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Both sides of my mother-in-law's family originated in Elphin, Strokestown, Roscommon. 

Thomas McGinnis was born in September, 1863 to Michael McGinnis and Mary Agnes Bierne.  Michael and Mary emigrated to New York City sometime after Thomas was born and had six more children in New York.  By 1900 Thomas was married to Mary Tarrant from Cork.  Thomas (working as a postman) and Mary were living in Bayonne, New Jersey where they had Marha Rosalie in 1897 and Leo Joseph in 1900. Martha is my wife's grandmother.

John Joseph Dolan was born in 1865 to (unknown) Dolan and (unknown) Sharkey.  John emigrated to Worcester, Massachusetts prior to 1891 and married Mary Elizabeth Boyle, the daughter of Daniel F Boyle and Elizabeth A Farrell. Family lore says that Daniel may have been from Galway and Elizabeth from Shannon -- neither of these locations have been confirmed.  John and Mary were living in Worcester and had Daniel James in 1891, John Francies in 1894, Thomas F in 1900, and Vincent Joseph in 1905.  John Francis in my wife's grandfather.

Thomas McGinnis and John Joseph Dolan were said to be friends (and may have been related) when they lived in Elphin.  That is probably true because John Francis Dolan (my wife's grandfather) is living with the McGinnis family in the Bayonne, New Jersey while he was getting established as an insurance and stock broker.  He is listed as a cousin.

John Francis Dolan and Martha Rosalie McGinnis were married in 1922.

Doe anyone know anything about the Dolan and McGinnis families from Elphin, Strokestown, Roscommon?

Friday 13th Jul 2012, 02:18PM

Message Board Replies

  • My grandmother was Ellen Dolan, daughter of Thomas Dolan and Margaret Connor.  After she came to worcester, Massachusets, she married my grandfather Michael McCarthy (from Clare).  She had a number of brothers and sisters who were also in Worcester, MA.  I wonder if we are related?  Curious that she came from Elphiin, her name was Dolan and was also in Worcester! 

    Tuesday 17th Sep 2013, 11:49PM
  • Margaret,

    Thanks very much for the reply.  Do you know the names and birth years of Ellen's brothers and sisters?  This could be just the clue I need to identify the family in the Irish census records.  There were a good number of Dolans in Worcester bu I am hopeful that since Ellen came from Elphin that we might get a match.  I'm looking forward to your reply.

    Dan

    Thursday 19th Sep 2013, 03:27AM
  • Margaret,

    Thanks very much for the reply.  Do you know the names and birth years of Ellen's brothers and sisters?  This could be just the clue I need to identify the family in the Irish census records.  There were a good number of Dolans in Worcester bu I am hopeful that since Ellen came from Elphin that we might get a match.  I'm looking forward to your reply.

    Dan

    Thursday 19th Sep 2013, 03:29AM

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