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Thomas S. Donlan / Donlon is my great-grandfather (mother's maternal grandfather). In the 1881 census for Montreal (Ste-Anne Ward), he is listed as "Thomas Donlon" age 26, born in Ireland and living with his wife (married June 3, 1878, in Montreal) Bridget Ellen (McGrath) Donlon age 21 (born 10-22-1859 in Quebec), his daughter Mary Ellen Donlon age 2, and his brother John Donlon age 30, born in Ireland. I do not find Thomas in the 1861 or 1871 Canada censuses, but I do find Bridget McGrath and her family. On their Catholic marriage record, Thomas is listed as the son of "Simons Donnolan" (possibly "Simon S."?) and "Ellen Enright." Their second child, my grandmother, is Margaret Ann Donlan (Hale) born 05-26-1881 in Montreal. Their third child is Katherine Agnes Donlan, born in 1883 in Montreal. Their fourth child is Edward John Donlan, born in 1885 in Illinois, USA. Their fifth child is Thomas Simons Donlan, born 1887 in Iowa, USA. Their sixth child is John James Donlan, born 1889 in Iowa. Thomas Sr. died in Sheldon, O'Brien, Iowa, USA on 09-23-1890.

Based on Canadian Census records and his marriage record, I'm hypothesizing that my great-grandfather, Thomas S. Donlan, immigrated to Canada sometime between early 1871 (after the January 1871 census) and early 1878 (the first record I have of his presence is his June 1878 marriage). I have been unable to locate his immigration record or any information about where in Ireland he was born or was living prior to his immigration to Canada. I am posting this in the Clare County Group because my Irish DNA is concentrated in the Loop Head Peninsula. If anyone who believes s/he is related to the Donlan, Enright or McGrath families has any information about these families' Irish origins I would very much appreciate your contacting me to share any information or sources you have. Thank you!

Marlene

Friday 2nd Jul 2021, 05:44AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Marlene,

    Attached copies of Griffith's Land Valuations for the Civil parish of Moyarta, West County Clare c1853.

    There is a "Sinon Enright" in Querrin, but no Sinon or Simon Donlon/Donnellan found. You can access those records at www.askaboutireland.ie/Griffith's - Free site.

    The Roman Catholic Records for the parish of Carrigaholt are: Baptism: February 8th 1853 to March 17th 1878. Marriages: January 1st 1852 to 1878. Can be accessed at catholicparishregisters@nli.ie - National Library. - Free site

    A check for the marriage of Simon Donnellan and Ellen Enright on subscription sites - www.rootsireland.ie and www.findmypast.ie did not show any record.

    Regards,

    McCoy

    Saturday 3rd Jul 2021, 11:14AM
  • Attached Files

    Hello Marlene,

    I'm not related, but found the baptism transcription and copy of an original baptism record for what may be Thomas Donlon’s sister. The transcription shows that Mary “Donlan” was baptized in St. Senan’s Catholic Parish on 3 April 1861. Her parents are “Sinon” Donlan and Ellen Enright. The transcription was found at the Find My Past (FMP) website, which provides free Catholic Parish baptism, marriage, and burial transcriptions for all 32 counties of Ireland, most transcriptions of which cover the 19th century.

    You can access the FMP baptism transcription for Mary Donlan after you establish a free account: The transcription can be found at: https://is.gd/X2G7Ep

    Attached to the FMP transcription is a link that takes you to a copy of the original Sr. Senan’s Catholic Parish baptism record for Mary. The original baptism record can be found at: https://is.gd/RAY96X

    You’ll see two facing pages of the baptism register. You can enlarge the register by means of round icons in the upper center/ right of the screen. The icons are white with green backgrounds. You can also access the full-screen function by clicking on the last icon on the right with the two arrows pointing northeast and southwest.

    Mary’s baptism is on the right hand page, 5th entry up from the bottom. The original baptism record gives additional information in that it shows that at the time of the baptism Mary and her family were living in the townland of Kilcarrol. Mary’s godfather is John O’Dea. I could only make out the first name of her godmother, Anne, whose last name is in shadow.

    The alternate name for St. Senan’s Parish is the Catholic Parish of Kilrush, which was located in the Civil Parish of Kilrush.

    According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland website, St. Senan’s Catholic Church, located in Toler Street, Kilrush, was constructed circa 1840. You can read about the architectural details and view of slide presentation of the church at the Buildings of Ireland link at: https://is.gd/kwRLQT

    A Google Map shows that St. Senan’s Catholic Church is 2.2 miles west of Kilcarrol where the Donlan family were living when Mary was baptized in 1861: https://is.gd/ayuqKH

    For a Google Street View of St. Senan’s Church, see: https://is.gd/hoRbaS

    Google does not have a Street View of Kilcarrol, but you can see the Street View of the road to Kilcarrol off the Monvana Road (R473) at: https://is.gd/9VLfoJ

    I found an Ordnance Survey Map of Kilcarrol from circa 1842, just after construction of St. Senan’s Catholic Church in Kilrush. The map is attached to this reply.

    Also attached to this reply is a very nice Ordnance Survey Map in color (circa 1842) of the location of the R.C. Chapel in Kilrush, which would be the present day St. Senan’s Church. The R.C. Chapel is just to the left of the red teardrop marker on the map.

    I didn’t find the St. Seanan’s/Kilrush Catholic Parish baptism transcriptions for any more children of Simon/Sinon Donlon and Ellen Enright, at the FMP website.

    Do you think the baptism of Mary Donlan refers to your Thomas S. Donlon’s sister?

    In his reply to you McCoy had mentioned an Irish land record called Griffiths Valuation. Griffiths Valuation was enumerated in the 32 counties of Ireland between 1847 and 1864. The valuation for Kilcarrol and surrounding townlands was completed by 1855. I looked for but did not find any Donlons or Enrights recorded as leasing property in Kilcarrol. They may not have lived there yet. Those who paid to lease property, known as “Occupiers,” were recorded in Griffiths Valuation. Family members of Occupiers were not recorded, with the exception of “agnomens.” See: (https://is.gd/4pNVTC).

    It’s possible Donlons or Enrights were living in the household of an Occupier, relative or friend, who paid to the lease the property in Kilcarrol.

    Kind Regards,

    Dave Boylan

    davepat

    Sunday 4th Jul 2021, 11:47AM
  • Hi Marlene,

    Attached copy of baptism record as referred to by Dave Boylan.  The 2nd sponsor is possibly "Anne Cullinan" a surname which is in the Kilrush area.

    Regards,

    McCoy

    Monday 5th Jul 2021, 08:56PM
  • Further to above, record of a John O'Dea in Killcarroll in 1858. Claim for unpaid wages.

    Regards

    Credit: www.findmypast.ie

    McCoy

    Monday 5th Jul 2021, 09:49PM

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