Greetings. My great-great-grandfather Michael I think is from Ballysteen. He left Ireland in 1851 when he was 13, as a cabin boy bound for America. Looking for any information about him from the Ireland side. We know quite about him once he got here to the USA, but nothing about his family in Ireland.
Jack in Florida
Wednesday 12th Aug 2020, 05:14PMMessage Board Replies
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Hello there, my name is Jennifer Jean and I am a voluteer with Ireland xo. You requested help with some history pertaining to Michael Downs. There is about 8 records for the same name and the same year but most are wither in Co.Clare or Kerry. However I did manage to find a Limerick baptismal record, as follows:-
Michl Downs Baptism Age:0Event Type:Baptism Birth Date:1839 Baptism Date:28 Jan 1839 Baptism Place:St Mary's, Limerick city, Limerick, Ireland Parish Variants:St. Mary's, Limerick Diocese:Limerick Father:Michl Downs Mother:Cathl Carthy
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/21436096?h=aebdec&utm_campaign=bandi…
The boats that your ancester took are shown below:- the first possibly was the boat from Limerick to Liverpool and the second the one from Liverpool to the USA. He worked on both these voyages. Obviously you will have to confirm these details but there are several sites now about the various boats and the voyages taken where you can further your information
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/21435879?h=951b06&utm_campaign=bandi…
Michael Downes Birth Year:abt 1839 Age:12 Gender:Male Embarkation:Liverpool Ship:Marmiom Occupation:Workman/Woman Passengers:278
Native Country:Ireland Destination:USA Arrival Place:New York, New York, USA Arrival Date:22 Feb 1851
Michl. Downes Birth Year: abt 1838 Age:13 Gender:Male Embarkation: Limerick Ship:Huron Occupation:Workman / Woman Passengers:201 Native Country:Great Britain Destination:USA Arrival Place:New York, New York, USA Arrival Date:19 Apr 1851
I hope that this information will guide you in the right direction; if you can prove that it is correct then we may be able to find out a little more although, it would be the parents who would have the history as your gt. gt. grandfather was so young.
https://www.townlands.ie/limerick/kenry/iveruss/iveruss/ballysteen/
If you manage to find out more from when he arrived in the USDA, you might like to write his story to the chronicals in Irelandxo: stories are always good to have. Meantime I wish you Good Luck in your heritage search and enjoy your adventure
Killeedy1 Limerick, Volunteer Ireland Reaching Out ☘️
Wednesday 9th Sep 2020, 12:15AM