I've traced most of my Irish ancestors to either County Cork or Waterford but the one that has eluded me is great-grandfather Joseph Welch, who first emigrated to Connecticut in the U.S. but eventually ended up in Springfield, Massachusetts.
After having DNA tested, I'm told that a great percentage of my ancestors derived from Dingle Peninsula, North Kerry and West Dingle Peninsula. This is consistent with information received from "distant cousins" who said their ancestors (marriage relations to my Welch relatives) ended up in the Springfield/Worcester area of Massachusetts after they left County Kerry.
I do know that County Kerry is one of the few in Ireland whose records are not largely digitzied so I've not been able to find much online. Wondering what method others have used to trace back to the townland of their ancestors?
Here's what I do know: Joseph Welch, b. around 1848. On his death certificate, his father's name is shown as Thomas Welch and mother as Ellen Bright.
Joseph married Bridget Millerick (b. 1850 in Ballynona North, County Cork) - marriage location unknown but not found in bride's parish.
Couple emigrated to the USA around 1868 where their first daughter was born in Cromwell, Connecticut (b 1868). The couple relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1871 where they had 8 more children. Both Bridget and Joseph died at a young age, leaving the oldest daughter, Ellen "Nellie" Welch, then age 27 to raise younger siblings.
Marriages of the Welch women were made into family names of Caffrey, Burns, O'Brien, Ashe and others who were not of Irish ancestry.
Given the popularity of a name such as Joseph Welch, search results have turned up hundreds and hundreds of possibilities, but nothing that shows parental names that match what I know, nor spousal name.
Any suggestions appreciated.