Francis Cooney from Curraghmore

Hi there,

Well what a great name to be researching! (Well I would say that being a Cooney myself!) I don't think that we are related however. My Cooneys are from the east Galway area.

There are Roman Catholic chruch records available for the diocese of Mullingar (Meath). These date from 1741/2 for baptismal records and 1737 for marriage records and 1757 for burial records. These are all remarkably early dates for church records, so you are very fortunate. You can find these at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 4161, 4162 and 4163. You can also find them at the Church of Latter Day Saints, film number 0926178. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest for more assistance.

Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864 however. You can access the website here: http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

You could also try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at. Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38). Microfilm copies of the books for all of Ireland are available at the National Archives of Ireland (NAI) http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/tithe-applotment-books-and-the-primary-griffith-valuation/ or the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS).

Have you tried checking the Ellis Island records (www.ellisisland.org) or the Castle Garden records (www.castlegarden.org)? Generally, more information was given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at, this could be a good place to find more information.

You might find a mention of Francis Cooney's death in a local newspaper. Perhaps there is mention of it on old family documents such as a family bible, or letters, etc.

Here are some other Mullingar related documents you could check;

1666 Hearth Money Roll of Mullingar, Franciscan College Journal, 1950.

1761-88 Freeholders. National Library of Ireland (NLI), Mss. 787/8

1763 Poll Book. Genealogical Office, 443.

1796 Spinning Wheel Premium List. 1,250 names for Co. Westmeath. Check www.failteromhat.com for this.

Here is a book you could look at: By Rev. John Brady, 'The parish of Mullingar', Mullingar: the Parish, 1962.

There are also estate records available. Many of these are available at the National Library of Ireland, or the National Archives of Ireland. 

Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

I have a birt cert for Patrick Cooney born 1 May 1866, son of Patrick Cooney of Curraghmore and Bridget Mullen Cooney.  This would be family that stayed in Ireland or left at a later date. 

Does anyone know of this family?

I am attaching a letter from the Dun na Si Heritage Center about my family.  

Francis Cooney & May Whelehan -Children

Mary born March 1831

Michael born Sept 1828

Anne born 1835

Patrick born ______

Thomas born Feb 1832 - he left for American aprox 1863

My Thomas Cooney left Ireland and there is no ships record.  It is my understanding that the records for Ellis Island start 1 Jan 1892. The ships records during the famine are not very good.  There are a few, but I have not been able to find any ancestors.

Thank you,

Barbara

I have a page from the Mullingar Library saying that Christphoer cooney married Catherine Canton Jun 1854.  

There is another page of baptisms -

July 1856- Essy Cooney born to christopher Cooney and Catherine Carton page 100

May 1860-Thomas Cooney born to christopher Cooney & Catherine Canton

July 1861- Michael Cooney born to Christopher Cooney and Catherine Canton page 136

Do you have any additonal information on this family?

thank you,

Barbara Scalon