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My GGGrandfather, after working the coal mines of Tamaqua Pennsylvania, USA, returned to Ireland sometime between 1864-1869.  His wife Elizabeth (néeDelany) Gill recorded in her notebook (which I possess) that he died in County Roscommon, parish Kilgavin (Kilgain?) in 1869 "and when he died he was fifty years old."  I can't quite make out the name of the parish as her handwriting is not always clear. 

Would appreciate any assistance in figuring out in which parish he did die.  The family lore is that he died under suspicious circumstances having been involved in some way with the labor troubles of the miners in central Pennsylvania:  Molly Maguires, Ancient Order of the Hibernians.   

Any assistance in finding his grave or learning more about the Gill family from this area would be appreciated,

Irish Cowgirl

Saturday 1st Oct 2022, 01:11AM

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  • Irish Cowgirl:

    The two closest parishes names in Co. Roscommon to Kilgavin would be either Kilgefin or possibly Kilkeevin. Civil registration of deaths started in Ireland in 1864 but there was not a 100% takeup in the initial years. However, if it was a suspicious death the authorities would have involved the Coroner and a civil record would have been created.

    I looked at the records for Co. Roscommon and there was only one possible record, however, that Thomas Gill was 65 when he died in 1870. He was listed as a landholder and the informant was a Martin Gill. Likely this is not your Thomas Gill.

    Do you have any other info on your Gill family? Have you considered a DNA test?

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Saturday 1st Oct 2022, 12:21PM

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