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Patrick Flynn (my grandfather) married Ann Smith from Kilnavara, Cavan in November 1889. They lived in Swellan, Cavan.

They went on to have two children, Mary Ellen born in March 1892 and Peter Francis born October 1893. Anne’s father was Peter Smith and her mother was Bridget Donohoe.

Anne Smith died in 1895. I have tried to find Mary Ellen and Peter Francis but cannot find out anything about them. I did find them both on the 1901 census in Cavan.

The family had moved to Galway by the 1911 census and Peter was there living with another family but Mary Ellen was not on the census.  I believe she may have gone to New York. 

Patrick went on to marry my grandmother Kate Donohoe from Pullamore, Cavan in January 1898 and also lived in Swellan. 

Patrick’s father Philip’s (my great grandfather) address on the first marriage certificate is given as Ballintemple although it states that he was deceased at the time of the marriage. 

I think this was possibly his last address with the railway.

I can find no record of Philip’s death. I have tried everywhere. Philip and Patrick both worked on the M.G.W.R railway.

On the marriage certificate to my grandmother in 1898 Philip’s address is given as M.G.W.Railway although he would have been deceased for over nine years at that time.

I have found Philip’s wife Ellen’s death in Swellan, Cavan in June 1889 stating she was a widow aged 62.  Patrick (my grandfather) was the informant. I believe Ellen to be Eleanor Morris who was born in Kilkenny in 1826 but this would make her about nine years older than Philip, who I think was born in 1835 in Castlepollard.  I am having a problem trying to ensure that I have the right marriage which took place in Drumlumman in 1858, as I cannot confirm her maiden name. I could possibly be on the wrong track.

Patrick had a long working life on the railway through various counties ending up in Dublin in 1912 until he retired and died there in 1940.

Philip is the one member of my family tree I am having real difficulty in finding out any information about. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Maeve Flynn O'Brien

Tuesday 15th Sep 2020, 06:30PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Maeve,

    Well, I have had a look around your information and between the difficulties of patchy records, mobility and popular names I can see that there is lots to intrigue…..

    You are looking to get more concrete information on Patrick’s father Philip.  Here are some of the lines I would follow -  I am not sure which lines of research you have followed, so forgive me if they tread ground you have already well worn

     

    1. You know Philip was not alive on son Patrick’s marriage 1.11.1889, but that he had been an MGWR Railway employee of Ballintemple.  You also know he died before his wife Ellen who was a widow at death in Swellan 27.6.1889
    2. Here you will find a list of research resources for Ballintemple https://www.johngrenham.com/c_parish/c_parish_main.php?civilparishid=517&county=Cavan&civilparish=Ballintemple&CountyMap=.      This link shows what is available in terms of birth/marriage/death/records for Cavan in general, and where you can access that info https://www.johngrenham.com/records/county_gro.php?search_type=full&county=Cavan . John Grenham also has some info on migration records that might help with tracking Peter Francis & Mary Ellen.
    3. http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/ .   Griffiths Valuation  (of property) 1847-1864  Here you can do a search for Philip either by name, or do a place name search to check for potential family (Cavan and Ballintemple at least).  There were quite a lot of Flynns in the area - it seems reasonable that some of them may have been related - esp those using the names Patrick and Philip - ultimately it may be through being able to trace siblings that you actually get to know more about Philip’s origins
    4. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23195174?seq=1  Railway Labour in Ireland, 1833-1856 .  You may find it interesting/useful to get some background on on the laying of the railway in Ireland and background on Philip’s work as a ganger. 
    5. You could also try following up potential residence - cottages for railway workers were built at Swellan in the 1870s (some are still standing).  As a long term ganger, Philip may well have lived in one. You can pick up information on developments in the railway etc by doing a trawl for Midland Great Western at https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/irish-newspapers?date=1850-01-01&date_offsetdate=1899-12-31&modifiedfacets=true&exactnames=true&exactkeywords=false&keywords=midland%20great%20western .
    6. You could also try contacting the Library at Cavan and ask very specifically for available records on the railway, its workers  and their cottages.

     

    The broadening out of research to potential family members, occupations and jobs is always daunting and in the end I guess depends on how much not knowing starts to bug us.  The nice thing is that if you have narrowed down potential correct Philip Flynns, a bit of other potential evidence might make the real Philip Flynn clearer.

    Regards

    iem

     

    Irene McG, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 3rd Nov 2020, 03:51PM

  • Thank you so much iem for your reply and taking the time to have a look at my post. I appreciate it very much.  I will certainly have a look at the links you have gven me. I have also started looking sideways at family members and checking sponsors at wedding and baptisms, these sometimes can give hints to family connections.

    I did mange to find Philip Flynn as a witness in court in Cavan to a person driving a horse and cart on to MGWM's railway line in 1861. It made me feel that at least he existed! 

    Thank you once again and I will keep yo up to date if I find anything.

    Regards 

    Maeve

    Maeve Flynn O'Brien

    Tuesday 3rd Nov 2020, 07:26PM

  • Hi Mave, That was an exciting find! Yes do let me know what turns out :-)   

     

    Irene McG, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 4th Nov 2020, 07:57PM

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