Looking for help with my ggg grandparents Antonium Power and Eleanor Cotton. Also looking for help with travel to Ireland.

I’m trying to find information (e.g. birthdates and parents) about my GGG Grandparents Antonium Power and Eleanor Cotton.  Following is some history about my family - specifically when they were born and when and where they died. 

My maiden name is Dianne Power, and my known ancestors are as follows:- 

1.  My dad was George Charles Power born in Brisbane, Australia in 1913.  My Mum Ada McLeod.

2.  My grandfather was Percy Power born in Gympie, Australia in 1876.  My grandmother was Sylvia Viola Mills.

3.  My great grandfather was John Power born in 1839 in Middlesex, England.  My great grandmother was Fanny Emma Norris.

4.  My GG grandfather was James Power born in Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland in about 1811.  My GG grandmother was Ellen Ferris.

5.  My GGG grandfather was Anthony (Antonium/Antony/Anty) Power born, I estimate, about 1770.  My GGG grandmother was Eleanor (Eleanora/Helenor/Ellen) Cotton who I estimated was also born about 1770 .  They married in the Diocese of Elphin, County Roscommon in 1793, and lived in the Townland of Runnaruag, County Roscommon.  

Anthony Power (a farmer) and Eleanor Cotton had at least 10 children that I could find records for:-

1.     Edmondi – born I estimate some time between about 1793 and 1800.  He and Maria Merriman had a child (Joannem Power) born in 1820 at Runnaruag, Roscommon.

2.     Peter – born somewhere between 1797 and 1806.  He married Mary Murphy (daughter of Bernard Murphy) and migrated to Australia with his family on the ship ‘Crusader’ in 1840.

3.     Margaret – born about 1800.  Married Patrick Burke migrated to Australia with their children.  Margaret was a widow when she and her children arrived in Australia on the ship ‘Alfred’ in 1858.  

4.      John – about 1804.  He died on 1st December 1837 in Elphin.  His wife Bridget Murphy (also a daughter of Bernard Murphy), and their four children migrated to Australia in 1840 on the ship ‘Crusader’.

5.     Eleanor Maria – about 1808.  Married Kelly Joseph McKeon and they migrated to Australia with their children on the ship ‘Crusader’ in 1840. 

6.     Antonium – baptised 3rd July 1809 – Church Baptism Record – Address (Renroee), Elphin, Roscommon - married Elenora McManaway and they had several children.  This Anthony Power and his wife Eleanor McManaway took over the property at Runnaruag at some stage before 1857 when Ellen Power was listed as a landholder in Runnaruag – as per Griffith’s Valuation.  Anthony Power and Eleanor McManaway’s son, James Power later took over the property.

7.     Theophilus “Offey” – born about 1810.  Married Winifred Satchall and they migrated to Australia (on the ship ‘Crusader’ in 1840) where they had children.

8.     James – about 1811.  My GG grandfather married Ellen Ferris in England, and they migrated to Australia with their children – arriving in Australia on the ship ‘Una’ in November 1849. Their son John (my great grandfather) married Fanny Emma Norris in Australia in 1868.  

9.     Walter – born about 1814.  Married Eleanor Power (daughter of Edward Power and Mary Ellen Golden).  They migrated to Australia with their children in 1857 on the ship ‘New Great Britain’.  

10.  Michaelum – baptised 2nd September 1818 – Church Baptism Record – Address (Rinraugue), Elphin, Roscommon.  Migrated to Australia on the ship ‘Crusader’ in 1840, and in 1845 he married Anna Maria Connolly.

I feel I have a fair understanding of my Power ancestry back to GGG Grandfather Anthony Power born about 1770;  however, I have very little to no information about him personally other than his marriage and his children.  I have not been able to source any records to connect him to parents or siblings - or for that matter where or when he was actually born or died.  Similarly - my GGG grandmother Eleanor Cotton.  They indeed are a mysterious couple!

