I am lost!! I am looking for anything on my great great grandfather PATRICK MCKENNA born between 1856-1861--documents say various dates---to a JOHN MCKENNA nad BRIDGET GORMLEY in OMAGH or ARMAGH IRELAND.
He left Ireland and went to Liverpool and immigrated to USA--PHILADELPHIA between 1880-1883. He then got married to a MATILDA MCCUTCHEON and had many children.
We are lost and hit a massive brick wall--if anyone can help that would be greatly appreicated.
Jennfier Drechen
Jennifer Drechen
Monday 27th Apr 2020, 03:58PMMessage Board Replies
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Jennifer,
Statutory birth, death and marriage registration (in some jurisdictions called Vital Records) only started in Ireland in 1864. Prior to that you need to rely on church records (where they exist). I searched the on-line RC records for a John McKenna = Bridget Gormley marriage but did not find one. Likewise I searched for a baptism for Patrick 1856 – 1861 to same parents but without success.
I also searched the statutory birth records 1864 – 1873 to see if a couple with those surnames had any children in Northern Ireland in those years. There were none.
The RC records for Omagh (RC parish of Drumgath) are on-line and have been indexed. I searched them for a baptism for Patrick. Nearest I found was on 19th Dec 1858 to John McKenna and Mary Toner.
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633038#page/25/mode/1up
The John McKenna married to Mary Toner was a Cooper by trade and lived in Castle Lane, Omagh. They had several more children and were still in Omagh in 1868.
If the parents names were John McKenna & Bridget Gormley then I suspect that their marriage and Patrick’s birth were in a parish that doesn’t have records for the relevant years. That will make it difficult to trace him. This link takes you to all the RC parishes in Co. Armagh. If you click on each one you will see what records exist:
https://www.johngrenham.com/browse/counties/rcmaps/armaghrc.php#maps/
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 27th Apr 2020, 07:03PM