Ballinamore Bridge/Ballygar Hughes Family

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

John and Honor were married in 16-Feb-1836 in Ballygar. His townland was listed as Claushatoher but neither of their parents' names were recorded which would make it difficult to ascertain what relation he was to Nicholas. I couldn't find a relevant baptism for John nor for a Nicholas. 

There is a civil death record for a Nicholas Hughes in Killeroran dated 07-Jan-1903. His son, a Matt Hughes from Slievemurry was present at his death. This Nicholas was 62 at the time of his death, putting his approximate year of birth as 1841. If this is the correct Nicholas then he would have been born much later than John above, who married in 1836 and would therefore have been born at a point prior to 1815 (assuming he was at least 21 when he married).

This is however all conjecture as we don't have a baptism for Nicholas and no father's name for John so can't compare information to ascertain the relationship.

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Thank you so much Clare for the assitance.

I know that John and Honora are my Mat or Matthew's parents they are buried side by side in Killeroran cemetery and I have attached some documents that were once looked up for me. There are some additional areas noted that may be in other parishes close by.  Perhaps that is where John's baptism record may reside.  It seems strange that they all lived in the same area and families have the same naming pattern for them not to be related.

I wonder if you have any ideas of what I could look at besides what I have in the attached word doc. I see a Michael in there too.  There were a number of John Hughes.

Aside from parish records and the Griffith valuation are there other documents?  I wonder if my Mat Hughes' grandfather was a Mat it is hard to keep this all straight with the names so similar and their locations also similar. Also Nicholas and My Mat are almost the same age.  They could be brothers and with Nicholas having a son named Mat it could be they (Mat and Nicholas) have a common Grandfather Mat.  Their fathers both would have been born around 1800-1810.

Conjecture for sure, but... do let me know if there are other parishes you think I should check.  Thanks again for your help. I wonder if there are online sources for me to look up Mat's Childrens Baptisms so it would be my great great Aunts and Uncles the children of Mat and Catherine (Conolly) Hughes.  

Hi again

You could take a subscription to rootsireland.ie and examine what other potentials there are in relation to parish records. Usually if I can't find a record in a particular county I check for the rest of Ireland, in case as you suggest, they were born in a neighboring parish. Other than the Tithes and Griffith's Valuation the Census is the only other online record available.

You could find that the Encumbered Estates records for the parish (not online, only available at the National Archives) name them as sometimes when an estate was being sold the rental details and terms of each tenancy were recorded. This is a long shot though (but they do sometimes refer back to earlier generations or parties to a lease agreement). 

Taking out a short subscription to rootsireland.ie will give you the freedom to search by name in a county and if something pops up you will be best placed to appreciate its broader significance.

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support 

THanks so much Clare! 

kaha58

I have passed on your information to a Hughes connection in that area via her grandson 

I showed him the correspondence here and he thinks that his gran may have  info. He is a student in a loacla school and I taught a Family History course last year in his school so he has good info 

Will let you know how it pans out

Martin

I 

Thank you Mr. Martin Curley.  Very much appreciated.  There are several Hughes families in the Ballygar townlands.  I belive them to all be related as they have the same surnames and given names.  Lots of Patricks, Matthews and Johns.  I think the common ancestor may be a Nicholas who had three sons Patrick, Matthew & John, and they all named their sons the same!  I have some family in the area, but they don't know much and they were young when their parents passed so wouldn't have much information. Any lead is a help!  

Kim 

Hi,

My father is James Hughes from Ballinamore Bridge.  His Uncle was Mattie Hughes he did marry but didnt have any children. He owned a pub in castlecoote.  My fathers father was sonny.  When he married may kearns from creggs he bought a pub in ballinamore bridge.  We would be connected to nicholas hughes in ballygar.  I need to talk to my aunty Anne who knows the family tree inside out and will get back to you.

regards,

Michelle

Hello

I have a 3 page document detailing the descendants of Matt Hughes and Mary Brennan from Mount Mary. I am not clear if it will provide answers but I can scan it and send on if required

They had 6 in family 

Nicholas Carnacregg m W Kenny

John Ballygar m Mary Kenny

Pat Annaghbeg not married

James Fairfield m M Gunning Ballymacurley

Michael Curraghavaughla m B Clarke Killeroran

Bridget (Hennigan) Bornacurra Athleague

Closhatogher is c 2 miles from Ballygar on the Galway road. It is not na official townland but is located in Cloonascarberry

