Handy family of Aughrim & Horseleap (Brackagh Castle/Collolalough)

Sorry about the typos - a newbie on this site.

Should have been 'hoping' and Coolalough is more sensible spelling, but ut does vary.

I wonder if they aren't related to my ancestors.  I'm related to the Handibos (pronounced Handy-Bo) which is also spelled Handibode, Handebo or even Handibeau.

My great-great-great Grandfather came to the US (via Canada) from Ireland in 1832 and the only folks I can find with the same last names are from the Horseleap area.  Would seem that Handy may be a shortening of Handibo?

Hi,

A Richard Handy from Doonanarroo, Richard F Handy from Kinnavally., a Nicholas Handy from Knocknagon, a Samuel Handy from Shanettra (all in Kilfian parish) are listed on Griffiths Valuation in 1856-ish.  You can search here: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

There are a number of Handy's listed on the tithes, see http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=handy&firstname=&county=Mayo&parish=kilfian&townland=&search=Search, including a Sam. Wesley Handy  in Cloontakillew.

Other sites you might want to look at are:

http://www.kilfian-1830s-nameindex.site90.net/

http://www.kilfiancrosskin.com/

but I didn't see any Handy families listed.

Hope this helps.

John (Kilfian Parish Admin)

Thanks John but I  already have all that, along with the wonderful Landed Esate Court records, My aim is to sort out the various branches of hte Handy family - many with same names and find their origins. Originally English and various sources state:

The progenitor of this family came over to Ireland as a Lieutenant in Cromwell's army. He did not obtain a grant of arms. The estate of Bracca/Brackagh Castle and other property was purchased by some of the family. Lt. Handy married and left a son, who married Joan Low, by whom he had issue three sons, the youngest being Samuel. This account conflicts with the pedigree at the Friends Library. They settled in co. Wexford (Newcastle) according to yhr Society of Friends and so some were Quakers and others active is Methodism.

 IWK Handy wrote that the progenitor of the Irish family accompanied Cromwell to Ireland, as an officer in the Dragoons in the Army. Jonathan had no surviving issue as he left his estates to his brother Samuel?They halso had property in Aughrim (Galway) but don't seem to have stayed in Wexford.

Hi

I doubt it as the Handys seem well documented and it is found in Worcestershire England, where the Quaker branch claimed to come from  - Evesham. But I cannot confidently link the Wexford/Waterford Quakers with the Bracca/Brackagh. Aughrim, Kilfian, etc branches, so who knows?  How far back are you able to trace the Handibo family?

Linley

Hi Linley,

I'd suggest that you take a look at some of the books that talk about Irish Landed Gentry when Cromwell came, see this link: http://archive.org/search.php?query=landed%20gentry%20of%20ireland - this is all free, and documents who lost land, who was moved and who gained land.

Go here: http://www.failteromhat.com/index.php and look under Census / Directory and look up the Hearth Roll.  This might give you some more ideas.

Now, maybe you've already done this, but what I have been doing lately for my Ratchford ancestors has been gathering all the data I can from the above records, Tithes, Griffiths, records from familysearch.org and try to line-up family groups where I can.  I also created a Facebook surname group and invited all the descendents I could find that were interested in family history.  Finally, many of us have had DNA tests to try to establish family connections through DNA.

One additional thing to look out for is that some Irish septs were Anglicized to be similar to English names.  Ratchford was Rochford in Ireland, and there are some ties to France with Rochefort, Rockford, etc. but there was an Irish surname Roughneen (Rock - neen) that was Anglicized to Rochford.

Hand, Handy?This name is the anglicised form of three Irish sept names. In the districts of Clones, Co.Monaghan, and in that of Tullamore, King's County, the names M'Lave and M'Clave (Mac L?imh) has been anglicised Hand, from l?mh, hand. Also to Handy and Maglave, the latter in Gaelic Mag L?imh.

In North Connacht the name Lavin (O'L?imhin) is changed to Hand, and the sept name O'Hand (O' h-Aodh-?in) or as some have anglicised it as Owens, have assumed the name of Hands. The latter sept was located in Co. Meath.

Hi again John

Thanks for contributing your thoughts - the last item was new to me, but I still feel that they were of English stock - staunch Anglicans right down to recent generations (even Methodists were just a form of Anglicanism to start with).  There is a RC family in the Clara district who claim to be connected, but I find it hard to believe that their Andra/Andrew Handy, a weaver, is the same Andrew Handy who attended TCD! That book provides a much more likely scenario for them. That family has been much harder to track as they flitted between Glasgow & Dundee in Scotland and back to Ireland with descendants in both places.  I have considered DNA testing, but don't have any males left in our line, I am in touch with a descendant in Dublin (son of an Anglican minister) who is very comfortable with his own line and a descendant of the Dundee RD branch, but I would probably have to offer to pay and it won't really advance my research.

Thanks again for your interest

Linley

Hi Linley,

I'm a Brackagh Handy descendent.  My father emigrated from Ireland in 1968 to the US.  Our entire family tree is on Ancestry.com.  I think the connection you're looking for is Jonathan Handy Esq (1645-1689), born in Evesham, Worcestershire, England and died in County Westmeath. 

Best,

David

Hello my name is Erin and my parents and I have traced our ancestors here. My Great Great Great Great Grandfather's name was Samuel Handy and my parents and I discovered that he owned a house named Brackagh Castle. We're wanting know everything we can about Samuel Handy.

Hello Erin

I suggest you check out my website: linleyfh.com. Would be delighted to know where you fit in and have your branch's details.

I don't put living people on the website, but like to record everything to assist future generations.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Linley

Hi My name is Barbara.  I'm a descendant of a Richard Handy who came to America in the 1640's.  He was reportedly from Notinghamshire England.  I understand from cousins that some of the siblings may have fought with Cromwell and settled in Ireland for a time, but there are apparently 3 brothers? /Handy's from the same family who came to America.  I can not prove any of this but I wonder if my Richard is from the same line you may be talking about in earlier posts.  We do have Dad's Y-dna.  He is still alive and nearly 94 years old.  I would appreciate any insights you might have or suggestions for research.    

Thanks, Barb

Hello Barbara

The 1640s seems early for the Irish branch, but they both may have stemmed from the Worcestershire famlly. Sadly I don't have any males who have done their Y DNA and it's a bit early for Autosomal DNA to be much good.  However, I am presenting my half-sister (who is the Handy descendant) with an Ancestry kit tomorrow, so we'll see wwhat happens.

In the meantime, you'll need to produce some documentary evidence for your connection to the Irish branch.

Linley

Hello again. Are there any descendents of an Adelbert Handy? He would be my 4th great grandfather. My mom and I have been trying to find some information on him for over 4 years and have come up with nothing. If there is anyone who can help us out, we would greatly appreicate it.