Mathias Breen from Co. Clare, emigrated 1851

My ancestors were James William Breen and Mary McGrath who lived in Co. CLare perhaps in Carrigaholt on the west coast. They had six children leaving Ireland: Simon b 1836, Mary, Brigid, Michael , Ellen and Sarah (or Susie.) They emigrated through New York and Rochester  and on to Hamilton Ontario. The two girls Ellen and Sarah died before they reached Hamilton. I have found McGraths in Hamilton and quite sure that they would have been relatives as some of  this family of Breens lived next door in Hamilton to McGraths. They did not farm in Hamilton.

That is very interesting: the similarity of names in your Breen's family!

As I reconstruct my great-grandfather Mathias' history (born we know in 1833), I believe that he came from South Lakyle townland on the Kilkerin peninsula, a bit East of Kilrush on the North Bank of the Shannon estuary.  In 1853, some relative or friend was seeking him and his sister Margaret, who emigrated together through New York in 1851. In the Boston Pilot newspaper notice they said they were from "Laghkil."  

Through a long process of search and elimination we have concluded that this was the modern townland of (South) Lakyle.  That is in Kilofin Parish, and in the graveyard there there is a gravestone for a "Mary Breen, alias McGrath" who died in 1833.  The stone is dedicated by her husband Mathias.  This I take, from some other evidence as well, to be the grand-father of Mathias, the emigrant of 1851.  In 1832, the townland of Ballina, very near Lakyle, has 3 Breens, a Mathias, a Thomas (the name of the father of Mathias born 1833) and a James (this from a registry of "Persons Licensed to Keep Arms").

I have concluded that these might be the grandfather, father and perhaps an uncle (James) of Mathias born 1833.

So, I think the Breens you mention must be different people, but the name of James, and the wife named McGrath, are certainly interesting coincidents!  "My" Mathias, after arrival in New York, is fairly well documented to have gone to Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and then to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he had a prominent career as a contractor, dying in 1890.

I relate all this in case any of the facts suggest some connection, somewhere along the line, between "your' Breens and "mine."  I gather that the name is likely from O'Brien, and that is an old family name in Clare.  But two Breens each marrying a McGrath in the same half century in the same area would seem to be unusual!

Beside an grandmother named McGrath, "my" Mathias had a mother name Moron(e)y.  In the states, he was in several ways associated with a family of Madigans (later changed to Mulligan), and his sister married one of them.  I find the name of Madigan to be frequent in the area of Kilofin Parish about that time, which makes me wonder if that isn't also an associated family.

If any of this makes a connection with you, please let me know.  Thank you for your interest and for posting.

Bill Prendergast

Portland, OR, USA

Hi Bill,

I am also researching the Breens from that area.  Michael Breen came to the DC area along with his stonecutter brothers, Matthias and Thomas.  They share a residence in DC city directories for many years.  Michael married Catherine O'Brien of North Lackile whom he had known before coming to the US (according to family knowledge). My husband and I have been to Lackile and spoken with the O'Brien descendant who still works that piece of property and who remembers stories of most of the siblings leaving for America.  I have photographed all the Breen graves in the Killofin cemetery and would be happy to send them to you.  We also got some great close-up maps at the Clare Library of the individual land divisions and drove every road in the area!

Both Michael and Matthias named their first sons, James, and I am guessing from that fact that they perhaps were sons of the James Breen in Ballina but I have never been able to prove the line to any of the 4 Breen families in the immediate area.  Michael died in DC as a city cop; Matthias moved for a while to PA and then returned to DC and died there.  The other brother, Thomas, seemed to disappear from the records.

If you contact me at kidsbks@msn.com I would be happy to send you what I have on the family.  Perhaps together we can sort out who belongs to which family.

Susan Beller