bourke/rourke

Knockavilla is in the RC parish of Oughterleague. It?s records are not on-line so far as I know. There is a copy in the National Library in Dublin. The baptism and marriage records start in 1834. So you probably won?t find a record of the Bourke/Rourke?s baptisms but you might find their marriage.

Don?t expect too much from the records. RC marriages from that period usually only contain the parties? names and their two witnesses. No parents? occupations or addresses etc.

The family don?t appear in the tithe applotment records for that townland in 1829, nor in Griffiths Valuation for 1850. All that tells you is that they didn?t have any land in that townland in either year. Probably they were agricultural labourers, and that might be part of the reason why they emigrated. (Poor economic prospects, especially just after the famine).

Thanks for your reply im sure what you are saying is correct johannas father john heffernan with his son john  who was sent to australia in 1849 as convicts on the ship havering paid for the family including wife mary, daughter mary & son in law  regards kevin

Convict transport records are now searchable via the National Archives which may give you more information.

Here is a link to a FB page that may also be able to connect you to others in the area who perhaps have more information.  ~~https://www.facebook.com/groups/tipperary/

Here is a link via irishgenalogy.ie (church records) that be later family members who may hold clues for you  http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/search.jsp?namefm=…

Vicki (midnirdr

Convict transport records are now searchable via the National Archives which may give you more information.

Here is a link to a FB page that may also be able to connect you to others in the area who perhaps have more information.  ~~https://www.facebook.com/groups/tipperary/

Here is a link via irishgenalogy.ie (church records) that be later family members who may hold clues for you  http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/search.jsp?namefm=…

Vicki (midnirdr

Hi vicki thanks for your reply i have a lot of info on johannas side of the family, but nothing on henrys side as ahoghill mentioned henrys family were peasents with no land of money which makes tracing the  family back to ireland almost impossible  regards kevin

Kevin,

If your ancestors were Catholic, you are correct that no land ownership (penal laws) however, they may show up on a freeholders list in that area. In addition, many parishes kept church records of births, marriages etc.  You may want to try familysearch.org because many parish records were microfilmed by them.  You can order parish films to your local LDS centers. Also many county library's in Ireland have genealogy records online.

While it can be difficult, it is not necessarily impossible to find records. Because the family was transported, you may want to consult court records, many are online.  They may lead you to the parish and other relatives in the area. Similarly, the National Census' of 1901 and 1911 may also yield clues as to relatives who remained in the area which is not uncommon.

Vicki