Thomas O'Dea and Catherine Houlihan O'Dea

Ann Marie:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The Co. Clare library has excellent resources for genealogy http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm

Depending on the parish, church records may or may not be available in the 1830s/1840s.I looked on Find My Past and the closest Thomas O'Dea record I located was in 1829 in Tulla (see below) but without knowing the names of his parents, you could not confirm any record located.

I assume Thomas and Catherine were married in NYC?

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

Roger McDonnell

First name(s)ThomasLast nameODeaBirth year-Baptism year1829Baptism date03 Apr 1829ParishTullaDioceseKillaloeCountyClareCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)MartinFather's last nameODeaMother's first name(s)MaryMother's last nameLynchRepositoryNational Library of IrelandNational Library of Ireland linkhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634804#page/1/mode/1upRegisterBaptism

Thank you, Roger, for the information!  I have not determined where they were married.....I cannot find them (YET) on the NYC census information available through Ancestry.com.   Will have to make a trip to NYC and go through the microfilm for the neighborhood where the death certificates record residence.

Will pursue the Clare County Library system for those reference books on a history of the O'Dea family. 

Your suggestion about autosomal DNA testing is intriguing.  I do not know much about the various types of DNA testing.....have only done the Ancestry one which has confirmed the amount of Irish I have (and my mother has more).  Are there advantages to female autosomal DNA testing?  Unfortunately I do not know of any males with the O'Dea or Houlihan genes (EXCEPT my two brothers).

Thank you!!

Best wishes for a very happy holiday season!!

Ann Marie

Ann Marie:

The Ancestry test you took is an autosomal test which can be taken by males or females and shows matches on both your paternal and maternal lines. Have you looked at your matches and seen if anyone has O'Dea or Houhlihan connections or  connections to Clare?

Happy holidays to you and your family!

Roger

Happy Holidays to you and your family, Roger!

Yes, have PAINFULLY gone through the 4th-8th cousin connections from Ancestry DNA with no luck.  For Christmas, have sent my brothers DNA kits and am hopeful the new year will bring some possibilities!

Am still searching for those reference books which sounded like O'Dea/O'Dee/O'Day family history.  It will be one of my snow day projects!  So far, we have only had a little snow in the New York City area.....more predicted tonight.

All my best,

Ann Marie

Hi Ann Marie!

I live near Baltimore. We had a little snow overnight but mostly ice. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Let us know if you need more help.

Roger

Oh my!!!  Just heard of an auto pile-up near Baltimore with the ice/snow of Saturday.  Our family has avoided tragedy in their USA travels- although the Portland brother is filming cars sliding sideways down his street and the Oklahoma brother just drove to PA through that awful ice storm.  His reports from interstates were chilling........

Thanks, again, for your direction!  Looking forward to the winter projects of ancestry that beg for another trip across the pond!

My best to you and your family!

Ann Marie