My ancestor James McAvin was born about 1808 in Ireland. Because McAvin is not a common surname, and because most references I have found to McAvins in Ireland are in County Monaghan, I am posting this query here. None of the sparse records that he generated in the U.S. list his place of origin other than "Ireland." James appeared in Manhattan in New York City by about 1830, and soon after married Mary McCosker/McCusker. He is enumerated in the 1840 U.S. census as head of household living in Ward 14. By 1850, he had moved to Shullsburg, Wisconsin where he worked as a lead miner. His wife died at some point after 1850 and before 1860. The couple had several known chilldren including: Ellen, John, Thomas, William, Hannah, James Jr., Mary A., and Rose. About 1865, James Sr.moved a short distance south of the state border to Apple River Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. He had scraped together enough money to buy a small 40 acre farm. The American Dream! However, he did not die there. Instead, he either gives or sells his land to his son-ln-law Patrick Meade who had married his eldest daughter Ellen. Then he and his youngest daughter Rose and her husband James Hicks take off west for the Dakota territory. I discovered this from James McAvin's sister-in-law's probate papers. I speculate that they may have gone there trying to strike it rich by mining gold in the Black Hills. I have not been able to find any documents generated by him there yet, so his death date is unknown.
If James McAvin followed traditional Irish naming patterns for his children, then his father should be named John McAvin. I found a John McAvin listed in the Tithe Applotment Books. He lived in the townland of Kilfahavin in the parish of Ennigal Trough in County Monaghan in 1826. This might be either the father or some other relative. The only other clue I have as to his Irish family may be the Elizabeth McAvin who lived in a nearby county to James when he was in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. She was married to Edward McGovern and had several children. Elizabeth was the correct age to be a sister to James McAvin, but she left behind no record to tell where she was from in Ireland.
Are there any McAvin descendants out there who can provide information on this family?
Wednesday 1st Jul 2015, 01:36PM
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Dear Nicole
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the long delay in getting back to you.
There are no McAvin listings in the Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864). Roots Ireland does give a number of baptism records for variants of the McAvin name (Kevin in Co. Dublin and Giving in Co. Donegal for example), but none for 'McAvin' in that period. It would be no harm to consider those variants when doing your research and to think outside of Monaghan into Tyrone and perhaps Fermanagh, In saying that, the only Mcavin family I have ever known or heard of lived in Co. Monaghan - on the border between Co. Tyrone and Co. Monaghan in Moybridge (near the village of Emyvale in the Parish of Truagh). This couple died many years ago and had no children. They ran a small pub.
I think that given the very early period of your search you may actually be more successful with potential sources on your side than in Ireland. Many pre-famine parish registers no longer exist or don't begin until much later. I would be very interested to know if you learn any more about the Black Hills aspect of their lives - I think that may be the best bet in finding out more about them and potentially their lives before they left Ireland.
Let me know if you learn anything
Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support
Thursday 20th Aug 2015, 05:24PM -
Hello Nicole,
It has been over 2 years since your post, so I hope you've had good luck with your search. I am the descended from Rose McAvin and James Hicks. I have some information that does not line up perfectly with yours. Please reach out greerpalmer@gmail.com
Thank you,
Greer
greerpalmer
Monday 31st Jul 2017, 10:03PM