Pre their 1793 marriage, the only record I can find that can link them to earlier generations, is a census record in the 1749 Census of Elphin – which revealed the following Information about the Power family living at Runnaruag (there are various spellings of the Townland e.g. Rinnrague/Runoghue).

• According to Census of Elphin 1749, a John Power, his wife and three children under 14, lived at Runoghue Townland, Elphin, Roscommon.  John is listed as a ‘papt’ (Roman Catholic) and was a farmer.  My GGG grandfather Anthony could either be John's grandson or even son if he was one of the older children in the family.  

The following is a list of the only records I have been able to find for my GGG grandfather Antonium Power:-

A.     Ireland, Indexes to Wills, Probate Administration, Marriage Bonds and Licences, 1591-1866.  Anthony Power Marriage 1793 – Eire, Ireland, Diocese of Elphin, Spouse – Eleanor Cotton.  The record appears on page 323 of the ‘Public Record Office of Ireland’.  Directly under Anthony’s entry is a record for Lawrence Power and Catherine Naghten.  Lawrence must surely be a relative of Anthony’s given they both lived in the Diocese of Elphin.  He may be Anthony’s brother but I cannot prove this. 

B.     Ireland, Catholic Qualification & Convert Rolls 1701-1845.  Anthony Power, 1795, Residence – Rinarouge, Roscommon, Ireland.  

C.     Church Baptism records for some of his 10 children – mostly sourced from RootsIreland.ie.  (The records indicate the father was Anthony (Antonium) Power and mother Eleanor (Ellen) Cotton.

D.    Newspaper article published by the Roscommon Journal and Western Impartial Reporter on 31st July 1830 with a list of “Freeholders’ Names”.  Anthony Power of Renarogue is listed as number 124.  

When James Power and Ellen Ferris came to Australia in 1849, their records in the New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896, state that James’ parents - Anthony Power and Eleanor Cotton - were both deceased.  Given the number of Anthony Power’s in Ireland, I have been unable to determine where or when my ancestor died.  

According to Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864, an ‘Ellen Power’ was listed as the occupier of property 2 in the Townland of Runnaruag, Elphin, Roscommon in 1857.  Given the fact, that each of the children of Anthony Power and Eleanor McManaway were born at Runnaruag, County Roscommon, I assume ‘Ellen Power’ was in fact Eleanor McManaway who married Antonium Power born in 1809.  For Ellen to be listed as the occupant of Runnaruag in 1857, I also assume her husband Antonium Power must have been deceased.  

I have spent months researching Power and Cotton families in and around County Roscommon to try and join the pieces in the puzzle.  I’ve printed out and saved many many records – some of which I’ve been able to attribute to my family, whilst many others remain a mystery – more so for the Cotton family.

I have seen some family trees on the various genealogy websites, with people named as Antonium Power’s parents (and similarly with Eleanor Cotton).  However, there are no records to substantiate the link.  When I’ve contacted owners of different trees, they all say they copied from someone else’s tree!  We all know what happens!  A mess!! 

I know that early Irish records can be particularly hard to find, and I think I’ve done reasonably well in sourcing some information back to the 1700’s.  I am planning to visit Ireland next year and perhaps get some inside knowledge from a local history group or similar.  Of course, I’d love to walk where my ancestors walked on the lands in the Townland of Runnaruag.  Any advice about plans for my holiday in Ireland would be appreciated - e.g. small group tours of Ireland operated by Irish people;  things to see and do whilst in Roscommon in particular (of course the famine museum is at the top of the list); and timing would be helpful.  I thought perhaps March or April to get away from the peal tourist season. 

However, prior to my visit it would be wonderful if someone could solve the mystery of my ggg grandparents pre 1793.  I’d also love to connect with other Power families who may be able to shed some light of the life of my GGG grandfather Anthony born circa 1770.  

I apologise for this lengthy post, but thought it best to list everything I already know to save inconveniencing anyone.  

Thanks in advance for any help.