Re: The Roll Call
Janet Maher
My primary people are Patrick Meagher (Maher) b. ca. 1811 and Ann (Anne/Anna) Butler b. ca. 1817-1824 (tombstone says 1820). The death certificates for them and for a significant chunk of time that pertains to their era are missing from the town hall, so I cannot give more info than that, learned from the civil register and grave inscriptions. Annie's parents were Patrick and Mary Butler. I believe that both Patrick and Anne had relatives around them in their New Haven County-based town (Connecticut). Anne likely had brothers/cousins Patrick, Michael, James and sisters Julia, Margaret, possibly Elizabeth. They arrived in either 1841 or 1842. I found one passenger record in 1842 that might fit the bill, but speculation hinges on whether or not their first daughter, Mary, who was apparently born in Ireland in 1841, was with them at the time and if she was even their natural born daughter. (This record doesn't show them traveling with a baby.) (However, I've also found another person for another one of the lines noted as having been born in Ireland, but he wasn't - maybe just had a brogue.)
Where they originated is the puzzle, but from studying the community that arrived (likely) with/close to the time they did, and after them, Kilkenny is a strong possibility. I'm intrigued by the borders, where they could have been connected to others between counties too (Tipperary, Laois, etc.). Some other surnames connected with them, lived in their home early on, were Martin, Dalton, Grimes, Horrigan, Hogan, Purcell. Their first two daughters married Leary and Martin. Some of the men worked in a foundry or for the railroad early on, many worked for the Rubber company. (That early immigrants continued to move is a given, so it is likely that other families beyond New England could trace back to this place if they only knew. If they could, and they knew more, that might shed some light on my own family, I think.)
Another person who arrived after them was born in Ballinakill, Queen's Cty., likely a close relative (brother, cousin). The whole family was there for a long time, like my line. Cousins who came into town decades later give other kinds of clues, but the earliest ones attracted others with Kilkenny-based surnames. (Those names are found in Laois, though too.) It is clear to me that the first group of Mahers - basically five families - were connected, as evidenced by their activities once they arrived. Most of them, with their branches, can be traced forward to 1930 and some beyond that. (I know my own line all the way.)
Brennan was a large group in the small cemetery they share, some with direct references to Kilkenny. I mention this due to Kevin Byrne and Jack Langton's posts - a grave for a Langdon was also in this cemetery, and a Langdon was one of the earliest doctors in the community.
I hope to have a book out by the end of the year that will include information about the time capsule. There is too much info to know what to offer out to the haystack here, but I think once people can see the larger picture there may be ways that some may recognize a connection. I hope that will help all of us who find that chunk of missing information to be our stumbling block.
-Janet Maher
(my father's surname, though I'm married)
vma...@aol.com
I am researching the family of my g g grandmother Bridget Maher 1820-1870 born in Queens county. Her father's name is Patrick Maher and her mothers name was Catherine (don't know her maiden name). Bridget immigrated to the US in 1842. I do know the exact birthplace of my g g grandfather John Delany of Mountrath, Raheen, Laois, which is very near the Kilkenny board of Laois county. I would be interested in finding out more about your Mahers, the timeline could make my Bridget a younger sister to your Patrick or a cousin or something. Please let me know what you can.
Val Delany Maros