Plunkett/French

just to add a possible timeframe for this couple - it looks like a son of Joseph Plunkett and Francis French died in Lowel, Massachusetts, USA in 1897 reported age 62, so born c1835, place of birth recorded for Joseph jnr. is Ireland.

Dear Patricia S

Thank you for your post.  One of our very active volunteers has Castlemore connections and I'm sure that he will reply to your query.  If you have more certain dates about your trip, you can contact me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com and I will do my best to see if a volunteer can meet you when you visit.  

Kind regards,

Jane

Joseph Plunkett died in Ireland but I do not have date/ place for that. His wife Frances(Fanny)French Plunkett and her family moved to the States and ended up in Lowell Massachusetts. Arabella remained in Ireland and married Dr. Dillon. Francis Charles completed his medical schooling in Ireland, apprenticed with Dr. Dillon then joined his family in the States. He was an assistant surgeon in the Civil war and became a doctor in Lowell. Joseph was a pharmacist at that time. They all died in Lowell.
Frances French Aug 5, 1889
Joseph May 17, 1897
Anna Josephine Jan 18, 1899
Frances Jan 18, 1899
Francis Charles Nov 29, 1899
I don't have any death information on Mary (Minnie's) death.
A all above were born Castlemore House, Ballagherreen, Co. Roscommon

Francis Charles Plunkett MD was my GGGrandfather married to Mary McDuff and had three children. Frances, Harry (doctor) and Florence Taaffe. Florence was my GGrandmother, who had one child before dying in 1917. Frances and Harry did not marry or have children. The line continued through my Grandmother, Patricia Plunkett Hagarty 1914 - 1994.

Hi Patricia!

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I'm the parish liaison for Castlemore parish. I live in the States. My grandmother was born near Ballaghaderren which is the large town in Castlemore parish and she emigrated to Philadelphia in 1906.

RC baptismal records for Ballaghaderreen parish (Castlemore and Kilcolman) start somewhat late in 1851 although marriage records start in 1830. Here is the link to the parish register up to 1880 https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0119  

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and found the marriage record for Andrew Dillon and Arabella Plunket in December 1849. (see transcription below. I also found one baptismal record for a Mary Francis Dillon in 1857. Are you aware of other children?

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths commenced in 1864. The free site www.irishgenealogy.ie  has images of birth and marriage records startin 1864 but images for death records currently start in 1878. For 1864-1877 we have index records and I did locate a death index record for Arabella in 1871. See below. I did not find a death record for Andrew in the area but possibly he may have moved after his wife's death? I also did not find a death record for Joseph Plunkett but I presume he died pre-1864. Some churches maintained death records pre-1864 but Ballaghaderreen did not.

Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg AreaCastlereaDeceased Age at Death37Returns Year1871Returns Quarter3Returns Volume No14Returns Page No73

Regarding Castlemore House, I presume you have seen some of these sites previously. Here is a link to a site with background. Interestingly, it indicates that a one point a Rev. Plunket occupied the house. It indicates he was the rector of the parish. Not sure how he was related to Joseph Plunkett but the Reverend would have been Church of Ireland but Arabella was married Catholic.

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=576

There is a local Facebook page which has info on Castlemore House  https://www.facebook.com/BallaghaderreenPastandPresent/posts/castlemore-house-ballaghaderreen-the-last-occupants-of-the-house-were-the-caron-/1659376014081813/

It appears from the article on Facebook that the house was demolished in the 1960s.

Let me know what other questions you have.

Roger McDonnell

Date of Marriage:13-Dec-1849
Parish / District:BALLAGHADREEN
County:Co. Roscommon
Husband  AndrewDillon
Wife ArabellaPlunket

Name:Mary Frances DillonDate of Birth:20-Apr-1857
Date of Baptism:
Address:NgParish/District:BALLAGHADREENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Roscommon
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Andrew DillonMother:Arabella NgOccupation:Ng
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Val Dillon Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Winifred Arah McDermott 
Notes:

2ND SPONSOR IS WINIFRED ARAH MC DERMOTT OF COOLAVIN