My great-grandfather James O'Meara (as per his death certificate in Australia 1939) was born in Toomyvara circa 1859. He migrated to Sydney Aust. circa 1878 and married Mary Agnes Dawson from Co. Limerick in 1885, confirmed by his marriage certificate.
His parents were Matthew O'Meara, and Mary Delaney. Her parents were Patrick Dawson and Margaret Sullivan.
He had several children; two were registered at birth with surname O'Mara, the remainder as O'Meara.
His brother Michael also migrated to Australia, around 1889, also fathered many children with his wife Johanna Fitzgerald (born in Burwood, NSW). Her parents were Edward Fitzgerald and Mary O'Connor.
They were staunch Catholics and supporters of the Church in Kogarah, a suburb of Sydney.
They were very successful in their lives in Australia, as contractors, farmers, dairy owners, property owners, and real estate developers.
James died in 1939, and Michael in 1949.
I cannot find any record of arrival for either of these men, or any record of them in Ireland, but they were well-know and respected here in NSW especially Kogarah, and Coraki (Far North NSW).
I do not have any living relatives of past generations to help me with my search, and hope that you might find some information for me. I also do not have any photographs
Cheers
Kerry
goldsy19
Monday 12th Jan 2015, 07:07AMMessage Board Replies
-
Hi Kerry
I assume you have this record from www.rootsireland.ie/ (subscription site):
Siblings of James are:
Catherine 1862 Mary 1854 & Anne 1869 - all Toomevara R C & same parents - but no Michael
There is a record of a James OMeara in the Assisted Immigrant List sr.www.records.nsw.gov.au
He is aged 23 and arrived in Sydney on the Erato with family; no Michael however.
I couldn't find any record in Tithe Applotments, Griffiths Valuation or the Irish Censuses (all free online)
Col
ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
-
Kerry:
As Col indicated there was no Matthew O'Meara in the 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Agnameadle civil parish. However, there was a James O'Meara on Church St. in Toomyvara. Possibly he was the father of Matthew if the first son was James. There are also a couple Mara records and also a John Delaney.
There was also a James O'Meara in the 1825 Tithe listing for Aghnameadle parish. He was listed in Bunacum townland.
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587395/00…
I also located a civil death index record in the Nenagh registration district for a Matthew O'Meara who died in 1915 and according to the informant was born in 1825. Possibly this is the father of James and Michael. I found the 1901 and 1911 census records for this Mathew. In 1901, his wife was listed as Mary but she apparently died before the 1911 census. I don't know if this is your Mathew/Matthew or an unrelated Matthew O'Meara/Meara.
Roger McDonnell
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Latteragh/Ga…
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Latteragh/Ro…
First name(s) Matthew Last name O'Meara Birth year 1825 Age at death 90 Registered year 1915 Registered quarter/year Jan - Mar 1915 Registration district Nenagh Volume 3 Page 424 Country Ireland Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
-
Hi Col
Thank you so much for checking this out for me.
Re:the green text in your reply - How do I access this information. I have clicked on it but nothing happens. Is it a link to some other site?
Regarding the entry for James on the Erato, it lists him as having a wife Hannah (from memory) and a child. As he married here, Australia, in 1885 to Mary Agnes Dawson, I have this marriage certificate, I doubt that is him as he was a devout Catholic and therefore would not have considered divorce. I seem to remember also that the dates don't fit.
RE: Tithe Applotment Books (1814-1855) - I found an entry for Omara/Delany, 1828, Townland-Capparos, Parish-Kilmore, Co.Tipperary, GS Film # 256650. It's hard to read, but looks like 5 acres to Mr O'Meara and 2 acres to Mary Delany. Do you think this could be my relatives.
RE: Michael O'Meara, I have his death certificated from 1949 which lists his parents as Matthew O'Meara, farmer, and Mary Delaney
Any thoughts?
Cheers, and thanks again
Kerry
goldsy19
-
Hi Roger, and thanks to you also for responding to my request. As you might appreciate, it is very difficult and expensive to do this research from Australia, so I really do appreciate your help, and Col's too of course.
Thank you for the census records, I was able to access and print them, but the Tithe link did not work for me.
I have searched shipping records to find details of the brothers' migration to Australia from 1876- 1881, every ship's manifest for a listing for Mara, Meara, O'Meara, O'Mara, Omara, Omeara, families and single men, with no luck. They must have come by rowboat!!! Do you have any suggestions regarding this?
Cheers, and thanks again
Kerry
goldsy19
-
Kerry:
Go to www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie enter Bunacum in the townland field and you will get 38 replies and James O'Meara should be the second record.
Can't help you with the ships records coming into Australia. Have you tried Ancestry?
FYI Col lives in Australia and I'm in the States.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
-
Morning Kerry & Roger
Kerry the green writing was the cut & paste from rootsireland so no link I'm afraid.
roots also has 4 baptisms of the children of Mathew & Mary all from Toomevara R C: Mary 1854 James 1856 Catherine 1862 & Anne 186; family address is Roscoorthus / Rosguerth / Roscoordha!
ColColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
-
Hi Kerry,
I have read your post and it seems that we share the same great grandfather, James O'Meara. My parents were Matthew James O'Meara and Sylivia Agnes Phillips. I was born in Sydney, my father was 60 years old when I was born. He saw service at Gallipoli. I am keen to follow any new information and happy to share what I know.
I have a photo each of James and Mary.
Mary
-
Hi Mary Therese
My apologies for not responding sooner, but I only just found your response (by accident). Yes it seems that we do have a g-grandfather in common, and I'm guessing you are the child of Matt's second wife.
I would love to exchange information and hope you will too, though I have very very little of any news in Ireland - it's all after he arrived in Australia. Photos would be wonderful, if you care to email them to me..
Cheers
Kerry
goldsy19
-
Hi Kerry,
This morning I have read your reply to my message posted September, 2015.
Am very keen to exchange any information regarding 'our g-grandfather' and his family. Fortunately, I do have some information you may be interested in and it seems there is only one living relative who has ancient family information - Father Jim O'Meara who lives now in Rockdale/ Kogarah (retired).
I did sms 2 photos to you of James and Mary (nee Dawson) O'Meara last year, I fear they are still floating around out there somewhere.
Not that computer savvy, so I will try to email them.
Good luck
Mary Therese
-
Hi Kerry,
Further to my message just now - where would I email these photos to...............
I also have a photo of Mary Dawson's grave in Lismore, NSW.
Best wishes
Mary
-
goldsy19
-
There is a Matthew Meara who is connected to my ancestor Morgan Meara of Kilgorteen/Kilgurtin (who left Ireland in 1850).
Please see my blog entry on the Meara's (which I am presently updating as I find new info) at:
http://plugsandpixels.com/geneblog/index.php/2018/09/10/the-mearas-of-tipperary-ireland/jerseymara
-
My great grandfather, John C O'Mara, and his two brothers Patrick and David imigrated to the USA in about 1850. David and Patrick have disappeared, but John married Mary McAleer and settled in Davey Nebraska, which is a town with almost entirely Irish heritage. They were born in Toomevara, per the gravestone. I would love to know where Patrick and David ended up, they probably didn't come to the central part of the USA. I think the arrived on a ship named the Barque Elizabeth.
Jmara