My great-grandmother, Ellen Wisely (nee Fox), died July 5,1911 in Melkernagh. I will be in the Granard area in August and would like to visit her grave. Any help in locating the site is much appreciated.
Kathleen M
Saturday 3rd Jun 2023, 10:03PMMessage Board Replies
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Hello, Perhaps contact the Longford Historical Society:
https://www.countylongfordhistoricalsociety.ie/contact/
The locals would probably have an idea about which cemetery a person from Melkernagh was buried in.
Melkernagh borders on Co. Westmeath, so it's possible your ancestor is buried there.
Patricia
Sunday 4th Jun 2023, 12:58AM -
Kathleen,
This is a tricky one.
As Patricia mentions, Melkernagh Townland lies in County Longford right on the border County Westmeath.
Melkernagh Townland lies in Granard RC Parish, County Longford so the first place to look would be Granardkill Cemetery, just outside Granard Town
https://www.google.ie/maps/search/granardkill+cemetery+granard/@53.7697…
I believe there is a notice board with all the headstone surnames mentioned. I think there are a couple of lists on the board, so check all.
However, Melkernagh Townland is closer to Abbeylara Cemetery and failing any records in Granardkill, it may be worthwhile looking there also.
https://www.google.ie/maps/search/cemetery+near+Abbeylara,+Cloonaghmore…
Not all inscriptions on headstones are legible, and not the people buried at that time, in 1911, would have a headstone. It was common to have timber or metal crosses which may have been lost over time.
I note that Gelshagh is given as John Wisely's address on his marriage certificate from 1898:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
Gelshagh Townland is in Colmcille RC Parish which borders Granard RC Parish.
Ellen Fox's address is Tubber, probably Tober Townland, Granard RC Parish.
I see Ellen Fox's Birth Certificate from 1877 as follows:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…
The address given is Rathbrackan Townland which adjoins Tober Townland, both within Granard RC Parish.
I found her parents and siblings in the 1901 Census at Rathbrackan as follows:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001025879/
and found them again in the 1911 Census also at Rathbrackan as follows:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002891103/
I found her parent's marriage certificate (James Fox & Ellen O'Neill) from 1871 as follows:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
Hoping this is of some help,
David Leahy, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎
Sunday 16th Jul 2023, 09:16AM