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My great-grandfather Peter Lowry died in Ballydoolough, Galway in 1904 at age 85 leaving a daughter Catherine 35 (+-5)  and son Martin, 40 (+-5) on their tenant farm.  The 1910 census shows them still living there.  The 1925 obituary of their brother Peter in Scranton, PA listed Martin and Catherine still living in Ireland.  The next information I have suggests that a Lowry family among others moved from Ballydoolough west to near Mullingar in County Westmeath in 1956.   I have accounted for all of Peter's five children except Catherine and Martin.  I would appreciate any information from decendents of Ballydoolough neighbors or actual decendants if Catherine and/or Martin married and had children when and if they moved away.

Griffith Valuation records (attached) of Ballydoolough show several other neighboring Lowry families (various spellings) near Peter Lowry but I have no reason to believe that any or all were related to one another.   The 1911 Census lists at least six Lowry households in Ballydoolough in addition to Martin and his sister.  If these Lowrys were related then the basis for my family in Ireland will have grown greatly.   

NYCPaull

Saturday 10th Sep 2016, 03:33AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Paul

    I think we might be connected as my Lowry family come from that area - our side now lives in Tuam. If you look through the Message Board for your earlier posts I replied to one of them.

    All the best

    Clare (Lowery) Doyle

    Ireland XO

    Genealogy Support 

    Tuesday 18th Oct 2016, 02:45PM
  • Hi Clare,

    Thanks to Ireland XO I am sure I have found my great-grandfather Peter Lowry and his five children except for two - Catherine and Martin who were single and remained in Ballydoolaugh in the last records I have.  If they never married, then those lines stopped there.  However, I don't know one way or another.  You could be a relative of Martin if he married.   I have tracked branchs of the other three married children both in Ireland and the U.S. so those are covered. 

    What I still need to research is the family tree in the other direction; i.e. great-grandfather Peter's family.  The fact that Ballydoolaugh contained so many other Lowrys and Lowerys clustered together with Peter's home suggests family connections to one or more.  You may be a decendent from one of those Lowry/Lowerys.  What are the chances that such a cluster of similar named families all came from the same source?  Could a Catholic family group have come down from the Ulster Plantation.  I recall a floating memory from childhood about four brothers from Scotland but I wouldn't count on it except that the different spellings of Lowry in Ballydoolaugh might be the result of a continued modification of earlier Scotich spellings among family members.

    I wish - but doubt - that there was some way to verify any family connections among the Ballydoolaugh Lowrys.  If you know of a direction for research that far back I would appreciate a suggestion.

    NYCPaull

    Wednesday 19th Oct 2016, 04:56PM
  • Hi Paul

    I'm afraid I don't know very much - you probably know more at this stage. 

    My grandfather was James Lowry, born Tuam. His father, Michael was born in 1863 and he was from Ballindoolough, Clonbur. His father (we think) was James and mother Mary Disken. We can't find a marriage records for James and Mary so we can't go back any further. I have been toying with the DNA side of things but haven't done anything about it yet - my brother (the youngest Lowry on our side) is home for a visit from Australia in December so we might do something then though I'm not sure what more we can learn.

    In relation to the origin of the name I was always led to believe that this was a Co. Fermanagh (a variant of Lavery) and that they had originally come from Scotland. You can see the prevalence of the name throughout the world now and in 1880 HERE, taken I believe from census material. 

    I will ask an uncle if he knows any more - the cluster of Lowry families is very confusing

    Have a nice weekend

    Clare

    Genealogy Support  

    Friday 21st Oct 2016, 03:29PM
  • Hi Clare,

    I found many Lowry/Lowerys of Ballydoolough listed in the on-line Clonbur (Rosshill) Graveyard directory, but my great, grandfather Peter Lowry (Lowery) who died in 1904 in that Townland at 85 was not among them.  I believe his daughter Bridget Lowry Loftus, husband Patrick and children Mary and Tady share a plot there.  Is it possible that:  1) Peter is buried there but not listed, 2) Peter was buried elsewhere in the area,  3) Peter was buried with his wife (Bridget Kyne Lowry) but not acknowledged on a stone in Rosshill or elsewhere, 4) 1904 graves in Rosshill are lost?

    Although spelled Lowery in the following record, the dates fit with Peter Lowry.  Where can I find a burial location associated with this record?

    Ireland Deaths 1864 - 1958 Transcription

    First name(s)     Peter
    Last name     Lowery
    Age at death     85
    Birth year     1819
    Registered year     1904
    Registered quarter/year     Jan - Mar 1904
    Registration district     Oughterard
    Volume     4
    Page     266
    County     Galway
    Country     Ireland
    Record set     Irish Deaths 1864 - 1958
    Category     Life Events (Birth, Marriage, Death)
    Subcategory     Deaths & burials
    Collections from     Ireland

    Thank you for any help now and all your help in the past.

    Paul Lowry

    Manhattan, NYC, USA

    NYCPaull

    Wednesday 2nd Nov 2016, 09:21PM
  • Hi Paul

    In relation to the burial, unfortunately all options are possible! I spoke to a priest in a neighbouring parish who says that burial records for the turn of the century are very sparse. I rang the priest in Roshill with no answer but I hear he is recovering from an operation so I will drop him an email and wait for a reply. Today is also the day for the First Friday visits to the sick so they are busy anyway.

    Hopefully he will get back to me shortly

    Best wishes

    Clare

    Genealogy Support 

    Friday 4th Nov 2016, 10:16AM
  • Clare,

    Thank you.  You accomplished just what I wanted - an awareness of how hard or easy it might be to find the grave.   I will most certainly visit RossHill when I come but I thought a little research ahead would save time.

    Thanks again,

    Paul

    NYCPaull

    Tuesday 8th Nov 2016, 03:24PM
  • Hi Paul

    I still haven't heard back from the priest but if he is ill he may not be reading emails.

    Let me know when you are coming over and we can meet in Lowry's pub in Clifden for a cuppa!

    Clare

    Ireland XO 

    Monday 14th Nov 2016, 09:07AM
  • Good day,

    I am researcing Michael Lowry (~1830 - 1929) who's obituary stated he was born in "West Meath." He left Ireland in 1850 for the United States. He had a sister Mary (~1839 -  1916) who likewise left around 1850. The names of their parents are unconfirmed, but either Thomas or John and Mary. Have either of these individuals crossed your radars in your search of Westmeath Lowrys?

    Thanks!

    Joe

    Joe Lowry

    Friday 5th Apr 2019, 07:47PM
  • Hi Joe,

    All the research I've done on my Lowry line leads to Ballydoolough townland, south west of Clonbur.  There were quite a few Lowry or Lowery households in that small area but I haven't come up with any links outside of Galway.    We may have a connection but far, far back. My great grandfather was born in 1820 and died in 1905.  His children Peter and Mary came to Scranton, PA about 1885 or so.  I found no records mentioning Westmeath.  Sorry.  Good luck.

    By the way, there is a Joe Lowry on my GEDmatch.com DNA list.  My kit number  is A904797.

    Paul 

    NYCPaull

    Saturday 6th Apr 2019, 02:01AM

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