Hello,
Looking for any help on the Potter Family of Castleblakeney. Winifred Potter married Patrick Deane in 1845, aged 23. She was widowed according to her marriage cert. Her father was John Potter, Church of Ireland Parish Clerk of Casltleblakeney. Her previous husband's name was not mentioned. I have visited the church, now a heritage centre, and although I received great help from the team there, I'm stuck!.
I have traced Elizabeth, Mary (who married Richard Cotter) and Delia, in the census's of 1901 and 1911. They ran the Post Office. Their brother was Thomas Alexander, who lived in nearby Ashfield. Their brother George Ormsby Potter became a Justice of the Peace and moved to Ballinrobe in Mayo. They had a maiden aunt, Elizabeth Ormsby who was 84years of age in the census of 1901, therefore born about 1817. This would indicate their mother was an Ormsby. I have traced the marriage banns of a John Potter, parish clerk, and Bridget Ormsby in 1834, but this would make the marriage too late for them both to be the parents of Winifred born about 1822.
I wonder if John Potter was married twice, and Winifred was born of the first marriage? His death certificate in 1865 states he was 65 years old, which would make it possible for him to be the father of Winifred. Only a few church records relating to Potters survive, and none shed any light on the above quandary. The marriage certificate of Mary Potter and Richard Cotter states that her father, John Potter, was a farmer, which I imagine could have been compatible with being parish clerk, which was probably only a part-time occupation.
Any help regarding either the Potter or Ormsby families of Castleblakeney would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Jean
cmcd2
Friday 26th Jul 2013, 10:21PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Jean,
Thank you very much for your message. You obviously have done a lot of research on your family history! I hope that someone with information on this family makes a connection with you and helps you to further your research.
It may also be an idea to contact the East Galway Family History Society to see if they can be of any assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email: galwayroots@eircom.net
In the meantime here are some websites that you may find helpful:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm
Family Search: www.familysearch.org
Genealogy links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/galway/index.html
Mailing List: http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/IRL/IRL-GALWAY.html
Irish Genealogy Tool-kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/index.html
From Ireland: http://www.from-ireland.net/county-galway-genealogy/
All the best,
Genealogy Support
Emma Carty