Meagher/Barnable

Mike:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

You likely know that Meagher/Maher is after Ryan one of the most common surnames in Co. Tipperary.

Records for Mullinahone parish are not on the subscription site Roots Ireland. However, you can find the Mullinahone records on two other subscription sites FindMyPast and Ancestry. Those records were created by digitizing the available Mullinahone parish registers on the National Libray site. Here is a link to the 19th century  parish register for Mullinahone up to 1881 for baptisms https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0277

I did search FindMyPast and found an 1864 baptismal record for William and an 1862 record for Michael. See below

First name(s)WilliamLast nameMeagherBirth year-Baptism year1864Baptism date22 Jun 1864ResidenceMullinahoneParishMullinahoneDioceseCashel and EmlyCountyTipperaryCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)PatrickFather's last nameMeagherMother's first name(s)ElizabethMother's last nameBarnableRepository

National Library of Ireland registerhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000632755#page/1/mode/1upRegisterBaptismRecord setIreland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms

First name(s)MichaelLast nameMeagherBirth year-Baptism year1862Baptism date01 Nov 1862ResidenceMullinahoneParishMullinahoneDioceseCashel and EmlyCountyTipperaryCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)PatrickFather's last nameMeagherMother's first name(s)ElizabethMother's last nameBarnableRepository

National Library of Ireland registerhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000632755#page/1/mode/1upRegisterBaptism

I was not able to locate the baptismal records for Anastasia and James but since civil registration started in 1864, I was able to locate the civil birth records on the free Irish government site www.irishgenealogy.ie The one flaw is that for Anastasia's record the father was shown as James Maher. Probably a mistake.

Anastasia eighth record   https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1866/03526/2297437.pdf

James fifth record  https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1868/03450/2266782.pdf

I was not able to locate a marriage record.

I also looked at the 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing and located a Laurence Barnable in Mullinahone townland in Kilvemnon civil parish.

I will keep looking. Let me know what questions you have.

Roger McDonnell

Mike:

I scanned the Mullinahone parish register and located a marriage on January 19, 1862 which looks promising. Handrwriting is problematic   https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632755#page/90/mode/1up  Clearly shows Patrick Maher and Elizabeth Bar---  Witnesses were James Maher and Margaret Barnable?

Let me know what you think.

I could not find any other baptismal records on Find My Past but you can scan the Mullinahone register and see what you see.

I looked at the 1901 census for Mullinahone and there wasa 70 year old Patrick Maher with a Johanna and a James living with him. Could be another family. This Patrick died in 1906 and Hanna (Johanna) was the informant.

Did not find a death record for Elizabeth.

Roger

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Mullinahone/Mullinahone/1693351/

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1906/05559/4560353.pdf

Roger, Such a prompt response and the marriage record does look promising and the date would seem to fit. I am going to check to see if Anastasia or James came to America and if I can find a connection to William or Michael, Because the Mahers are so prevelent in Tipperary, that is why I am looking for more proof that these are the correct records for my family. I need to find out what happens to Anastasia and James. Thanks so much for doing this research, I will get back to you when I learn more.   Based on this promising lead, my sisters and I have already started to plan a fall 2021 trip. My 3 other gggrandparents on my dad's side of the family are Begley's from Pettigo, Donegal, Leonard's from near Loughrea/Ballynakill area, Galway and Parkmore, Doorus (near Kinvara) Galway so we will stop in each location for a Homeland tour. I have been to Ireland three times before but had no idea of where the family is from so this trip will be special. I need to nail down that Mullinahone is the fourth, and for me, the most imporatant spot.  Thanks for your help!  Mike Maher

The fact that James Meagher's godparent at his baptism was Margaret Barnable and that the witness to the wedding was Margret Barnable is further reason to believe that this is the wedding record for Patrick Meagher and Elizabeth Barnable. 

Roger, 

The Problem: Who are the parents of William and Michael Maher and where did they live in Ireland?

