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I have recently found my GGG grandparents were Cornelius Ronan and Mary Donovan whose first child, JNO, was born in the Ardfield and Rathbarry parish in 1825.  Then they left for London.  Their daughter, Johanna (known as Hannah) married John Driscoll in Rotherhithe in 1860 although they lived in Deptford nearby.  I believe John was the son of Timothy Driscoll and Margaret Sowney (Lowney in mistranscribed records) who could be from Cashelisky in Clonakilty.  Timothy was dead by 1851 when Margaret was found as a widow with 3 children, John (b 1840), Helena (b 1843) and Mary (b 1846).  Margaret was sharing a house with a Jeremiah McCarty, a second-hand dealer.  

I am from NZ and my immediate family are all deceased.  I have been trying to prove my family and their places in West Cork.  I have a lot of DNA matches to Donovan's of the Rosscarbary area, and Driscoll's of Clonakilty and Baltimore.  I will be back next year to try and further my knowledge.  I have been to the Ronan House in Dunowen and to the grave there, but still I have to link Cornelius.  He was a Journeyman Carpenter in London and could have been employed at 'New Mill' in Ardfield area.  I am curious about this.   

I suspect that, although these Driscoll's and Sowney's show up in Clonakilty area they may have come from further over on Sheephead Peninsula judging by DNA.  Any assistance, no matter how vague, would be very much appreciated.  Thanks.

kezdriscoll

Monday 29th Oct 2018, 08:28AM

Message Board Replies

  • Dear Kezdriscoll:

    Thank you for your post to the Ireland Reaching Out message board. 

    Frank Fahy is one of our volunteers in the Skibbereen area who is also very actively involved with the West Cork Genealogy group and he is a wonderful resource for information.  I have copied your post to him and he will reply to you and be able to further direct your query.

    If you have any problems, please let me know.

     

    Kind regards,

    Jane.

    Jane Halloran Ryan

    Tuesday 30th Oct 2018, 03:34PM

  • Hi Kezdsriscoll,

    Just a couple of prelimenary thoughts first but as it was quite late before I saw yoiur query sent to me by Jane, I wont have much if any time to do any research this evening.

    Two thoughts about Margaret's birth name. The name Sowney was often used by the Clergy who were very familiar with a family whose correct name was McCarthy of the Sowney branch of the name and used the Sowney rather than the McCarthy name but I also note that there are a large number of the name Souney in the Clonakilty area.. The other thoiught is that there were a few Lowney families in the Clonakilty area in the 1800s. I will have a look at both options to see if I can find the correct answer.

    Frank Fahy

    Abbeystrowry Cork

    Tuesday 30th Oct 2018, 11:06PM

  • Thank you, Jane and Frank                                                                                                                                                           Hello Frank,

    Thank you very much for looking at this.  I do know the name is transcribed as Louny/Louney but was told it was most likey an 'S'  - it would be great to clear up which name it is.  You can see it in the Catholic Baptisms in Clonakilty with Margaret ?  and Timothy Driscoll of Casheliske/Cashelisky.  I still have to confirm that is them - but I can find no other Driscoll family with the 3 children John, Helen (Ellen) and Mary in the 1840's.  I have a lot of McCarty/McCarthy DNA matches too - but it is certainly a common enough name in the area.

    I believe a lot of people were working in the mills around Clonakilty and maybe my people were from further afield.                      Do you know if there is a Driscoll family associated with the Cashelisky townland?  Maybe they all left for London or American?My father was a Londoner.  I do have a DNA link to the 'Flurry' Driscoll's of Baltimore whose furthest back ancestor was Dennis from Castlehaven and he was meant to have 7 sons who 'went to Australia' and were never heard of again.  Could this be a metaphor for 'lost during the famine' as I suspect my Timothy may have been? All speculative of course.                                       I have been able to get Timothy's name from John Driscoll and Joh(Anna) Ronan's wedding in 1860.  I will attach the 1851 census with Margaret and children.   I will keenly wait for any info.  

    kezdriscoll

    Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 01:46AM

  • Could you please send me a more complete marriage certificate image for Margaret as the left and right sides of the one you sent are missing. If its any easier for you you can send it to frankfahy@eircom.net

    Frank Fahy

    Abbeystrowry Cork

    Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 11:24PM

  • Could you please send me a more complete marriage certificate image for Margaret as the left and right sides of the one you sent are missing. If its any easier for you you can send it to frankfahy@eircom.net

    Frank Fahy

    Abbeystrowry Cork

    Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 11:24PM

  • Found the marriage but not sure why the parents are missing? Is this a copy of a marriage held elsewhere?  Also, I think one of the witnesses names is Lucy, not Reesy?

     

    Date 24 February 1838

    HusbandWifeNameTIMOTHEUM DRISCOLLMARGARETAM SAWNY AddressN/RN/ROccupationN/RN/RFatherN/RN/RMotherN/RN/R

    Further details in the record

    Recorded Diocesan AreaCORK & ROSSRecorded Parochial AreaCLONAKILTYHusband DenominationRCWife DenominationRCWitness 1EDMUNDS REESYWitness 3JACOBS HAYES

    Any help would be appreciated.  I don't know why I missed this before as I have hunted for a long time.

    kezdriscoll

    Friday 23rd Nov 2018, 08:05PM

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