Michael A Martin

I have done a little more digging I found out that my great grandfather originally from Hollygrove Married into McDonaghs pub in castlecoote.  he had 4 children Sonny (my grandfather), Nelly, Maggie and Matthew.  Matthew married Carmel Hennessy and they lived in the home pub in castlecoote they never had any children.  Sonny Married May Kearns from Creggs they had 4 children Anne (Cunningham), Mattie, Jimmy (my father) and Tommy.  Nelly never married.  Maggie married Packie Kelly from Four Roads and they had triplets Anna (Coyle), Mayme (Delaney) and Pauline (McGuinness).  My great grandfather bought his 3 children businessess.  He bought Sonny Hughes a Bar and shop in Ballinamore Bridge, Maggie and Packie a bar and shop in Four Roads and Nelly Castlecoote Stores.  Because Nelly didnt have any children she took Maggies daughter Mayme under her wing and Mayme still owns castlecoote stores.  Michael I would be very greatful if you could forward me on those records.  My father believes that his grandfather originally came from mount mary the pieces of the jig saw are beginning to fall into place.

regards

Michelle 

Michelle and Michael, 

Thank you very much for the information.  I have another person Mary Pat Odonnel and I believe she is related to your side of the family. 

The pub in Ballinamore Bridge is still run by the Hughes Family.  I have been to Ballygar and to the cemetery etc.  I believe there was a relative Nicholas who had sons, Mat, John and Nicholas,  They in tern also used those names which makes it very confusing.  I'd be happy to see any documents or family trees that either of you have.  

My DNA matches to the Hughes from Ballygar who had a pub and who Mary Pat Odonnell is decended. I have also found a group from Ballygar and FourRoads area that post many pictures on Facebook and The Ballygar Group is a DNA group on facebook where the parents did their DNA and posted.  I match two of them. I will one day dig around to find a tree that Mary Pat had sketched for me.  It is her best guess and makes sense to me. I think my Mat may have been a black sheep of the family!  All the girls moved to Boston, Mary, Honora, Catherine and Cecelia.  There was one other daughter Bridgit and two sons John and Patrick or Pake for my Mat's family.  The farm is still there run by Pake's grandson Shane Hughes and his mother Mary Hughes. Mary's Husband PJ died a couple years back but they are well known in the area.  They don't have much from PJ's Mom and Dad (Pake) so I have provided them a great deal of information. 

Michelle you mention Pauline McGuinness where was she from and what would be the dates for her vital information.  We knew a Pauline McGuiness in Boston. 

Talk soon Kim Garvey-Hathaway Florida

Kim

Unfortnately there are no dates given in the attached. However I think that Matthew Hughes died in 1883 having been born in 1802.

A famous member of the Hughes clan was Michael who was chief of Police in Chicago during the Al Capone era.

Michael

Hi All,

I'm descended from Michael Hughes & Bridget Clark through their daughter Mary and John Flynn of Muckloon. Thanks for posting the document Michael. I'm curious how the Chicago police chief fits into the Hughes family.

John Murphy

Michael Hughes, who was the chief of police in Chicago, IL, was my great uncle. In 1868 he was born in the area of Low Village in the townland of Slievemurry/Mount Mary. His parents were Nicholas Hughes (2) and Bridget Kelly.  By the time of the 1901 Census of Ireland, Michael Hughes had already immigrated to America; however, his parents and some of his siblings were still living in Slievemurry/Mount Mary.  Their contiguous neighbor was Nicholas Hughes (3) and Winifred Kenny Hughes.  Land records show that at one time the land on which these two families resided was one plot; thus, suggesting a blood relationship between the two families.  The parents of Nicholas Hughes (2) were Patrick Hughes and Catherine Kilcommons and they were the previous residents/tenants of the land that was passed down to Nicholas Hughes (2). The parents of Nicholas Hughes (3) were Matthew Hughes and Mary Brennan, and they were the previous residents/tenants of the land that was passed down to Nicholas Hughes (3).  I am presuming that Patrick Hughes and Matthew Hughes were brothers. In the Tithe Applotment there is a Nicholas Hughes (1) listed as living in the townland of the Mountains of Slievemurry which was located in the parish of Athleague. I have presumed that Nicholas Hughes(1) is the father of both Patrick and Matthew. I have found DNA matches on Ancestry.com that show that I am related to descendants of Nicholas Hughes(3).  On the other hand Nicholas Hughes (1) is a big mystery.  Does anyone have insights that would either corroborate my presumption about Nicholas Hughes (1) or provide any additional information about him?  I do have additional information and documents about the family of Patrick Hughes and Catherine Kilcommons and the family of Matthew Hughes and Mary Brennan.  I am happy to share.  

Hello Friends and Cousins!

Really nice to read here about the family! Great to get further insights and make connections!

My Grandmother was Nora Hughes who married Michael Keane and they had the pub in Athleague.

My Aunt May married Jimmy Kearns from Creggs so was there a double connection there Michelle? .. another May Kearns !

I have photos taken of visiting the house in Creggs as a child - long time ago!

I also remember visiting Ballinamore Bridge as a child with May when she came home on holidays from Birmingham.

Nice also to have connections via Flynns and McDonaghs and

Best regards to all

David Keane.

David not sure how I’ve missed this for over a year!  

