Hi. I just joined the Moylagh group and thought I would say hi. I think this site is great - I have grand aspirations to bring my kids (now 2 and 4) to see their home towns when they get a bit older. My Moylagh ancestor, Ellen Sheridan, has been on my mind for at least 10 years and would love to find the family and place in Moylagh where she lived.
Ellen Sheridan was born in Moylagh around 1826-1830. The records I have found spell Moylagh differently, but I know they could not read and write and I think this must be the correct parish. Her interment in Philadelphia lists her homeland as “Milah (prob. Moylah) in County Meath”. Her death notice called it "Mylah" in County Meath.
According to family word, her husband, Terrence, was from County Mayo, however I found a newspaper personal ad taken out by Ellen in Philadelphia on Dec 2 1857 (the year of their arrival to the US) requesting information of her husband, “Terrence from County Westmeath”. His arrival in the 1900 US Federal Census is listed as 1857. So I believe he must have traveled first to arrange for work.
They are together in the 1860 US Federal Census in Philadelphia which also said their first child was born around 1856 in Delaware in the U.S., but I can't make sense of the timeline.
It's possible they were married and living together in County Westmeath (or Meath) prior to their emigration and possible (though I think unlikely) that their first son, James Madison Murtha, was born in Ireland / in transit / or on arrival!
Ellen's story had a sad end, in 1886 she was struck by a train on Pennsylvania Railroad near her home. The trains ran along the road and with a curve ahead it was very dangerous just to cross the street.
I have not found a marriage record or any Terrence Murtha in this area. I have found some candidate Baptismal records for Ellen, but without knowing her parents names or exact DOB, have been unable to pick which of several are her.
Great to find this board - I'm excited to see what everyone will post about Moylagh!
Kim
Tuesday 26th Nov 2013, 01:54PM
Message Board Replies
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Kimberly:
You may want to look at the Tithe Applotment listings which were for Moylagh civil parish were 1826. I found 7 Sheridan records listed in different townlands. www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie
I also looked at the 1854 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Moylagh parish and found a number of Sheridans listed. This may give you some leads on possible townlands where her family came from. See link.http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/meath/moylagh.htm
Finally, I looked at Roots Ireland. www.rootsireland.ie There is an 1828 baptism for an Ellen Sheridan in the Oldcastle RC church records which is likely the catholic parish for the Sheridans. Roots has a 40% sale currently. You may want to join and pay to see this baptism which may or may not be your Ellen.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 26th Nov 2013, 03:45PM -
Thank you so much for your thoughts Roger. I have been on www.rootsireland.ie and found 4 baptisms for Ellen or Elenor in the time range in Oldcastle (I assume that's my best bet for the Registration District in Moylagh).
The one Ellen - her mother was a Reilly. There was later an Ellen Sheridan marrying a Reilly in 1851, so I'm wondering if that's her and she did not immigrate. I guess I will have to figure a way to research each one of these Ellen/Elenors to see if they left.
I couldn't figure out how to connect to the Griffiths or Tithe listings since I don't know her parents names. I will look at these a little deeper and see if I can make a connection. I guess I really need to figure a way to find at least her father's name, though I'm not sure how.
Thank you!
Kim
Tuesday 26th Nov 2013, 08:36PM -
Kim:
I only found one record for an Ellen Sheridan baptized in 1828 in the RC records for Oldcastle parish which is the RC parish for the Moylagh civil parish.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 27th Nov 2013, 01:01AM -
I was assuming Elenor was a likely first name for someone later going by "Ellen". Maybe it wasn't typically shortened that way, I'm not sure.
Wednesday 27th Nov 2013, 01:57PM