The facts:

Michael J Maher

Census Records

1900 Census Marken Maher Oct 1864; Ireland; Furnace Tender; 212 Ivy St, Chester, Delaware, PA                       immigration 1886; not naturalized; living with wife Mary and 6 children (including James Patrick Maher)

1910 Census Mathew Maher Abt 1870; Ireland; Laborer at Steel Plant; 610 Clark St, New Castle, DE; immigration 1880; naturalized; living with wife Mary and 6 children (including James Patrick Maher)

Marriage Application dated 1 Nov 1893 and Immaculate Heart Church Records

Michael Maher Abt. 1870; Fireman; Borough of S. Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA;               parents: Patrick Maher and Elizabeth Maher                                                                                                             Mary Elizabeth Monahan Abt. 1870; Operator; 226 S Church St, Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA                 parents: Hugh Monahan (deceased) and Kate Monahan (deceased)                                                         witnesses: William Maher and Rosa McCafferty    

Mary Elizabeth (Monahan) Maher died 17 Apr 1893 less than a month after the birth of her 4th child 

Immaculate Heart Church Record (Actual record is missing temporarily) (could not find a civil record)

Michael Maher and Mary E.M. Begley 5 Feb 1894 witnesses Dominic McNicholis & Anna Begley  

William & Mary Monahan had 4 children; William & Mary Begley had 3 children; I have baptismal records for 6 of the 7 children; no Mahers are listed as Godparents

Tennessee Death Certificate         

M J Maher 1 Nov 1863, Ireland; Steel Melter, Lenoir City, Loudon, Tennessee; 14 Nov 1917; widower;  parents: W J Maher & Don’t Know; informant: Robert Maher (son) who went w/ him to work at Steel Plant

U.S. Find-A-Grave

Michael J Maher 1 Nov 1863; Ireland; 14 Nov 1917; Lenoir City, Loudon, Tennessee;                         Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware                                                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

William Maher

Census Records

1900 William Maher Jun 1865; Ireland; Day Laborer; 215 Central Ave, Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania                       immigration 1882; naturalized; living with wife Catherine, 4 children (including James Maher) & Margaret Collins (Boarder)

1910 William Maher Abt 1866; Ireland; Chinner at Steel Works; 1623 Second St, Chester, Delaware, PA;                                                                                                                                                   immigration 1883; naturalized; living with wife Catherine and 7 children (including James Maher) & two cousins: Agnes Smith and Thomas Farrell

Marriage Application dated 3 Sep 1887 and Immaculate Heart Church Records 15 Sep 1887

William Maher Abt. 1865; Laborer; Borough of S. Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania;                         parents: Patrick Maher and Elizabeth Maher                                                                                                             Kate Himsworth Abt. 1865; Weaver; Chester City, Delaware, Pennsylvania;                                         parents: Richard Himsworth and Catherine Himsworth                                                                         witnesses:  Dominic Mullanney & Maria McGlaughlin    

William & Catherine had 9 children; two died young; I have baptismal records for 8 of the 9 children- 1 lists William Maher & Mary Begley as Godparents; no other Maher is mentioned as Godparents

No Death Certificate Found  

William died in October 1918 from the flu epidemic.

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Recent Discoveries                           

Irish Baptismal Records:

Michael Meagher Baptized 1 Nov 1862; Mullinahone, Tipperary, Ireland;                                                   Parents: Patrick Meagher & Elizabeth Barnable; Godparents: Thomas Meagher & Anastasia Meagher

William Meagher Baptized: 22 Jun 1864; Mullinahone, Tipperary, Ireland;                                                                                          Parents: Patrick Meagher & Elizabeth Barnable; Godparents: Patrick Ryan & Ellen Droly )hard to read)

Anastasia Maher Baptized: 2 Jun 1866; Mullinahone, Tipperary, Ireland;                                                    Parents: Patrick Maher & Elizabeth Barnable; Godparents: Thomas Russell (hard to read) & Margaret Barnable

James Meagher Baptized 7 February; Mullinahone, Tipperary, Ireland;                                                    Parents: Patrick Meagher & Elizabeth Barnable; Godparents: Thomas Walsh & Mary Commorford (hard to read)

