James Bernard Oates - Kilmore Parish, Roscommon

Hi Ellen

Welcome to the IrelandXO Roscommon Community!

ORIENTATION

Skeagh is in the civil parish of Kilmore; DED Cloonfeem. During the 19th century, it was also sometimes spelt Skea, Skee, Skeigh etc. Back in the 17th century it was recorded as Scrabagh / Skrebagh. 

LOCAL HISTORY

For a snapshot of life in this district in the early 1930s, check out the School's Collection for Kilmore here. 

LUCY'S FAMILY 

Lucy Jr appears at Skeagh, age 9,  on the 1911 Census. (Her brothers, Peter Oates (born 25-Jun-1903) and Patrick Oates (born 28 August 1906) did not appear on the 1911 record (both died of "debility, no medical attendant". Her brother, James Bernard Oates was born later in Dec that year). 

Her mother, Lucy Oates ( 1867 - 1934) died first age 65; her son, James Oates, present at death. 

Her father, Michael Oates (1871-1952) died at Skeagh age 81; again James Oates, son, present at death. 

It looks like James Oates, who inherited the family farm, did not reside there thereafter. He may be the James Oates (died 20th Feb. 1982, aged 76 yrs) who married Bridget Ruddy and resided at the Ruddy farm in Kilmore (although there are no civil records to confirm this one way or the other, it is the only Oates on record at Kilmore Cemetery where other Skeagh families are buried). 

OATES of SKEAGH

Michael Oates of Skeagh & Lucy Lavin of Kilmore (m. 30-Jul-1900) were living alone at the family home in Skeagh in 1901 and were the only Oates on record in Skeagh. The Oates house, mapped here circa 1901, is no longer extant I am afraid (see Google street map here). 

Michael (born 29-Dec-1869) was the eldest surviving son of Bernard Oates (1822-1895) and Anne Fitzgerald (1834-1899) both of "Skea" who married on 21-Feb-1856.

Their first-born, named Michael (b.10-Feb-1866) did not survive infancy. They also baptised: Anne Oates, born 19-Jul-1867, Peter Oates (b. 28-Jun-1872), and Margaret Eleanor Oates (b.26-Jan-1876).

 Bernard Oates (1822-1895) and Anne Fitzgerald (1834-1899) 1856 does not record the name of their parents. 

In 1857, at the time of Griffith's Valuation, the only Oates homestead in Skeagh was at #10e. Michael Oates held land in common with in-laws McCormack, Gill and Simpson at 10, 11, and 12. It looks like his son Bernard married a daughter of Michael Fitzgerald at #13b,  at the farm adjacent to the Oats holding. Alas, the Fitzgerald homestead, mapped here,  is also no longer extant (however, the laneway up to it remains). 

LAVIN OF KILMORE

Lucy Lavin's marriage cert tells us her father was Bartholomew Lavin of Kilmore and her maid of honour Delia (Brigid) Murphy.  Bartholomew Lavin is recorded at #7a Tully in the 1857 Griffith's Valuation. He only held 3 acres of land there. 

Lucy Lavin was born at Tully Kilmore on 29-Apr-1867. She was named for her mother, Lucy Feeny. Bartley & Lucy Lavin married on 11-Sep-1858. They also baptised: Joan Lavin 23-May-1865, and James Lavin 04-Jun-1869 at Tully.

Her mother, Lucy Feeny aka Lavin (1840-1909), was still residing at Tully in the 1901 Census.  She then moved in with her daughter on the Oates farm at Skeagh where she died in 1909. Unfortunately, that house in Tully is also no longer extant. 

You can be fairly certain that there are relatives still residing in the area though. Some deeper research into the godparents and witnesses on church records will show you who the cousins were. 

Hi Rua -

Thank you SO much for all of the information you provided.  I am especially interested in the maps.  How were you able to determine the locations?  I wasn't able to see the specific homestead locations for either the Oates or the Fitzgeralds.  Of course, I don't really know what I'm looking for!  As I mentioned, my husband and I will be in the area on March 20th, and would love to see those locations, as well as determine if there are any living relatives.  If so, of course we would love to meet them.  Any and all suggestions, comments, etc. are welcome!

Thank you again!

Ellen

Hi Ellen

Askaboutireland.com links the Griffith's Valuation record to maps (with the farm boundaries clearly marked out, and the letter "a" beside the main farmhouse). Look to the centre of the Geohive map links I gave you (to see the outline of the homestead). In the left-hand menu you can click on the 25" inch map to see the shap of the house circa 1901 and the 6" map gives you the size/ shape of the house circa 1837.  If you need more help reading the Geohive map, you can e-mail me at rua_genealogy@outlook.com.

BEFORE YOUR TRIP

You can find out to whom this house and land passed on to by checking out the Griffith's Revision Books. You can do this by e-mailing the Valuation Office who can send you photocopies of the relevant pages for a fee. This will tell you who held the farm from 1857, right up until the 1970s. It will probably tell you when the house was "down". Sometimes it notes "gone to USA" or some other clues (It will probably fill in a gap or two in the late 19th century as well). I suspect you may see that a neighbouring farm bought the land, and there is a good chance that family will be able to tell you more when you visit.

Best of luck!