Looking For Hometown of Sweeneys & Holland/Mulhollands-Includes Mackey/Portts/Hogan/Meagher/Maher, Kings County, Ireland

Hello,

I am researching my ancestors, the Sweeney’s, who were from Kings County, Ireland. We have been unsuccessful in determining exactly where they were from in Kings County, mostly due to them coming over to Canada so early in history (1819) and the Irish Roman Catholic Church records usually only starting at 1820’s and Canadian records starting later as well. Historical records indicate the Sweeney brothers were from the “northern tip of Tipperary” and also “Kings County, Ireland”, which I understand at the time, encompassed part of Northern Tipperary. There is a grave in my Sweeney ancestor’s hometown that they immigrated to, Marysville, Ontario, Canada, of a Patrick Sweeney (relation to mine and exact connection not yet confirmed) who was from Roscrea, Tipperary. To further complicate things I also came across information that my Sweeney family may have been in the Boherbue area of County Cork before they left for Canada…..of which I have been unable to discuss/confirm or verify how the information was found. I also understand that the records for this parish were destroyed in a fire. For that reason I am posting this on Tipperary , Offally/Kings County and Cork County boards. I would appreciate any Irish info/history on the areas in Ireland and/or any potential info/leads regarding any of these family members from anyone who thinks they may have a potential match or leads.

My GGG grandparents were MICHAEL SWEENEY (born c1761) and ANNE HOLLAND/MULHOLLAND born c1770 (first name also AKA MARGARET/NANCY). They were both listed as born in Ireland and I believe that they married in Ireland as well before they came over.

We have absolutely no leads on Ann/Nancy/Mary Holland/Mulholland as it seems to be very few Hollands/Mulhollands that ended up in the same area in Canada that Michael Sweeney and Ann Holland ended up. There was a Holland female that ended up in Marysville, Ontario via a marriage to a local lad and apparently she had come from a Cork family that immigrated to the Peterborough area in Ontario, Canada but unable to find an obvious connection to my Holland. The only possible lead/connection is info that I came across that indicated that my Sweeney/Holland family may have been in Boherbue, County Cork before they left for Canada, which was not exactly but around the area where those Peterborough, Ontario Hollands came from. Any info on Hollands/Mulhollands in those areas in County Cork would be so very much appreciated as well as any info on Hollands/Mulhollands in Kings County/Tipperary as well. One thing that is wondered is could Ann Holland have originally been Anglican hence not finding many leads as been looking in RC church records.... also there was that close relationship with the Portts....

Michael Sweeney and John Sweeney of Kings County/Northern Tipperary and families came to Canada in approximately 1819. We suspect that they were brothers, with John Sweeney being the younger one. John Sweeney and a Robert Portt (of the William Portt family), who also came over at the same time, left their families in Kingston, Ontario where they landed and scouted the land and chose the area now known as Marysville, Ontario, Canada. We suspect that the Sweeneys may have already known the Portts in Ireland or at the very least, met on the ship coming over. The relationship between the Anglican Portts and the Roman Catholic Sweeneys seemed to be very close…at least in Marysville and we suspect they may have lived and came from the same area in Ireland. Michael Sweeney and Ann Holland had the following children that we know for sure. We suspect due to their/his age that they also had other children born before 1811 (as there were many other older Sweeneys that landed in Marysville as well) and there may have even been the very slight possibility that this was a 2nd marriage for Michael Sweeney/both?? :

PATRICK SWEENEY born c 1811 Ireland . Married Emelina Ann Johnson in 1844 Marysville, then after her death he married Sarah Murphy in 1852 Marysville.

ANNE SWEENEY born c1815 Ireland. Married to John Kenny 1831 Marysville.

MARGARET SWEENEY born c1817 Ireland. Married to James Garland aka Gartland 1881 Marysville.

MICHAEL SWEENEY Jr. born c1819 Ireland. Married either Mary Ann Kilty/Margaret McGuinness or Bridget Ruppell (there were 3 Michael Sweeneys in Marysville, through various evidence it is most likely that this Michael Sweeney Jr married one of the first 2 mentioned).

SARAH SWEENEY born 1822 Marysville, Ontario Canada. Married Patrick Farrell 1849 in Marysville. Coincidently, Patrick was from Barna/Ballydonagh, Kings County and immigrated to Marysville in 1842…have not found my Sweeney’s in those Dunkerrin Roman Catholic church records because they only start at 1820 and the Sweeneys were already gone to Canada in 1819…..but there was a Margaret Anne Sweeney in the Dunkerrin records who married a Daniel Maher June 1839, who then later immigrated to Marysville between 1844 and 1846 and I also found an Elizabeth Sweeney in the Dunkerrin records who married Michael Hogan in June 1830 and they also ended up in Marysville between 1836 and 1848. I suspect that these 2 younger couples were most probably related to my Sweeneys.

THOMAS SWEENEY born 1823 Marysville, Ontario, Canada. Married Mary Darcy in 1859 Marysville

MARY SWEENEY born c1825 Marysville, Ontario, Canada. Married to James Darcey in 1855 Marysville.

There MAY have also been another older daughter ELLEN SWEENEY (MAY have been born in Boherbue, County Cork earlier 1800’s – this is info I have not been able to verify/discuss). Married a William Meagher. Other info has them as from Roscrea, County Tipperary and emmigrating to Marysville approx 1827.

Michael Sweeney’s brother, JOHN SWEENEY (born c1774) was married to MARGARET MACKEY (born c1786). Both have been listed as born in Ireland. Margaret Mackey may have been from Templemore, Devils Bit Mountain area of northern Tipperary. Margaret Mackey had a nephew named Michael Mackey who was in Marysville, Ontario. He was born in Templemore, County Tipperary in 1813. In 1848 he was ordained (not sure if in Canada or Ireland) and he was local Parish Priest in Marysville in 1858 and for many years after. He is listed as having a number of relatives in Marysville including some Sweeneys, Meaghers, Deasys etc. John Sweeney and Margaret Mackey had the following children:

CHARLES SWEENEY born c1806 Ireland. Married Mary Spence 1841 Marysville.

HANORA SWEENEY born c1812 Ireland. Married Thomas McGurn date and place unknown.

JOHN SWEENEY Jr. born c1815 Ireland. Married Margaret McGuiness date and place unknown.

ANNE SWEENEY born c1818 Ireland. Married John Macauley 1846 Marysville.

MARY SWEENEY born c1830 Canada?. Married Thomas Deasey 1859 Marysville.

It’s a lot of info but I am hoping that by casting a big net re: all the possible places they came from or were possibly living before they came to Canada that someone can relate to something here and we can finally determine exactly where they came from as well as connect with any other descendants/relatives still in Ireland or possibly around the world.

Looking forward to hearing from anyone that can help put the challenging Sweeney/Holland puzzle together! :-)

Sue