Family history question - McKenna / McGuigan

EMcKenna:

There are no McKenna civil birth records or baptismal records around 1890 with father Arthur McKenna and mother with the surname McQuigan/McGuigan.

There is a possible lead for a Patrick McKenna born in May 1891 with father Arthur McKenna and mother Catherine McKenna. See fourth record  https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

This Patrick McKenna had older brothers John and Charles and a younger sister Alice.

The only Rachel McKenna baptismal record I could locate in Co. Tyrone was in 1866 and the father was James McKenna.

We will need more details to try to find your family.

Roger McDonnell

Thanks so much for your reply and for your interest.   Here is everything we know for sure about my great grandfather.

Date of birth:  26 February 1890  (WWI enlistment records)

Place of birth: Dungannon, Tyrone, Ireland (marriage certificate, WWI service record)

Parents: Arthur McKenna and Margaret McQuigan (marriage certificate 1919 – Arthur dec farmer, Margaret dec; death certificate 1962)

Immigration record:  1902 Patrick McKenna 13 year old arrived in Townsville 18/2/1902 on Duke of Norfolk.  He could read and write, nominated by someone in Australia, Roman Catholic, born in Tyrone

War Service: enlisted 1914.  Left Australia on 30/11/1915 on the Suffolk and returned on the Iranga 7/7/1919.  He served in Egypt and France (service record – online – national archive)23 August 1919 married Ethel Kirk at South Brisbane (marriage certificate)

Extended family: Aunt(or possible sister) – Rachel McCarthy (listed as NOK on enlistment record)

 

 

The following facts are known about Rachel McCarthy (nee McKenna), Patrick’s aunt (or possibly sister).

Birth date: 1877-78 (deduced from marriage certificate & death certificate)

Birth place: Dungannon (marriage certificate & death certificate)

Parents: Margaret McQuigan and Arthur McKenna (marriage certificate)

Siblings:  a) Patrick McKenna (1857-1925) (admission notes to Dunwich Benevolent Asylum confirms siblings as Rachel, Margaret, & Mary Ann McKenna))

               b) Margaret McKenna (deduced from the fact that Rachel McKenna emigrated with a Margaret & Mary Ann Mckenna + oral history + 2 of Margaret’s daughters are called Rachel & Mary)

               c) Mary Ann McKenna (emigrated with a Margaret McKenna & Rachel McKenna + oral history + Rachel McKenna & Margaret Bowles were witnesses at her wedding + MaryAnn’s first daughter was named Margaret)

Immigration: April 1895.  Travelled on the “India” disembarking in Mackay, Queensland.  Travelled with Margaret & Mary Ann McKenna.

Marriage: 29/6/1908 married Peter McCarthy (marriage certificate)

Residence: Moonmerra, Queensland (1912 electoral roll)

Death: 25/8/1951 (death certificate, cemetery record)

              

 

Margaret McKenna

 

Birth date: 1876 (deduced from marriage certificate – aged 24 in 1900 and death certificate – aged 91 in 1967)

Birth place: Dungannon (death certificate) or Omagh (marriage certificate)

Parents: Laben McKenna, labourer, and Margaret McQueen (marriage certificate) or Lavelle McKenna, labourer, and Margaret McQuain (death certificate)

Immigration: 1895 travelled on the “India” disembarking in Mackay with Rachel and Mary Ann McKenna

Marriage: 12 July 1900 married Robert Bowles in Longreach (marriage certificate)

Death: 12 May 1967 (death certificate)

Mary Ann McKenna

 

Birth date: July 1872 (deduced from death certificate – aged 60 years 4 months 27 days at death on 13 August 1933)

Birth place: Dungannon (marriage certificate)

Parents: Patrick McKenna and Margaret MacQuinn (marriage certificate) Patrick McKenna and Margaret McMinn (death certificate)

Immigration:  1895 “India” disembarking in Mackay, travelled with Margaret  & Rachel McKenna

Marriage:  1903 to Alexander Sommerville, in North Rockhamptom (marriage certificate)

 

 Patrick McKenna

Birth date: Born about 1857 (death certificate)

Birth place: Tyrone

Parents: Arthur McKenna and Margaret McGuggan (Asyllum records, death certificate)

Siblings:  Rachel, Mary Ann & Margaret (listed in admission notes with correct married surnames and residences)

I'm not sure if this is relevant . . .

