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Looking for any possible birth/family/residence/emigration information on my maternal Great Great Grandparents.  My Great Great Grandfather's name was Patrick Donovan.  All I know of him is he was born around 1834 in Old Ross.  He emigrated to North America in the late 1830s or early 1840s, though we don't know what port he arrived at.  Patrick eventually ended up in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in the mid-1850s.  I know nothing else about him except that he died on 14 Sep 1872 Monroe County, Arkansas, USA.  My Great Great Grandmother's name was Anastasia Forrestal, born in Old Ross around 1840.  She and some of her family emigrated to the United States in the late 1840s or early 1850s.  According to verbal family history, Anastasia said she and her family arrived in the USA at the port of New Orleans (unfortunately, we cannot find the record of their arrival at that port).  During customs processing, her given name was written down as "Annie Statie", and she kept that given name for the rest of her life.  After processing through customs, she and her family travelled up the Mississippi River and settled in St. Louis, Missouri.  It was there that she met Patrick Donovan, and they married in 1858 or 1859.  Soon after their marriage, they moved to Monroe County, Arkansas, USA, where they remained for the rest of their lives.  Sadly, we have no record of the parents' names for either person, nor do we know the names of any of their siblings, and that has significantly hindered our genealogical search.  Can you please, if you get some spare time, check to see if any of the records of the families in the Old Ross area during the mid-1800s who left for North America may possibly resemble those of my Great Great Grandparents?  I know my lack of Patrick and Anastasia's family's information makes this search rather difficult, but any information you may possibly find would be of great help to us.  Thank you!  Josephine          

Tuesday 31st Dec 2013, 12:09AM

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  • The baptism and marriage records for New Ross parish are not on-line anywhere so far as I can tell. However the good news is that they go back to 1789 (with a few gaps). There?s a copy in the National Library in Dublin and the originals should be with the parish priest.

    If you are not able to search them yourself, you may need to employ a researcher to look them up for Anastasia?s birth. You could write to the parish priest but they don?t always have the time to undertake genealogical research.

    The news for Old Ross is not so good. Though their records go back to the 1700s, there is a gap in the baptisms between 1830 & 1851 which is when Patrick was reportedly born,. So you may struggle to confirm his baptism from that source.

    Source:

    http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/

    Ahoghill Antrim

    Tuesday 31st Dec 2013, 01:06AM
  • Thank you for the information.  Both of my Great Great Grandparents were born in Old Ross, so based on what you told me I understand why it's been such a challenge to find them and their families from baptismal records.  I will keep trying and will let you know if I have any success.  Again, thank you, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year!  Josephine     

    Tuesday 31st Dec 2013, 05:21PM
  • Old Ross COI records; (Cantwell's Memorial of the Dead)

    -----

    Patrick Forristal; (Courthoyle); 20/8/1867 (67) (b.1800)

    his mother-Ellen; 6/7/1853 (90) (b.1763)

    hie daughter-Catherine; 4/7/1862 (25) (b.1837)

    2 children-Patrick/Anne; died young.

    his wife-Mary; 8/12/1874 (63) (b.1811)

    his son-William; 18/6/1889 (46) (b.1843)

    ================

    Jack Mc Donald

    Monday 2nd Jun 2014, 07:51PM
  • St Mary's & Michaels New Ross;

    ---

    Presented by James Donovan R.D. in memory of his parents

    James/Margaret.

    ============

    St Marys New Ross;

    --

    Ann Donovan; wife of Henry

    18/8/1746 (24) (b.1722)

    --------

    St Stephens New Ross;

    --

    Gerard Forrestal; 1787 (26) (b.1761)

    =======================

    Jack Mc Donald

    Monday 2nd Jun 2014, 08:04PM
  • Jack, thank you for the research/notice.  Unfortunately, these are not my ancestors.  I have records showing Patrick Donovan died in the United States in 1872, and his wife Anastasia/Annie Forrestal Donovan died in the United States in 1928.

    Thank you again for your help.  I do appreciate your assistance.

    Josephine Durham Lorando

       

    Tuesday 3rd Jun 2014, 04:06PM
  • Jack, thank you for the research/notice.  Unfortunately, these are not my ancestors.  I have records showing Patrick Donovan died in the United States in 1872, and his wife Anastasia/Annie Forrestal Donovan died in the United States in 1928.

    Thank you again for your help.  I do appreciate your assistance.

    Josephine Durham Lorando

       

    Tuesday 3rd Jun 2014, 04:07PM
  • Patrick and Annie are also my great great grandparents. I grew up on the farm they bought in 1867 in Monroe County. Patrick is buried there I have a photo of the headstone. My grandmother was Margaret Donovan, daughter of William Lawrence Donovan and Willie Belle Donovan.

    Friday 18th Mar 2016, 08:29PM
  • Justin, it's nice to hear from you!  Can I please ask you for a huge favor?  Can you e-mail to me a copy of the picture of the headstone?  I'd also like to chat with you a bit via e-mail about your family.  My Mom, who's still alive, remembers your Grandmother Maggie very, very well.  If you lived on the farm, you may have even met my Mom once or twice (Nadine Germany Durham).  Anyways, my e-mail address is:  camping.out@gmail.com      I hope to hear from you soon!  Josephine

    Saturday 19th Mar 2016, 06:29PM

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