Paul Carney/Kearney : Short Biography

My great-gr grandparents, Paul and Ann (Doyle) Carney (also Kearney) emigrated from County Wicklow, Blessington Parish, Ballydonnell North Townland in 1848.  Paul and Tim Carney left in 1848, followed by Maurice and Anthony Carney the following year.   

Paul Carney and family arrived in New York City 16Jan1849 and quickly located in Lake County, IL.  With Paul and Ann were 8 of their children, including my great-grandmother Eliza, baptized 27Aug1843 at Valleymount.  Most, if not all their children were baptized at Valleymount/Blackditches between 1827 and 1846 (there are gaps).  Between 1800 and 1850 there were numerous Carney baptisms at Valleymount/Blackditches church.  Downshire Estate records indicate several of the Carney family from Ballydonnell were given assistance to emigrate between 1848 and about 1850, and family members settled in both Northern Illinois and in Iowa in the U.S.  In 1850, both Edward and Peter Carney were listed in Griffiths Valuation in Ballydonnell North.  In 1901, the census listed Peter Kearney, born 1857, living in Ballydonnell North, farmer, living with his younger sister Mary, both unmarried in 1901.  Their parents were likely Mary Carney and Catherine Cullen (Rootsireland.ie).  I am unable to locate other Carney/Kearney possible family members in Ballydonnell after that.

I will be visiting Co. Wicklow in early October and then going on to Dublin and Belfast for additional research.  I'm hoping to learn about the possible special relationship the Carney/Kearney family had with the Downshires because not all tenants were given financial assistance to emigrate, but this family was given enough so that Paul Carney was able to purchase land almost immediately upon arrival in Illinois.  I realize that after 170 years, I will not find a home of origin where my great-grandmother Eliza was born, but I hope to visit the Wicklow Archives and visit the Ballydonnell and Blessington area when we visit soon.  After Wicklow, we will be at NAI, NLI and Valuation Office in Dublin, as well as PRONI for the massive Downshire collection the following week.  If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be happy to know them. 

Best regards,

Patricia Brady Thomas