Baptisms in both Killoe and County Clare

At that point in time there was a townland named Killow in County Clare and Ennis was the Poor Law Union.  Civil Registration started in 1864, so you need to know what the Roman Catholic parish is in order to find the baptismal records prior to 1864.

You might try IrelandGenWeb, the Clare Library or the Clare Heritage Center.

Hi Bill:

I agree with Anne.  The best place to start is at the Clare County Library website  www.clarecountylibrary.ie.  They have excellent online resources and you will be able to search through their website.

The very best of luck with your research.  You might note that the Clare Roots Society has done a lot of work on Ennis and their website may be useful too.  Note the address:  www.clareroots.org. 

Jane

Hi Bill:

I just did a quick library search for you.  Killow is indeed in the Ennis parish area.  It is under Clareabbey.  If you log onto the Clare County Library Website, and go into the Townlands Index on the right hand side, you can click this on and check the information.

All the best,

Jane

Anne and Tulla,

I really appreciate all the help.  I will follow up on your research recommendations.  I am hoping to travel to Ireland next year to follow up further on both the O'Brien and Sanders lines.  My maternal great grandfather allegedly emigrated from Dublin in the 1830's.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything yet regarding his parents or where specifically he came from in Dublin.

Bill

Bill,

You might also check the Tithe Applotments on familysearch.org (the records for Clare are from 1828 I think) and if you have access to Ancestry.com, they have Griffith's Valuation 1847-1864.  I think you have to have the world membership.  If you don't happen to have access to it let me know and I can look it up for you and send you the page by email.

The National Library in Dublin has most of the church records on microfilm, so if you are going to be in Dublin you might want to visit there.  I'm sure you will have a great time in Ireland it's such a beautiful country.

I have the same problem with my gr, gr, gr grandparents on one side of the family.  They were supposedly married in Dublin in the late 1830's and in Canada by 1838, but I have no idea where in Dublin they were married or where they lived.

It's a good idea to research other children in the family too, you might find information you don't have or relatives that might be able to add something helpful.

Good luck,

Anne

Anne and Tulla,

Really appreciate the research advice you provided me earlier.  Through the on-line resources of the County Clare Library I was able to locate information on my great-great Grandmother's death including a photo of her grave stone.  This also confirmed her name as there was some question as to what her name was.

I also found some useful information through the Griffith's Valuation 1855 for Clareabbey, Ennis, County Clare.  I have copies of the information from the O'Brien bible that reflects the baptism dates for my great-great Grandpartners' children.  The information in the bible reflects the names of the sponsors:  James Doherty. Bridget Cuddihy, Pat O'Brien, Bridget O'Brien, Edmond Cuddihy, Mary O'Brien, Edmund Doherty, John O'Brien, and Mary O'Brien.  I cut and pasted data from the Griffith's Valuation document that may be identifiable with some of these individuals.  I have enclosed a copy of that document.  I know that the valuation was connected to the determination of the value of the land owned by individuals and that the County Clare valuation was actually done in 1856.  My great-great Grandfather departed Ireland with his children about 5 years after the valuation and was in his early 40's at the time of the valuation.

Do either of you have any suggestions on how to refine this information further?  As you can see, there are several names that could be my great-great Grandfather, Michael O'Brien, as well as others whom I have identified through information in the family bible.  Other than the death information on my great-great Grandmother, Susan Doherty O'Brien, I was not able to find any other birth, marriage, or death information on potential relatives.  What I am really looking for is information identifying the parents of Michael O'Brien and Susan Doherty.

Best,

Bill

Hi Bill:

Thanks very much for your information.  I looked at what you had found on the library website and I'm absolutely delighted that you got so much information.  That website is a treasure for those of us who do County Clare research!! 

I know that this is probably a shot in the dark, but if you followed through on the names in the 1901 and 1911 Census, it might give you an idea of whether or not the whole family left, or if some members remained.  Also, if any of the ancestors had a trade, the Directories might be of some use to you.

The Clare Roots Society has done a lot of work on the graveyards in the Ennis area.  You might try their link on the library website to see if there are any headstones with your particular names and locations.  Also, have you checked the Ennis parish records?  They are online at www.ennisparish.org  (I believe).  If you google Ennis parish records, it will give you the exact address. 

Keep checking back with the library as they are always putting new material on the website.  The very best of luck to you in your research.  I'm delighted that you are getting some answers! 

Jane

Bill,

As Jane suggested, I would definitely check the 1901 & 1911 census for other relatives.

Do you have a copy of Michael's or Susan's death certificate?  The parents names may be listed there.  Do you know if any of their brothers or sisters left Ireland - you might try to find death records for them also.  If you haven't done so already, you might try the church records where they were buried from as they might have the parents names listed.

The only other thing I can think of is to look for estate records or rent rolls for County Clare if they exist.  The Clare Library might be able to help you with that.

I looked up the Tithe Applotment for Killow and some of the names you mentioned are listed.  If the file attachments don't get through let me know.