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My g-grandfather, Andrew Howlin, was born in Courtnacuddy and baptized in Davidstown parish in 1841.  Andrew's father was Thomas and his mother was Mary Kirwin.  I believe Andrew had two siblings, Michael b. 1844 and Elizabeth b. 1846.  I think I found Michael's death record on IrishGenealogy.ie in 1917.  There is a death record for Eliza Howlin in 1889 but no image of the record is available.  Any additional information on this family would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Bob Carroll

RPC

Friday 12th May 2017, 12:50AM

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  • I had a good look through the Davidstown records and did not find any additional children for Thomas and Mary, but did locate a good match for their marriage in the same parish in 1840 - Thomas Howlin & Mary Kirwan married 2nd March 1840 (3rd entry left page). There are three witnesses - Peter Leacy, Martin Tracy[?] and John Neill.

    The images for civil death records currently online on IrishGenealogy only cover from about 1892, but earlier images will be added. If you prefer not to wait you could order a research cert costing €4.

    For reference here a link to the death for Michael in 1917 - reported age 65 (c1852), place of death Courtnacuddy townland, occupation farmer, married, cause of death Dilation of the Heart, 8 months, informant his wife Bridget. The couple appear at Courtnacuddy townland on the 1911 census with four of their seven children, and in the same townland in 1901.

    Michael married Bridget Buttle on the 24th August 1886 at Boulavogue Chapel, his residence as Courtnacuddy and father is given as Michael .. possibly a mistake like the father's name of Andrew's baptism..?

    There is a marriage of Eliza Howlin of Courtnacuddy in 1885 to Patrick Nolan at Davidstown chapel, her father's name is also given as Michael Howlin, small farmer

    Griffith's Valuation which took place during 1853 for this area show a Michael Howlin (4th entry on the list) leasing a house offices (barns stables workshops etc) and land of just under 30 acres. No other Howlins listed with property in the townland that I could see. Maybe Thomas worked a farm with this Michael - or Michael was a middle name he went by instead on Thomas ?

    p.s. there's a possible match for your Andrew Howlin in the Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossing records on FamilySearch - he is showen as arriving in 1909 [?] from Canada, with a planned destination of Detroit. The record gives his age as 59, place of birth as Davidstown, Co. Wexford, and father as James... father's name is difficult to read, but looks like James on that 1841 baptism.

     

    Shane Wilson, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Friday 12th May 2017, 07:09AM
  • Thank you for this information.  That 1841 baptism for Andrew with the wrong father's name has bothered me for a long time.  As I found the 2 siblings baptism records with Thomas and Mary Kirwin as the parents I assumed Andrew's baptism record was just a mistake.  However, that Canadian record you found for Andrew makes me question that assumption.  The only emigration record I have for Andrew is the information provided on the 1910 US Census when he was living with his son Michael in Philadelphia.  On that census Andrew's immigration date is listed as 1866.  I know those dates aren't necessarily real accurate but it does seem to rule out 1909 as a possible arrival date and I do have good documentation of him living in Philadelphia from 1870 until his death in 1915.  It just seems hard to believe that James and Thomas Howlin both married a woman called Mary Kirwin and had a son named Andrew in the same area and at the same time.  Hopefully, as more records come online, I'll be able to resolve this question.  Thanks again.

    Bob Carroll

     

    RPC

    Saturday 13th May 2017, 12:57PM

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