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I'm interested in finding out more about the McConnon and Curry families.

My 3x Great Grandfather James McCONNON was committed to the Trim gaol on the 27th October 1838 under suspicion of cutting the ear off of a mare, the property of Thomas GAYNOR of Slane. He was found guilty by Chief Justice DOHERTY at the Lent Assizes on the 26th February 1839 and convicted to 15 years transportation to New South Wales, Australia. He was 18 years old.

James was born in Meath circa 1820, son of Nicholas McCONNON and Mary CURRY. Because the RC baptism records didn't start until 1851, I'm unable to verify this. I do note that there are quite a few McConnons living in Slane parish, and I'm particularly interested in the McConnons of Coalpits and The Commons. I also note that there is a contingent of Currys living in nearby Mooretown. There is a Nicholas McConnon who died in Coalpits on 20th October 1894 aged 58 (born circa 1836). His wife Catherine (Flynne) was the informant and stated Nicholas was a Horse Trainer. I wonder, could Nicholas be a younger brother to James?

James eventually went on to marry Roseanna MOONEY in Singleton, New South Wales on the 5th February 1849. They had 7 children. James died in Singleton on 23rd December 1879. A few years after James arrived in Australia, the surname evolved into McCANNON and it's this name that carried on down through the generations to this day.

I've attempted to put the McConnon and Curry individuals of Slane and surrounds into their family groups so I can try and work out who Nicholas and Mary were connected to.

My mother recently had her DNA done and she has matched to people who are descended from a Nicholas McConnon (Catherine circa 1839 and Agnes circa 1837), so there is obviously something in this. She also matched to a few people who come down through the Curry family, particularly a James Curry who married a Mary GOUGH in 1866. He was a farmer in Mooretown and his father was apparently Bernard Curry. I think James and Mary emmigrated to the US.

I'd love to hear any insights people may have on the McConnons and Currys of Slane parish.

Cheers Mel

Mel

Sunday 9th Sep 2018, 12:39AM

Message Board Replies

  • Sorry, I've just realised I hadn't listed the sources I've already consulted where the relate to Ireland. See below:
    - Ireland Tithe Applotment Books (Slane and Gernonstown parishes);
    - Ireland Griffith Valuation (Slane parish);
    - Ireland Catholic Parish Baptisms and Marriages (Slane Parish from 1851);
    - Ireland Civil Registration Births, Deaths and Marriages (Navan registration district);
    - Hill of Slane headstone inscriptions;
    - 1901 and 1911 Irish Census (Meath);
    - Irish Prison Registers (Meath);
    - Ireland Outrage Reports (Meath);
    - Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers (Meath);
    - Other genealogical sources (Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast, Familysearch, Gedmatch).

    Cheers Mel

    Mel

    Sunday 9th Sep 2018, 12:58AM

  • Hi Mel, you have up turned most known stones in your quest, I searched on Roots Ireland which appears to have some more records than other subscription sites for recorded baptisms but to little or no avail I am afraid. I found no McConnon in Meath or Louth or Monaghan all neighbouring counties with a father Nicholas and 3 in 1814, 1815 and 1820 with a mother Mary, I looked a the 1820 one as it is nearest date wise with mother Mary but it was in Tallanstown Louth and nothing right at all regarding names. I searched for a marriage for Catherine and Agnes and found 1 Catherine married in Slane in October 1860 to a Thomas Finegan, witnesses were James Lynagh and Anne Crahan which may be Graham, this should be visible in the NLI Registers. Othere marriages around this period in Meath were in 1860, Anne; Mary; in 1862 were Anne; Jane; In 1863 a Thomas and in 1859 a Nicholas. 

    There were 4 male and 3 female marriages in Louth in this period also, as Slane is close to Louth and marriages were usually in the brides parish some of the siblings could be married in Louth. Terance; James; Peter and Thomas were the males.

    If you are looking for current relatives there is a Facebook page on Meath Genealogy, a lot of these have sprung up in recent years for various counties and there is a difference in quality of answers but basically people are trying. The one for Meath is "IGP Co. Meath Ireland Genealogy Group", as I am not a member I could not search the page for posts, just apply to join some have simple questions to confirm your interest so you just answer and it is usually done in a day. 

    More records are being updated as found and there is a big world wide search going on just now but it has a 10 year timeframe. There is a land registry index been up dated by volunteers here https://irishdeedsindex.net/index.php and I was wondering if the Irish Turf Club had records as they are on the go since 1790 and could retain a register of breeders and trainers but I never heard of it being so, see http://www.ihrb.ie/ A bit like my gambling, A Long Shot!!! 

    There is also a Navan history group and i think a Slane heritage group who may know if there was a horse trainer, horse racing etc is a serious business here. Again the Navan HIstory people are on FB, the Slane group I am not sure of but will keep my ears open as I live close enough but know little about the place.

    There is no active volunteer in Slane so I answered as best I could living nearest but have no local knowledge of its history, hence the delay in replying.

    In case you are unaware of it there is a nice site to help locate various townlands in Ireland here https://www.townlands.ie/

    Good Luck,

    Pat

     

     

    St Peters Louth, IrelandXO Volunteer

    Wednesday 12th Sep 2018, 10:03PM

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