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My family name is Bowie and I live in Ottawa, Canada. My GGGrandfather was Michael James Bowie. His tombstone reads that he was a native of Sligo, Ireland. As per the Canadian census, he was born in 1795. His wife was Sarah Cecilia O’Brien. On a visit to Sligo some years back we were able to find their marriage record (September 30, 1826). Family lore says they sailed to Canada in 1829. We have been able to trace them once in Canada after about 1832 but Ireland has been a brick wall.

Their marriage record is in Riverstown and the family name is spelled BEOY. The Flax Growers records show a Hugh and Michael BEOY on the O’Hara Estate in 1795. The tithe appointment books show a number of BOEY names in Ballynamoney, Tully and Balnamona in 1824. The 1901 and 1910 Irish census show a number (BUOYE, BUOEY, BEAHEY, BOWEY) in Carowgavneen, Tobercurry etc.

I have not been able to connect my GGGrandfather to any of these families, though it is likely that he is. If anyone has a family tree for the BEOY family in this area, or any other suggestions, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

DAB

Monday 29th Mar 2021, 10:56PM

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  • Hello - Your note was passed on to me to see if I could shed any light on your question. The trail is a bit thin, but let us see....    Do you have a death certficate for you GGGrandfather? If you have one, or can get one, check to see if there is any more definitive place that he came from - a village or twonland. Or - if you can locate the ship manifast, check his name and perhaps there it may state where he is from. Any family bible or similar book with informaiton written down? Any naturalization papers?  Now - in Ireland - the marriage record. You said Riverstown. What other facts are on the document? Witnesses, townland etc. You may be able to search the church records for the church to see who else may have stayed on in Ireland in that parish. For the O'Hara estate, Via the search engine DuckDuckgo I put in O'Hara Estate, Co. SLigo, IR - lots of information to review if that helps. Going past the tithe appointment books - can you match anyone in the Griffiths Valuation records - at the least you may get a townland identified.  WIth that you can start checking birth, marriage and death records. Then land recods vis the Irish Survey Office - if a branch of the family gained land during the land reform period and beyond. If you have any 'hits' and think it is your family, then you can go on to the 1901 and 1911 Census. You might tyr them anyway - townland by townland in Co. Sligo - to see and note. Two books to recommend: John Grenham's "Tracing your Irish Ancestors" 5th Edition and James G. Ryan's 2012 book, publiched in Ireland, "Tracing your Sligo Ancestors."   Lastly, perhaps a small personal ad in "The Sligo Champion" looking for people with that family name. I have not come across it myself. I know it can be a tough track to follow, but the fun is in the hunt. Best of luck. Steve Lemken

          

     

     

    Drumrat Sligo

    Wednesday 14th Apr 2021, 08:33PM
  • Hello, I am related to the Buoys (Buoeys, Boey, Beoy, Bowie, Bowey) family of Killoran Parish. I have done a bit of research on this family. If you could provide a bit more specific information information about Michael & Sarah and their children, I might be able to tie it into my line. My Bowie's immigrated to the United States. Thanks! Maureen

    MaureenEM

    Wednesday 4th Sep 2024, 07:39PM
  • Hello Maureen,

    Nice to hear from you. I do not have a lot of information about family ties in Ireland. I have what I am confident is their wedding record which was mentioned above. I know they had one child In Ireland in 1827 (Mary Ann Bowie (married in Canada to a Kennedy. She died on Jan 22 1905 in St Paul Minnesota at the age of 77). A second child, James, was either born in Ireland or on the emigrant ship. Family lore indicates he died at sea in1829. Family lore also claims Michael James may have had a brother Robert. Once in Canada their children were Andrew 1832 Annie 1835 John 1838 William 1841 and Michael 1843.

    Sarah Cecilia O'Brien went by both first names at different times. Her mother was a McDermottroe and family lore says she was related to Lord McDermottroe. This is another trail that is a loose end. I did find a birth record for Ceciliam O'Brien whose mother was Annae McDermottroe but the birth date seems to be off by ten years.

    Any information on Bowie's in Sligo or where they came from would be much appreciated (We have two schools of thought here 1. They came from Scotland the Isle of Jura (Buie) in the 1600s  or 2. They were always in Ireland and descended from the O'Hara Buidhe).

    Cheers,

    David

    bowdave91@yahoo.ca

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DAB

    Thursday 5th Sep 2024, 08:03PM

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