmal record, I'm assuming there is some connection.  There could be a chance that their families were acquainted or related in Ireland.

I don't have much information about Francis Burke - just his death certificate and his obituary, both indicating birth in Co. Galway and the names of his parents, John and Mary (Nevin) Burke.

Noting the Joyce name as a baptismal sponsor led me to do a bit of research on that family.

I'm just trying to make some connection - my goal is to confirm the exact birthplace of Francis.

In regard to the Nevin family, my reference to Leitrim was the Barony of Leitrim, Union Loughrea, Parish of Ballynakill.  The only thing in common with the Burke/Joyce/Nevin records from Griffith's is the Parish of Ballynakill.  

Being unfamiliar with these designations, I don't know if that commonality would make the Nevin family neighbors of the Burke family - possibly fellow parishioners at the same Roman Catholic church?

Again,thank you for the reply and forgive my hasty post!

Margaret:

I appreciate the clarifications (particularly with Leitrim). Can I suggest that you look for Church records? The Mormon Church has microfilmed the church records for Ballynakill in Leitrim barony going back to 1821. You can order the film online and review the film at a local Mormon Family History Center.

I think all three families lived in the same general area but your research is complicated because all three names are very common in that area.

Roger

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/529437?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Hi Margaret,

Further to Roger's suggestions, if you have no luck with familysearch, rootsireland has 47 matches for marriages of Burkes and Joyces in Galway!

However, the only birth on rootsireland of a Francis Burke in Galway father John and mother Mary (but not Nevin) was in 1820 in Tuam R C parish which is not all that far from Glennamaddy. In the list of parishes in Galway on rootsireland there is no Glennamaddy so perhaps they were registerd in Tuam.

I assume you've checked ancestry as there are a few possibles there.

Col Cafferky

Thank you, Roger & Col.  I will definitely act on both your suggestions!  I'm afraid the Burke born in Tuam isn't my guy - based on all the information I have from US sources, he was definitely born in 1830-1833.

I was actually in Galway last summer - I wish I'd have had the Griffith's information at that time.  I visited the genealogy center in Galway City - very nice young woman did her best to help me!  

I had more information for another Irish ancestor in Co. Kerry due to better Church records.  I was actually able to visit the little plot of land near Killarney where these people lived prior to coming to the US.  But I''m not giving up on my Burke's!

And I also visited the LDS Family Library in SLC a couple of years ago - didn't find much more on my Burke than I already had.  My first time there - I was impressed with the facility and the volunteers.  Again, if I'd had the Griffith's info, I might have made some progress.

But, I will definitely order the film and see what I can find.

After visiting Galway, I am relieved that my people appeared to not have lived on that very cold and windy coast!  My father hated the cold, so I'm glad the Burke's more than likely lived inland!

Thank you again for your suggestions!