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I am trying to find out more about my Donegal ancestors. My GGF Thomas McGrath with his wife Margaret Meehan and their son John migrated to Brisbane Australia in 1861. I have their migration record. I also have John's baptism record from the RC parish of Carn in 1859. Thomas's parents were Thomas McGrath and Ellen, she was maybe a McGrath before marriage too. They came from Carntressy. At some time Thomas and Margaret were joined in Brisbane by his sister Mary and their mother Ellen. They are both buried here in Brisbane but I am unable to find any migration records for either of them. We would like to know any further information on our McGraths.   Margaret Meehan's parents are listed as Patrick Meehan and Elizabeth. We guess they were from the same area but her place of origin is listed as just Donegal. We know nothing about this family.  I have a lot of other information on the family after their arrival in Australia if it helps anyone else. Anything you can suggest especially online will be a good help.Thank you

 

 

 

 

Saturday 26th Mar 2016, 10:14AM

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  • Carn marriage records start in 1836 and are on-line free on the NLI site, so you might find the parents marriage in them:

    http://registers.nli.ie/parishes

     

    Looking at Griffiths Valuation for 1857, in Carntressy I see a number of McGrath households including a Thomas and a Mary (though she’s likely to be a widow).

    There were two Thomas McGraths in the townland and so they had agnomens (nicknames) to distinguish them.  One Thomas was known as “Art” and lived on plot 12 which was a 9 acre farm. Ellen was on plot 17 which was a house, 2 acres and some bogland. The other Thomas was known as “Dolian” and live don plot 5 which was a 5 acre farm. Next door to him was Mary (who you would expect to be a widow) on plot 6, which was 6 acres. These properties today are all near the R232 road a mile or tow west of Pettigo.

     

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

     

    There’s a set of records that takes those primary valuations forward, called the revaluation records. They are not on-line but are held in the Valuation Office in Dublin. They should show the various occupants leaving around the time they moved to Australia.

    I noticed this probate abstract on the wills website:

    Letters of Administration of the personal estate of John M'Grath late of Carntressy County Donegal Farmer deceased who died 16 February 1871 at same place were granted at Londonderry to Mary M'Grath of Carntressy (Pettigo) aforesaid the Widow of said deceased.

    The townland remained full of McGraths in 1901:

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Templecarn/Carntrassy/

     

    and 1911:

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Templecarn/Carntressy/

    I looked in the modern phone book but did not see any in the townland today. However many people are not listed these days so its not conclusive.

     

     

     

     

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Saturday 26th Mar 2016, 12:05PM

  • Thank you so much  Elwyn  through you help I have now found Thomas and Margaret's marriage record  I need to spend time understanding the Griffiths Valuation records where I may gain some more information along the lines you mentioned 

    Sunday 27th Mar 2016, 08:03PM

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