I am researching our Regan family, and I am told that they came from County Cork but have not had any success finding documentation of the origins. My ancestor Michael Regan came to the U.S. about 1850, and he was born around 1830. He lived in NY for a short while, but settled and owned land that I believe he farmed in Narragansett Pier, RI. His wife was Sarah Ann Flynn Regan, and her grave stone states that she was from New Market, County Cork. I don't know if he was also from there and they came over together, or if they met once they were here. I haven't found anything regarding her family yet, and what I have found for him is that his father's name was John Regan, and he had a brother named Dennis, whose daughter, Mary Ellen Regan came to live with Michael. Mary Ellen married into the Egan family, and it appears as though her husband may have come over along with her, so I am thinking that the Egans and Regans were acquainted in Ireland as well. There is also a Kegan family that shows up in the RI census with them more than once. The Egan family continued to own the land in RI for several generations, and I believe still owns a few homes on the original property. Michael and Sarah Regan had at least three children that I am aware of, John F. Regan who settled in Newport Rhode Island, a son named George William Regan, who settled in NYC and is my direct paternal line, and a daughter named Mary Ann, who married Charles J. Weed, Jr. I believe they went to NY also. I have more details in my book about the family in the U.S., but I am hoping that someone might be able to help me find my Regans and Flynns in Cork.
Thanks to anyone who can offer some information.
Colleen5
Monday 4th Feb 2013, 05:07PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Colleen
Thank you for your query. Well firstly I would recommend that you check emigration records for a place of origin for Michael in Ireland. Generally more information was given at the port of arrival than the port of departure.
Ellis Island: http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSearch.asp (1892- 1924)
Castlegarden: http://www.castlegarden.org/ (1820-1892)
US National Archives/Immigration info: http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/
If the port of departure is listed for the UK ( e.g. Liverpool) you should also check the UK archives for passenger lists. You may find a place of origin if not previously listed:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
As for Sarah Ann I would suggest that you search the church records. Do you know what the religious denomination of your family was? you can view what Roman Catholic records exist for New Market through the link below:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/ (Browse Roman Catholic Parish Map) (West Cork, New Market)
This may give you a further connection to that area and the possibility of finding relatives on the Flynn side of your family. You may have to contact the local Heritage Centre or possibly even a parish priest for assistance.
http://mallowheritagecentre.com/
http://www.corkarchives.ie/genealogy/
http://irelandgenealogyprojects.rootsweb.ancestry.com/Old/Cork.htm
For Church of Ireland records see: http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/. The Anglican Record Project is has created an index to their records: http://ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/AngRecord/bunclodyunionindex.pdf
Here are some other websites that may be of help to you:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/
http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
http://ifhf.rootsireland.ie/?gclid=CKLT_Pa4wrUCFYUf4Qod4EoAGg
We hope that this information moves your research on Colleen. Please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support