Another Nevin/Navin/McNevin from Co. Tipperary, Parish of Ballingarry

I read Mr. Cameron’s postings with great interest, due to my own complicated Ballingarry ancestry.  I am seeking anyone in the Ballingarry area who knows of my people, or has any information which might be relevant.  My great-grandfather, Anthony McNevin, born ca. 1828, arrived in the Port of NY 23 December 1856 with his wife, Margaret O’Brien, possibly of Clonmel area (who died before 1867), his widowed mother, Bridget McNevin, born ca. 1787-1792, and his sister, also Bridget McNevin, born ca. 1832.  On the ship’s list, Anthony gave his occupation as “gardener” rather than the much more likely “laborer”.

Extensive search of documents found in the U.S showed they had been preceded to New York in 1851 by Anthony’s unmarried sister, Margaret McNevin, listed as Nevin on the ship’s passenger list, but thereafter always as McNevin.  She stated in 1860 that she was born ca. 1828 in Ballingarry, and her parents were “Jno. and Bridget (Ryan)” [McNevin].  When Bridget McNevin, Anthony’s sister, married in 1866, she, too stated her parents were John McNevin and Bridget, and her witness was Margaret McNevin, her apparent older sister. 

Griffiths valuation had no McNevin names listed in County Tipperary 1848-1864.  There are numerous Nevin/Navan/Navin/Naven in other parishes of Co. Tipp., but only one individual named in Ballingarry parish, Townland of Farranrory, Upper, OS#49, map ref 4a: Line 17; John Navan, whose landlord was William Corcoran.  It was located very near the famous Widow McCormack’s house (of 1848).  Michael Sullivan, a Catholic MP was the landowner for most of the land in the townland of Farranrory Upper.  John Navan is listed in House Book 1 and Book 2, 1845 and 1848, but in the book for 1856-1933, pages 23-24, for Farranrory Upper, John Navan is no longer listed, and it appears the house he lived in may have been pulled down.  There was no McNevin name variant found as a Ballingarry tenant/occupier 1856-1946 in Griffiths, tending to indicate the family may have left 1856 or before.

Conclusion:  If Anthony McNevin, his wife, sister and widowed mother came in to New York 23 December 1856, and his other sister had stated she was from the parish of Ballingarry, I think it is highly possible that this man John Navan was the husband of the widow Bridget McNevin, and father of Anthony, Bridget and Margaret McNevin.  Additionally, If Anthony McNevin arrived in NY stating his occupation was gardener, and he worked as a gardener for the rest of his life, my hypothesis is that he may have been a gardener on a landed estate in the area, especially since the entire family seems to have survived in the area through the Famine before emigrating.  There is a tenuous thread which may link John “Navin” to the area of Glengal, just near Ballingarry in 1821, but that is a longer, more lurid tale.

I can’t say if Richard Cameron’s people are related to this John Navin of Ballingarry.  But, Mr. Cameron, if you have done DNA testing, I’m on all three of the major DNA testing companies, and I’ll bet we may run in to each other in the DNA results somewhere, if you are related to this man. 

I would greatly appreciate any further information about the Nevin/Navan/Nevin/McNevin people of Ballingarry Parish, County Tipperary, likely prior to 1856.  Thank you for taking the time to read this through.