Searching Connor and Dunn (or Dunne) names in Roscommon

Jo:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I was unable to find a marriage record for John and Elizabeth. Possibly, she was from a nearby parish that does not have records back to the late 1830s. Based on the location of Kilbride civil parish and Strokestown, I don't think they were tenants on the Strokestown Estate. I don't think you will find any specific information on the family other than the three baptismal records you located. There are a number of books on the conditions in Roscommon during the 1840s. "Ballykilcline Rising" is one I can recommend.

Connor/O'Connor was/is a very common surname in Roscommon. Here is a link to the online Irish phone book which is only a partial list of phone users. Make sure you use the Residential TAB. There are a number of listings near Fourmilehouse and Strokestown. https://www.eirphonebook.ie/  

Here is a link to the Roscommon Anthem-Land of the O'Connors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz_HbRbMqfw

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

Finally, I'm very familiar with St. Joseph's parish in Texas MD

Roger McDonnell

Roger,

Thanks very much for your helpful reply.  I'd feared that my brickwall (those christening records) might well be impenetrable.  And if so, I'll gratefully settle for what I've got - because without that tombstone, I would likely have had to settle for 'somewhere in Ireland'. I can find Connor names in Tithe Applotments and on the famous Bishop Brown letter (Freeman's Journal 29 Apr 1848), but tying any of them to my John Connor might be impossible.  So, great to see your link to Johnny Johnson's wonderful rendition of Land of the O'Connor!  The passion on the faces of the chorus as they sing is incredibly moving. Here's what a small world this is becoming (and what a little luck will do) - I met Johnny last September!  He and Coillin (Declan Coyne, Patsy Hanley and Liam Lochery) played a beautiful set of music at the Glen Echo Town Hall here in Maryland.  I discovered the event through my web surfing around Roscommon and found the South Roscommon Singers site.  They were all so nice - and played and sang from the heart.  And Patsy lives right near Four Mile House, I believe!  I'm a musician myself - aIthough I lost my hearing about 5 years ago.  I now hear speech quite well through the miracle of cochlear implant surgery - but music is something that much harder to understand through them - but I keep trying - and just yesterday began writing a new song. Maybe I'll make the lyric about Roscommon!  The telephone book is also extremely helpful.  And who comes up but a Patrick Connor right there in Four Mile House.  It seems a little intrusive - but even if it's ill-mannered, I'm sure I'll get over that and give him a call sometime.  (Do you know what the red circle sign means beside the name? Does that possibly mean, they don't want people calling them that they don't know?)  Yes, I have an autosomal kit on GEDmatch (A051596) and am anxiously awaiting a Y-DNA test (67 markers) from FTdna.  (Maybe I'll offer to pay for Patrick Connor's Y test! - wouldn't it be something if....).  Finally, I just ordered Ballykilcline Rising - thanks for that idea.  I'm also planning to get The Killing of Denis Mahon from the library today.  John and Elizabeth Connor and their two kids had to have been living right near where he was murdered at Four Mile House and at that very time.  Again, thanks very much for your thoughts - very kind.  When I get to Roscommon (two in college, gulp, so it might be a couple of years) I'll reach out and see if you're available for a coffee!  All the best, Jo

Roger,

I forgot to ask. How is it that you're very familiar with Texas, MD?  My gg-grandfather's tombstone is not the only one in that churchyard that references Roscommon.  Indeed, it seems pretty clear that letters were going back to Roscommon saying "there's work here and it's pretty okay..." - that's how the Irish community in Texas came to be known as "the Quarry Irish" in Baltimore County and City.  My gg-grandfather was a farmer - and worked as a farmhand in Timonium (just next to Texas) - but I also believe (from census references of his sons) that they also took work in the quarries - maybe between cropping seasons or in bad crop years.  Anyway, I very interested to know how common it is in Roscommon to have heard of Texas MD.

Thanks again,

J

Jo:

I live about ten minutes from St. Joseph's and attend Mass there on weekdays. I've walked through the graveyard a number of times and I'm sure I saw your ancestors headstone. As you indicated, there are a number of gravestones which show Roscommon.  My paternal grandmother came from the town of Ballaghaderreen (Castlemore parish) and I've been a volunteer for IRO for four years. I also have a 1901 census site  www.leitrim-roscommon.com/1901census

Roger

Roger,

Ah, so we're neighbors.  Ireland reaching out by way of Cockeysville!  Can you possibly tell me whether there is anyone at St. Joe's who would be best to talk to about records and the church's history.  I realize there was a fire (maybe two) - but there's so much history there, I'd be surprised if no one had tried to piece together some of it. For me, one big question is where are the others buried?  If John Connor was put in St. Joe's by Elizabeth in 1864 - where is Elizabeth, who appears to have died in 1885?  Where is her son John who was murdered aged 25 in St. Louis in 1880 and body shipped back for funeral in Elizabeth's home (per Sun Paper).?  And finally, where are her two daughters Bridget (ne Connor) Nestor (d 20 Oct 1882, age 21) and Annie Agnus Connor who died 4 days earlier (likely an epidemic of some kind).  I know there are Nestor graves in St. Joe, but I don't see Bridget.

Your census site is terrific, Roger - congrats to you on that!  I've come across it before with its electric Kelly green background. There must be relatives of mine there - but, as you say, identifying them might be behond reach at this point.

All the best to you,

Jo

Jo:

I will check with the parish office in the morning.

Roger

Jo:

The person I wanted to see was not in the office this morning. Give me a couple days to check some more. (We may get snowed out tomorrow).

Roger

No, problem at all, Roger.  I really appreciate it.

J

Jo:

I spoke today to the lady who handles the cemetery for St. Joseph's. She mentioned the fire which destroyed all the old records but she took the information I had and said she would check and get back to me. I will let you know.

Roger

Jo:

I think we hit a dead end. Lany Tracey is the lady I spoke with. Her company has operated/managed St. Joseph's church cemetery for seventy-four years and they also manage other cemeteries in the area. She checked her records and could not find any information on the John Connor buried in 1864 nor did she have any info on Elizabeth or their son John. She has some Connor records but for people born later. Sorry, we did find any info on your family.

Roger

What a shame.  Thank you very much for trying, Roger.  Hopefully we'll meet one day at the HSBC.  Much appreciated - all the best, Jo

Roger,

Would you be kind enough to send me Lany Tracey's contact informtion.  I dont' want to hound with the same questions over again - but rather hope she might be able to educate me on the history of Catholic burial grounds back in that day - i.e., where else my relatives might possibly be.

Thanks,

J

Jo:

The number is below. I'm fairly confident that the wife and son are buried at St. Joe's but there are no records to prove it.

Roger

410-472-4100

Thanks again!