Breen/McDonald

My Breen/McDonald lineage is from County Wexford as told by family members.  My Great-grandmother and grandmother travelled out of New Ross to Boston, Massachusetts on a ship in 1906 after they visited the area.  I expect they visited relatives that year and this documentation gave me my first ever clue as to the location in County Wexford where they might be from.  My Great-grandmother was born in Ireland, Wexford County.  Her name was Anastasia McDonald, married to William Breen, also from Wexford County.  They met in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts at the Gormley Estate where they were both working. They married in Boston area.  They named their children Martin Walter Breen, Mary Ellen Breen (my grandmother), Margaret F. Breen, and Anastasia C. Breen. 

Anastasia's parents are Thomas McDonald & Margaret Ferris bc 1814, both born Wexford County where they married as far as I know.

The McDonald name was pronunced "McDunnah", which we had thought was spelled McDonaugh, but when genealogy searches were begun we found the spelling as McDonald on documentations for Anastasia.

Research notes: 

1880 Census US – Margaret McDonald, age 55, widow, was a visitor in William Breen and family’s home on Jamaica Street in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts.  Would have been her daughter’s home; Anastasia.

1890 – Massachusetts, Town & Vital Records 1620-1988 (ancestry.com) Deaths in Boston, MA – Recorded Sep 11; 1890 Sep 9 death of Margaret McDonald listed, No. 7354, age 76 of 40 Jamaica, Spouse: Thomas, born Ireland, Heart Disease, Informant: J. D. Fallon

1890 – Massachusetts Death Records 1841-1915 (ancestry.com)

Margaret McDonald bc 1814 Ireland; died age 76 of Heart Disease & Pulmonary Odema, Sep 9 1890 Boston, Mass. At 40 Jamaica, Boston, Mass.

Added to findagrave.com: Grave Memorial No. 127916098 

We also know Anastasia had a sister named Ellen McDonald bc 1941 County Wexford.  She died 27 Feb 1926 Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA.  Ellen married James Droney Maltster, who was born in Ireland about 1843. He died before 1900 when Ellen is marked as widow on US Census in Boston, Massachusetts after living in Ontario County, New York with her husband and children 1870 & 1880 US Census. 

1870 Census US – 24 June – Canandaigua, Ontario, New York James Droney Head  age 22 b. Ireland  Works in Brewery; Ellen Wife age 25 b. Ireland cannot read or write; Margaret Daughter age 5 mos. b. Dec 1869 NY

1880 Census US - 8 Jun - Ward 23, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts James Droney Head age 37 b. Ireland Maltster Parents b. Ireland; Ellen Wife age 40 b. Ireland cannot read/write Parents b. Ireland; Margaret Daughter age 10 b. NY; Mary Daughter age 7 b. NY; James Son age 5 b. NY; Nellie Daughter age 4 b. NY; Henry Son age 1 b. Massachusetts

1900 Census US - 9 Jun - Boston, Ward 22, Suffolk County, Massachusetts 128 Green St. (rent) Droney, Ellen Head age 58 b. month unknown 1841 Ireland Widow Immigrated 1871 28yrs in US Parents b. Ireland; Henry Son age 21 b. Jan 1879 Mass Single Brewery Labourer Parents b. Ireland

1913 US City Directories 1821-1989 Boston Massachusetts - Ellen Droney widow James bds 44 W. Seveth St S B

1920 Census US - Canandaigua Ward 2, Ontario, New York/Canandaignua Hotel, Pleasant St. Ellen Droney Employee age 70 b. Ireland Hotel housework can read/write Immigrated 1846 AL Parents b. Ireland

I did find a Thomas McDonald in County Kilkenny in 1901 Census Ireland and in 1911 Census Ireland.  He was born in Kilkenny and his wife and children live with him in Kilkenny where they were all born.  As Kilkenny is so close to New Ross I thought maybe he might be a brother or a cousin of my Anastasia McDonald.

1901 Census Ireland – 31 March - Millbanks, Rosbercon, Kilkenny (census.nationalarchives.ie)   (These twps are right near New Ross, Ireland);Thomas McDonald Head age 54 b. 1847 Kilkenny County Farm Servant Reads/writes Roman Catholic (all); Margaret Wife age 52 b. 1849 Kilkenny County Reads/writes; Maurice Son age 15 b. 1886 Kilkenny County Farm Servant; Cannot read; Patrick Son age 8 b. 1892 Kilkenny County Reads; Michael Son age 12 b. 1889 Kilkenny County    Reads & Writes; Johanna Shanahan Aunt age 75 b. 1826 Kilkenny County Single Reads & Writes    Speaks Irish & English; Mary Holden SIL age 62 b. 1839 Kilkenny County Single General Servant Domestic Reads/writes Speaks Irish & English; Joseph McDonald Nephew age 2 b. 1899 Wexford County

1911 Census Ireland – 2 Apr - Ballyanne, Wexford – Family Roman Catholic Thomas McDonald   age 64 b. 1847 Kilkenny County Farm Labourer Reads/writes; Margret Wife age 62 b. 1849 Kilkenny County Married 30 yrs 5 children, 5 living Reads/writes; Joseph Son age 12 b. 1899 Kilkenny County  Scholar Reads/writes

William Patrick Breen's parents are Martin Breen & Sarah Rigle(a)y (spelling unknown), also both born in Ireland (unknown parts).  A sister of William's is named Ellen M. Breen who was born in Wexford as well about 1941.  She died at age 66 or 68 on 9 Nov 1909 at my grandmother's home in Boston, Massachusetts.

So these are the details I know of.  Looking forward to any information I can find about my lineage through this family.  I do have other Irish backgrounds through my father's side of the family, but I can add them in later as I have really no location in Ireland where they might have come.  Thank you. Kathy Rupp