Irish Marriage Record

Patrick Maher & Elizabeth Barnable (hard to read) 19 Jan 1862 Mullinahone, Tipperary, Ireland: Witnesses: James Maher & Margret Barnable

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These records are encouraging as the family for William & Michael, but not conclusive. There are many different Patrick Maher/Meagher  married to many different spouses with a first name of Elizabeth. I did a quick search to see if either Anastasia or James were In either Chester, Pennsylvania or New Castle, Delaware when William and Patrick were there but, so far, it does not appear that Anastasia made the trip over and the results of James are inconclusive and need a closer look. There is a death record for an Anastasia in Thurles in 1899 but without other identifying info or an obituary, it is hard to say that this is the correct person.

Hypothesis: This is the correct family unit for William and Michael.

Next Steps: This is probably going to be a case of no smoking gun to prove the family ties. I am hoping that a plethora of records will result in that conclusion.

Ireland Records:

1861 Census – find Patrick Meagher & Elizabeth Barnable to find their birth dates and parents           1871 Census – find this family unit with all 6 members                                                                                   1881 Census – find this family unit, Michael may have already emigrated to America                             1891 Census – find this family unit, Michael & William had already emigrated to America

Anastasia & James Meagher – find their life’s story- marriage, children, emigration, death, obituary looking for family connections (e.g. William or Michael living with them or being a witness at their marriage, godparent for their children, etc.

Michael & William Meagher – find other life records which would disprove this hypothesis.

Patrick Meagher and Elizabeth Barnable – find their life’s story- birth & baptism, death, wills, obituary

USA Records

Anastasia & James Meagher – find their life’s story- marriage, children, emigration, death, census records, directories, obituary – looking for family connections

Check for missing baptismal records of William & Michael’s children to see Godparents

Find William Maher’s death certificate and obituary

Mike:

The earliest complete Irish census is the 1901 census. All the censuses from 1821-1891 were destroyed for various reasons. We do have a few fragments of the 1821-1851 censuses but from 1861-1891-- nothing.

Roger

Roger, Well I have done some research on James and Anastasia here in the USA. James "Mickey" Maher was born n 1868 in Mulinahone and I first find him in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1887 working as a puddler. Recall that William and Michael, his brothers, also lived in that city at that time. In fact, James is living with Michael in 1891. By 1906, James is working in WIlmington, New Castle County, Delaware (the county to the south of Delaware County, Pennsylvania). WIlmington is about 20 miles south of Chester. James died on October 15, 1915 after fracturing his head because of a fall. His death certificate stated that he was married although I could find no records of a marriage in the USA. His obituary mentioned his sons were still living in Ireland. I have no record of his sons either. 

As far as Anastasia, I also found her in Philadelphia which is the county to the north of Delaware County and it is about 20 miles north of Chester. According to the 1910 census, she immigrated to USA in 1884. By 1891, she married a John J Quinn. They have 6 children between 1892-1905 and she passes away in 1918. I need to go to Philadelphia to see her marriage record (I only saw the index record which does not provide parent's names). I also still need to find her death certificate which also may provide parents names. She probably died of the flu epidemic that was prevelent that year. In any case, one of her descendants share DNA with me PROVING she is the sister and, equally important, that Patrick Meagher and Elizabeth Barnable were parents of Michael, William, James "Mickey" and Anastasia. 

The next goal is to find the wife of James "Mickey" Maher and his sons and their descendants. He had to have married before he came to USA or perhaps he travelled back to Ireland so I need to see passport records and look for trips back. Also, now the search is on for parents of Patrick Meagher and Elizabeth Barnable.

Mike:

I'm just seeing your August 12th comment. We had a website conversion in late July/early August and unfortunately a number of problems were created including not getting notifications when a poster like you added a comment to an already existing thread. Two days ago the problem was fixed and we received all of the backlogged messages with new comments.

Good luck with your research. Finding a marriage record for your James Maher will be difficult. Try the Callan registration district.

Roger