I have a certified copy from a Baptismal Register for August 14, 1840 showing that my Great grandmother Catherine Higgins was baptised on that date. I know that her parents were Ellen Lyons and John Higgins and that she had 2 brothers, Andrew and John. The sponsors were what looks like John Mullroy or Mullry and Catherine Mulrennan. Although the PP listed below as sending the letter was John O'Malley, the officiating clergymay seems to have ben a Rev pat Duffy who was parish priest at the time. I don't know what parish it was as none as listed. Also that clergyman did not sign the register. From Massachusetts census records it appears that Catherine was born in March but not baptised until August.
I know that although both John and Andrew stayed in Ireland they sent their children to Massachusetts and I have documented them.
I am looking for any information regarding families which tie into this event. That is to say, Lyons, relatives or event descendants of the sponsors, who might have been related in some way.
Also I am looking for any information on James Finegan who was born in 1838 to James Finegan and Ellen Murray. He had at least two sisters who also ended up in Massachusetts. Mary Finegan born March 1828 and Kate born in 1829. I suspect that he was from a much larger family but don't have any leads at this point.
When the records were requested in 1912, the priest who sent them was John O'Malley PP and the address is Bekan, Ballyhaunis, Ireland.
AFDoane
Monday 4th Feb 2013, 07:01PMMessage Board Replies
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Just wondering if you have checked these websites.
Bekan Cemetery in Findagrave (I've been to this Graveyard recently and may have some photos that are not here)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2206689&CScn=beka…;
Another good Cemetery Listing (Ballyhaunis would be near Bekan, also a Cemetery at Knock nearby)
http://www.irishgraveyards.ie/search.php?yardid=0&lastname=Lyons&firstn…
Have you checked the 1901/1911 to see if the above surnames are listed
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=19…
Also there is Griffiths Vaulations, in 1850's
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNam…
Tithe Applotments in 1823-37
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…
Good Luck with your research
Monday 4th Feb 2013, 08:56PM -
Obviously Bekan is the correct parish for your Higgins ancestors. Fr Pat Duffy was parish priest there 1832-51 and Fr John O'Malley 1912-26. Because pre-Famine records are so sparse, it may be difficult to identify the townland where the Higgins-Lyons family lived. Both surnames are common in Bekan, Lyons being the most numerous of all. The names of the baptismal sponsors (who often were neighbours) can be helpful in pinpointing the location. Do you have the names of the sponsors for John and Andrew Higgins? Or a marriage record for John Higgins and Ellen Lyons? Another sibling would appear to be Ellen, daughter of John Higgins and Ellen Lyons, who was baptised in Bekan on 10 November 1833 (sponsors: John McHugh and Mary Lyons). I note that Mulry and Mulrennan were sponsors for Catherine Higgins. I would tentatively suggest that the townland of Cloonbulban may be the location of the Higgins home. In 1835 there was a John Higgins there. Among the other 21 households in the townland were John Mulry, John Lyons, Hubert Mulrennan and Patrick Mulrennan. There was a McHugh (or McCue) family in the adjacent townalnd of Bekan. Even if it can be established that Cloonbulban is the right townland, tracing descendants of the families in question may still be problematical since only one or two of the original families survive there today.
Quidnunc
Saturday 6th Apr 2013, 11:17PM