searching for Edmund and Catherine Joy

Dennis:

The surname Joy was not a common surname in Ireland in the 19th century. The surname was primarily found in Co. Kerry and Co. Waterford.

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and also the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie and did not find any good leads. Many RC parishes in Ireland do not have records back to 1820.

I then searched the Tithe listings and found an 1826 record for an Edmond Joy who with three other farmers was leasing 44 acres of land in the townland of Ballybane in Molahiffe civil parish in Co. Kerry. Molahiffe parish is northwest of Killarney.  There is a good possibility that this record is for your ancestor. Since Ballybane is very close in spelling to Ballybaun.

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625699/00…

Molahiffe RC parish records start in 1830 which explains why I could not locate baptismal records.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

Roger, many thanks for your rapid and very interesting research info. Funny thing; around Christmas my dad, after a few drinks ,would sing Christmas in Killarney. I always thought there might be a connection, but he never spoke of family, sad to say.  Thanks again from all of us at Joy Farm ( Dennis, Bibbon and airedale, Sydney and Welch Terrier, Tegan.

Dennis:

You may want to consider a DNA test. I would not recommend the Y-DNA test which tracks your pure paternal line but rather the standard DNA test which tracks all of your paternal and maternal lines. Hopefully, you will have 2nd or 3rd cousin matches on your paternal line and your matches have more info on the Joy family but I'm betting on the Edmund in Molahiffe parish. FYI I live near Baltimore Maryland.

Roger