Peter McPartland, Michael Wrenn

My GG grandfather John McPartland (born cc1830) and wife Bridget (nee Wrenn born cc1829) on their Scotland marriage record in 1855 state they are fro Co. Sligo.

Both their fathers (Peter and Michael resp) are listed as farmers. I can find neither Peter McParlan(d) nor Michael Wrenn in the 1833 Tithe Applotment books for Co. Sligo, when they would have rented their plots. However, there are two Peter McPartlan(d)s in the books for Inishmagrath Parish, Leitrim and nearby Kilronan, Roscommon. There is also only one Michael Wrenn I can find renting 6 acres in Cornagee Townland, Kilronan in the Applotment Book. Peter McParland rents 9 acres with his brother Patt in the adjacent Townland of Srananooan, both on the SE slopes of Corry Mountain.

I believe they were the fathers of John and Bridget.

I understand that both the family names were pretty well unique to that area of Leitrim/Roscommon, round Lough Allen at the time

John McPartland in Scotland is a "collier" on his 1855 marriage record, and (very unusually for a woman) Bridget is a "pithead worker".

I don't believe that it's any coincidence that both almost certainly lived above the Arigna Mines, and it is likely they had some working experience before arriving in Scotland, which would have helped Bridget to find work.

All four of John and Bridget's parents are listed as deceased on their 1855 marriage record. There is a strong possibility they were famine victims, as they would not been any older than about 55 at the time of the marriage, and unlikely all would be deceased in normal circumstances. I suspect that John and Bridget, or even some of the families, may have travelled though Co. Sligo to Sligo Port to leave for Scotland, which may explain an error the marriage record.

In Summary:

Peter and Helen (or Ellen, nee Smith) McPartland, son John (b 1830)

Michael and Catherine (nee Follen or Fallon) Wrenn, daughter Bridget (b 1831).

If anyone, is descended from, or has any information on these families around the famine period in the Kilronan (or Inishmagath) areas, or may be descended from these families, can they please contact me by email here . They have many descendants, through John and Bridget, in the West of Scotland area. My wife and I will be visiting the area next week and would be pleased to meet up,

Richard