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My great-grandmother, Abigail Sheehan (born c. 1837 near Milltown, Co. Kerry) came to America (NYC) in the mid-1850s.  At least that is my best guess at this point.  She worked for a wealthy family there, and eventually met another immigrant from Co. Kerry (Michael Sullivan from the Listowel area whose mother's maiden name was Mulvhill), and they married in the early 1860s.  In the early 1870s they moved to Galesville, WI, and eventually (1880s) moved to St. Paul, Minnesota.

I know that Abigail had brothers and sisters, but not sure of their names or if any remained in Ireland.  Her father's name was Daniel Sheehan and her mother was Mary Long (from Castlemaine area, I believe).  I also don't know whether or not they remained behind.   One sister (named Catherine) did also emigrate to Wisconsin.  I am hoping I can find descendants of any of her family who might have remained behind in Ireland.

CSlattery

Wednesday 6th Jun 2012, 11:55PM

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  • Hi there,

    Could you please post your message on the following parish page:  http://www.irelandxo.com/group/listowel-kerry (Listowel)

    There are Roman Catholic church records available for the diocese of Listowel. These date from 1802 for baptismal records and from 1837 for marriage records. You can find these at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 4281. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest for more assistance.

    Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864 however. You can access the website here: http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

    You could also try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at.Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38). Microfilm copies of the books for all of Ireland are available at the National Archives of Ireland (NAI) http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/tithe-applotment-books-and-the-primary-griffith-valuation/ or the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS).

    Have you tried checking the Ellis Island records (www.ellisisland.org) or the Castle Garden records (www.castlegarden.org)? Generally, more information was given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at, this could be a good place to find more information.

    Have you checked US census records for information?

    There are other documents that you should check:

    Guerin, Michael, Listowel Workhouse Union, 1996.

    Hickson, Mary, Selections from Old Kerry Records, Historical and Genealogical, London: Watson & Hazell, 1872-4.

    O'Connor, Michael, A Guide to Tracing your Kerry Ancestors, 1994.

    Hopefully someone living in the Listowel area will recognise the name and be able to help you further.

    Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

    Kind regards,

    Sinead Cooney

    Genealogist (Ireland XO)

    Friday 15th Jun 2012, 10:59AM

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