Mary Brehany

pconroy:

I looked at the subscription site Roots Ireland and see two possibilities for a Mary Breheny both in the area around the town of Ballaghaderreen. The first Mary was born in May 1867 with parents Thomas Breheny and Mary Morrisroe. This Mary had six siblings (where I can see records). There was a Michael but no James or Delia. They lived in Currinah.

The second Mary was born in September 1872 with parents Thomas Breheny and Atty Morrisroe. They lived in Cloonlumney. This Mary had a number of siblings including a James and Michael but I did not see a Delia (Bridget).

Any view on either record being for your Mary?

Roger McDonnell

Hi.
This is relevant to Rogers first Mary.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202173078/mary-breheny
It may help confirm one way or the other.
Rgds Noel

pconroy,

I know that this is not really relevant to your request, but I was intersted to see the name Morrisroe. My great-grandmother was a  Morrisroe from Tibohine, Co.Roscommon.

Paul

There are a number of records of a Mary Breheny - Father Thomas. There is also one in this Parish Kiltullagh born 28 Feb 1864 in the townland of Lowberry - Mother Mary Davis. The following verifications would help: 

Was her birth surname Breheny?

Her death record may have information on her parents.

Have you assertained what year she arrived in USA - Census record may reveal.

Any further information from Census records? (Maybe actual year of birth - even +/-1)

What information have you that says she was from Roscommon?

With the current amount of information too many possibilities are turning up.

Regards,

Martin.

Hello Roger, Noel, Paul, and Martin

Thank you all for the information you shared, and I am so sorry for the much delayed reply.  I was unaware of these posts until now, and hopefully am set up to be able to follow the thread.

Here are my responses to Martin's questions which are the most extensive:

- Yes, Mary's birth surname was Breheny

- Her death record says she was born in Roscommon and that her father's name was Thomas.  Her Mother's name is listed as "unknown." 

- Various US census reports list her immigration year as anywhere from 1881-1887 (see below).

- Her grave, at Holy Cross Cemetery in NJ, lists her birth date as 27 Mar 1869. However, the 1940 US Census gives her birth year as 1870 and states she is a Naturalized citizen; the 1930 Census says her birth year was 1866, that she was 20 at first marriage, her immigration year was 1881, and she is listed as an Alien; 1920 Census says birth year is 1871, immigration year is 1885, and that she is a Naturalized citizen; the 1910 Census says she was born in 1865, emigrated in 1887.  So according to the Census reports, Mary Breheny's birth year ranges from 1865-1871.  Hopefully, whoever reported the details for the death record had accurate information.      

- Apart from her death record, family lore has it that Mary was from Roscommon.  That is all that my Mother knows about her grandmother.

Some new information that I found in the 1905 NJ Census after my initial post is that there was a Thomas (age 36 - so born 1869) and Martin Breheny (age 34 - born 1871) living with Mary Breheny Burke.  In 1905, they have been in the US for 15 and 13 years, respectively (Thomas since 1890/Martin since 1892).  I'm thinking they are brothers. 

I am aware of the Mary Morrisroe records, but I do not know if they are related.

Thank you again, for your consideration. 

pconroy:

We have had a major problem with notifications of comments since late July and the problem was fixed this week and yesterday we received all the messages with comments since late July. Your message and your August 11th comment were part of the backlogged messages. Sorry!

I went back to the subscription site Roots Ireland and I believe the Mary Brehany from Currinah is likely your Mary. There were at least seven children in that family: Mary 1867 Michael 1871 Dominic 1873 John 1875 Margaret 1877 Thomas 1880 Martin 1883. The only flaw is that you show Thomas and Martin in the 1905 NJ census with ages that make them born around 1870 not 1880.   There were no other Martin Breheny birth records in Co. Roscommon from 1864 on.

Roger