Hello - I have been able to trace my GG Grandfather, Patrick Rutledge, back to County Roscommon, Ireland, and am fairly certain that I have found his birth record, based on information that I was able to gather in the United States. It seems his parents were James Rutledge and Brigid Cavanaugh. They had three children that I know of:
Brigid Rutledge, 2 June 1818
George Rutledge, 11 March 1821
Patrick Rutledge, 6 January 1828
Patrick came to the United States on his own @ 1850. He settled in Massachusetts first, where he married Hannah Leahy. They ended up living in Passaic, New Jersey. They had 13 children. Their son, Thomas, was my Great Grandfather.
I don't know what happened to Brigid or George, his siblings.
I have also not been able to find the marriage record for James Rutledge and Brigid Cavanaugh, though I have read that the parish records for that parish go back to 1811.
Any assistance much appreciated!
Thank you -
Elizabeth
ElizWentink
Saturday 26th Mar 2016, 03:29PMMessage Board Replies
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Elizabeth:
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
Baptismal records for Killucan parish start in 1811 but marriage records start in 1825 which explains why you could not find the record.
I also searched for marriage records for George and Bridget and I did not find a record. Likely they either emigrated or died in Ireland.
Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 26th Mar 2016, 03:41PM -
Hello Roger - Thank you so much for your quick reply!
Yes, the fact the marriage records start in 1825 definitely explains why I haven't found the James Rutledge/Brigid Cavanaugh record. I was kind of hoping that MAYBE Brigid was from a nearby parish, and that I would find the record elsewhere.
Thank you for looking for George and Bridget. I so appreciate your help!
Oral family history (which is what I started with) said that Patrick Rutledge left Ireland at a young age "in the care of a family named Mosley". I was able to find an immigration record from 1850? with Patrick Rutledge (age 20) AND Joseph Mosley as the next passenger listed.
I just alway wondered what happened to the rest of his family. He obviously left during the time of the Famine, and from what I've read, County Roscommon was hard hit during that time.
Do you have any idea where family members might be buried? I visited Ireland 10 years ago, but did not make it to County Roscommon, as I had not yet traced Patrick back. I made a point of visiting the cemetery on my maternal side (Rutledge is paternal).
I was involved with a Rutledge genealogy website a number of years ago that was encouraging DNA testing. I looked into it briefly, but at the time, a male descendant was the best bet. Not sure if that has changed.
Thanks again for your help!
Elizabeth
ElizWentink
Sunday 27th Mar 2016, 04:27AM -
Elizabeth:
The male line DNA test is called Y-DNA. I've taken the test and my matches took me back to the second half of the 18th century. The autosomal DNA test looks at both maternal and paternal lines and identifies matches.I find the autosomal to be more productive. There is also an mtDNA test which looks at your straight maternal line (your mother, her mother, her mother etc.) and again I took that test and have not found any productive matches.
I'm not familiar with Roscommon cemeteries (I live in the States). Find a Grave shows one in Eastersnow for the RC parish of Croghan (Killukin and Killummod) Here is a link to the parish details http://www.elphindiocese.ie/parishes-ministries/parish-details/?parishI…
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 28th Mar 2016, 08:16PM