My great grandmother was also named Nora Hughes she went to Boston with 4 of her sisters (Mary Catherine, Cecelia) prior to that they lived in Ballinamore Bridge between Hugh’s Bar and Tohegar Chuch the house is still there and Pakes oldest son kept the farm.  The youngest child of my great grandmothers family was Pake who stayed there and kept the farm married a Bridie Keane. Her brother was a priest Fr. Martin Keane. Bridie and Pake (patrick) Hughes are buried behind the church in Ballygar and died in around 1978-80ish.

My great grandmother was named for her grandmother Honora Jordan m. John Hughes d 1878 buried in Killeroran Cemetery. My great grandmother,s father was a Mat Hughes and I believe he may have been born on one of the estates that his father worked on. I cannot find the John Hughes that is my great grandfather because there are several Johns Mats Patrick’s and Nichols Hughes in the townlands around Ballygarborn around the same time. 

That you visited Ballinamore Bridge makes me wonder if May and Nora were cousins? Or if Bridie Keane-Hughes was? Or both! Have you done DNA?  

Regards Kim

Hi David Keane,

I read this page with interest because I am researching the Spotswood Family. They intermarried with the Blackham family of Newry. The Blackhams and Spotswoods intermarried with the Keane family. Millicent Sophia Hughes said to be from Belfast married George Blackham. They applied for a marriage licence in 1817 though I have seen an Ancestry page that claims they married in 1815. 

I have reason to think this is George Blackham, silversmith, jeweller, watch and clock maker of Hill Street Newry. His brother Richard wrote love letters to Sarah Spotswood in Newry and was so smitten he secretly walked the return journey (28 miles) from Beech Hill Armagh to Newry to court her. I think his father William who was a publican and president of the Newry Orange order of Masons seems to have strongly disapproved the marriage. I wonder if the Spotswoods were too politically liberal for his very pious and Quakerish scruples.

I don't know what Richard was doing in Beech Hill, Armagh, but he speaks of Mr and Mrs Gallagher being very attentive to him. My guess is he was boarding with them in order to work near there. Could he be working on the Hughes estate? He implies that the Gallagher’s are Sarah’s Aunt and Uncle but I may be misinterpreting. He mentions she can, if necessary, direct correspondence to a male ‘hand’ by the name of William Payhew, perhaps to maintain discretion. 
Do any of these names or places connect with your Keanes and Hughes? Both the Blackhams and Spotswoods also intermarried with the McCarthy family. Richard's son Frederick Keane Blackham married Lucy Anne McCarthy (b.1831).

Hi there, 

I am joining late to this thread but I have been trying to find out more about my Hughes / Ballygar connection. My name is Barrett and Mary Hughes, niece of "Iron Mike" Hughes, was my paternal grandmother. I live in Chicago, which is where our family has been since Mary Hughes moved to Chicago to live with her uncle Mike Hughes. Mary's sister, Madge, came to live with her in Chicago in the 60s-70s. 

I don't know who Mary and Madge's parents were, or where her family exactly lived in Ballygar but I do know that their home was called "The Hermitage." I also believe they had brothers named Nicholas and Emmet who lived their whole lives in Ballygar and are buried at the church cemetary? From other research I've learned the house is still there but in ruin. 

Any information at all would be greatly appreciated. I don't know much about that side of my family and am trying to learn.

Is Hughes Pub still in Ballygar?

Hi,

My mother Mary Tansey and your grandmother Mary Hughes were first cousins.  I have a great deal of information about the family (including dates of births, marriages and deaths) that I am happy to share, but I can only give a snippet of it in this post.  I knew Mary Hughes, her husband Pat McBride, and Mary's sister Madge (Margaret) Hughes.  Mary was the second oldest of 6 siblings.  Nicholas was the only brother.  Their parents were Patrick "Tailor" Hughes and Catherine "Katie" Nolan.  The family moved from Mt. Mary to Hermitage somewhere around 1909-1910.  Emmet McBride was Mary's brother-in-law.  The Hermitage and Mount Mary are the names of townlands outside Ballyygar.  I do have a photo of their grave/tombstone in Ballygar cemetery next to St. Mary Church.  When Mary came to the U.S.A., she was welcomed into the home of her aunt Kate Hughes Connolly; and Kate's brother, "Iron Mike" Hughes, found her a job at The Fair department store in downtown Chicago.  Iron Mike lived a few blocks from Kate, and every morning on his way to work, he stopped at Kate's house to pick up Mary and take her to the Fair.  

I believe that the building where Hughes Pub was located has been torn down.  

I reside in the same Chicago suburb where Mary and Pat lived.  Let me know how I can contact you directly if you are interested in more details and photos.  

Mary McD

Yes!!! That is right!! I would love to connect and find out more details!! My emails is barrettannmcbride@gmail.com.

Thank you!! 

Hi i AM bridget hannigan Great Great Grandchild she married a Mcconn man and lived in athleague.....