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I had previously traced my GGG Grandfather, Valentine Rochfort, to Meath, and one of the towns he possibly sprang from was Kells. I am now fairly certain that he was born in Mullagh, Cavan. He was born in 1792. The 1821 cencus shows a family of Rochford (the "t" and the "d" are often interchangeable in my family history) living in Mullagh, with a father called Richard, mother Catherine, sons Thomas, Walter and Stephen and daughters Mary and Ann. Valentine was not present on the census, because, if this is the correct family, he had already migrated to Bradford, Yorkshire. I can trace Valentine later to Bradford, where his paths cross with a Walter and  Stephen Rochfort who are of identical ages to the Mullagh boys. Family naming patterns suggest his mother was indeed Catherine. There is a Valentine Rochfort on the subscription list for the "Doway Bible" IN 1816, but I believe the list to be out of date as Valentine had left Ireland in 1813. There are further references found to Valentine, who had become very influentual in the Bradford Catholic Parish, reading out a letter from a Fr O'Reilly, the parish priest of Mullagh, and another from the Protestant minister of Carlanstown, Meath while fund-raising for famine relief.

I am trying to trace the family back any further than Richard and Catherine and am wondering if any records exist in the town that can be of help. I do suspect I have possibly reached a dead end, but who knows.

Another distant line of my family, a GGG Aunt on my father's father's mother's line, married the son of one of the Brinsley Sheridan family, who I believe also spring from Mullagh!

Michael Rochfort, Sydney, Australia.

Rochfort

Thursday 16th Jul 2015, 05:48AM

Message Board Replies

  • Michael:

    You may want to contact the Cavan County library branch in Virginia which is the closest branch to Mullagh to see if they can suggest any earlier records.  http://www.cavanlibrary.ie/Default.aspx?StructureID_str=55

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 16th Jul 2015, 02:13PM

  • Hi Michael,

     

    I'm just taking a look through recent post on Mullagh. I normally cover Moynalty, Co Meath the neighbouring parish.

    Are you looking for catholics. The catholic church records are available for Mullagh from 1760 to 1790 approx and then 1842 to 1900 with small gaps. This early batch of records will be your only source pre 1821 census. Rochfort/d is not a common name and as best I recall, any you find belong to the one family. I did abit of research for another lady with Rochfort roots from 1830s era from mullagh. I'll review my notes and get back to you and give the lady a ring. she lives in Mullagh, but is elderly at this stage. Please send your e-mail address to Moynalty@irelandxo.com and I'll discuss anything further I have on Rochforts with you there. Valentine was in her family names.

     

    A few useful links for you:

    1. this whole website -  www.irishtimes.com/ancestors . don't buy anything here. can be got free on other website with a bit of legwork by you.
    2. available church records - http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseact… . note pre 1842, Mullagh and Killinkere where a single parish.
    3. unindexed church registers free at http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0841 and http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0850 . Mullagh is in the diocese of Kilmore.
    4. indexed subscription church transcripts with link to free registers at www.rootsireland.ie
    5. you might get lucky on www.familysearch.org, but try locate the actual source info to valide the info
    6. www.findmypast.ie, a subscription website is the best for irish records and they are continually digitising new records
    7. http://www.nationalarchives.ie/digital-resources/introduction/  - going backwards in time - 1911 and 1901 irish census, wills calendars, tithe applotments. these are all stand alone documents.
    8. http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/ search under name search and place search . This survey in te Mullagh area was completed sometime time between 1848-1856 and reported on by 1856. Unfortuntaely the bridging records (rates books/local property tax equivelant) from this report to modern times are not digitised for Co Cavan and are open to the public in Dublin for research http://www.valoff.ie/en/Archives_Genealogy_Public_Office/

    Regards

    Catherine McCormack

    Moynalty parish volunteer

     

     

     

     

     

    cathm43, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 27th Dec 2015, 02:32AM

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