In the cemetery at Tullyallen in Killeeshill RC Parish, Tyrone (Civil Parish : Donaghmore Town)  there is a gravestone erected by a Patrick McKenna from Queensland

1. The inscription is :

“IHS.

Erected by Patrick McKenna, Queensland

in affectionate remembrance of his father Arthur who died 1858 aged 50 years

and of his sister. Bridget who died 1880 aged 26 years

and of his following relatives Peter McGuigan, grandfather, who died 1864 aged 62 years and Sarah, grandmother, who died 1872, aged 60 years.

Bernard McGuigan, uncle who died 1891, aged 49 years and Mary, Aunt, who died 1892, aged 46 years.”

1. The whole inscription on the gravestone looks as if it was done at the same time
2. The gravestone looks old.

E McKenna:

Your message indicates that the 1857 Patrick McKenna and the 1891 Patrick McKenna both had parents with the same names--Arthur McKenna and Margaret McGuigan/McGuggan. Is that correct? 

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and found three baptismal records in Donaghmore RC church (see below) where the parents were Arthur McKenna and Margaret McKenna and in two of the records a female sponsor was a McGuigan. The other question is the record for Peter in 1860. The gravestone you cited indicated that Arthur McKenna died in 1858. Since the gravestone was erected after 1892 possibly the year of death listed for Arthur was incorrect.

Let me know and will look for further records.

Roger McDonnell

 

James McKenna baptized March 2 1854 Donaghmore RC church father Arthur McKenna mother Margaret McKenna sponsors John - Ann Maguigan

Patrick McKenna baptized March 17 1858 Donaghmore RC church father Arthur McKenna mother Margaret McKenna sponsors John - Mary McNamee

Peter McKenna Baptized April 26 1860 Donaghmore RC church father Arthur McKenna mother Margaret McKenna sponsors Bernard- Elizabeth Maguigan

Dear Roger

I have just today found these posts again and realised I hadnt replied. Thank you for the info - I feel we are getting somewhere at last. 

Through some recent DNA I am confident that Rachel, Margaret, Mary-Anne McKenna are all sisters and that Patrick (the older one) is a brother. I am equally sure that my grandfather cnannot have the same parents and that Arthur and Margaret must be his grandparents. It seems to much of a coincidence that there is a McGuigan connection. 

I am also trying to work out how a 12 yr old boy got from Dungannon to London to get on a ship to Australia but I know he was nominated by someone in Australia. 

I have found a census record saying that there ws an 11 yr old farm servant living with a 60 yr old aynt (maybe great aunt) Matilda and her 30 yr old bachelor sone John in Glenlark. This is consistent with his own birthdate and his listing of his father as a farmer. 

Dont know if any of that helps get me any further. 

regards

Elaine

Elaine:

Great to hear that you are making good progress. Feel free to add an ancestor story to our XO Chronicles sub site.

Roger

https://irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy

Hi there i not sure if the same family but I have got a brick wall as well.so this what I am know Bernard McKenna was married to Bridget Mullan they had patrick Bernard John James and then few daughter's could this be the same McKennas.if so patrick was my great great uncle John mclen was my great grandad.his son was John Leo McKenna born 1912 my grandad.his dad died in 1918 I the war and was just 40 years old his wife was jane McKenna was Mullan.if Anyone knows anymore info on this as can't find jane Any Where my grandad left Ireland after the war and moved to England many thanks Ann Marie xx

Also on my ancestry I do have the names thats mentioned in this post the surnames and Donnelly was a relative to.my grandad recalls his auntie moved to America and began a chef for Roosevelt I think.but i don't know her name xxx

Also my grandad was placed with his aunt when his mother died he was just 11 I think and there from dungannon xx