Hello Kilkenny Ireland XO, My name is Kate Bell and I'm an American living in Sligo. This message might not be appropriate, but I'm contacting to suggest a project to seek out descendants of James Hoban of Callan, who went on to design the White House, inspired by Leinster House, in Washington, D.C. I have a friend, who's the book editor with the White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org) who is launching a book on St. Patrick's Day about the work of James Hoban. As you probably already know, James apparently was the son of Edward Hoban and Martha Bayne and they had three other children. As a youngster James worked on the estate of the Earl of Desart before he went to study architecture in Dublin and emigrate to the US. Anyway, because I'm involved in genealogy myself, I thought it would be an interesting project for your group to trace to possible descendants here in Ireland and beyond in celebration of this new book!
Kate Bell
Saturday 30th Jan 2021, 06:25PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Kate,
There are a number of public trees on Ancestry.com, including this one--https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9487832/person/4010036… show the Hoban family, including descendants. They spell "Bayne" as "Beaghan." It looks like much of the research you are suggesting has already been done--though I would caution that one would have to check the records that back up the info on these trees.
Regards,
Patricia
Patricia
Saturday 30th Jan 2021, 09:13PM -
Dear Patricia,
Many thanks for your quick reply. Yes, that's great about research already done, assuming it's accurate, on James Hoban and his descendants. I still think it'd be an interesting project for descendants in Ireland to 'reach out' and connect to those in America. I've just finished reading the PDF proof of the book (James Hoban: Designer & Builder of the White House by Stewart D. McLaurin of the White House Historical Association) and it's one of the best books I've ever seen. There's much Irish architectural history covered and beautiful photos -- I think people, no matter if they're related or not, would be fascinated. At any rate, thank you for responding and the best of luck in your group's work in Co. Kilkenny (where I have a second cousin in Currahill, a Burke, not too far from Callan!).
Best wishes and keep well.
Kate Bell
Kate Bell
Sunday 31st Jan 2021, 07:59PM -
Hello Geraldine,
Biographical/autobiographical Irish or Irish-related books you might enjoy...
--The Speckled People by Hugo Hamilton
--We Were Rich and We Didn't Know It: A Memoir of My Irish Boyhood by Tom Phelan
--Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
--From a Clear Blue Sky by Timothy Knatchbull
--Are You Somebody by Nuala o'Faolain
Enjoy!
Patricia
Friday 30th Apr 2021, 02:29PM