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I'm trying to find out any information that I can on my 3x great grandfather Martin Kelly born around 1830. He married Mary Freehill (variants of this surname) on an unknown date. Their children were born in Cloonsheever and baptised in the parish of Loughglynn but I don't see a parish message board for there. They had 8 children Patrick (b. 1852), Mary Casey (1855-1911), John (b. 1857), Peter (1859-1937), Bridget (b. 1861), Anne (b. 1865), Catherine (1867-1915) and Martin (1869-1874). I only know what happened to Mary, Peter, Catherine and Martin. I don't think Patrick may have lived long since Peter's name on his baptism was recorded as Patrick. It's possible that it was recorded incorrectly or his parents changed their mind and called him Peter instead. I think John may have died also since my great grandfather never mentioned having Kelly uncles. Their father Martin died in 1890 in Cloonsheever aged 60. 

Peter's first son was named Martin which would follow the naming pattern of having the first son named after the the paternal grandfather. Therefore, it's possible that Martin's father was Patrick. Peter's family still lived in Cloonsheever but his children were baptised in Fairymount or Tibohine. I know that the Kellys were meant to have been buried in Baslick cemetery and there's supposed to be some connection to those living in Corlis. Peter's best man was a Kelly of Corlis.

I've found Martin in Griffith's Valuation. There's no Kelly listed in the Tithe Applotment books in Cloonsheever. However, when you look at the original image, there seems be a faint Patt Kelly added over number 4 Arthur French Esq waste plot. In 1831 and 1840 there's a Patt Kelly applying to register a freehold and 1839 there's a Patt Kelly of Cloonsheever applying to register as a voter.

I did find records for other Kellys born in Cloonsheever and baptised in Loughglynn. However, I don't know how they may be connected. John could be a brother of Patt who was trying to register a freehold. I'm a match to a descendant of John Kelly and Elizabeth Concannon so there does seem to be a connection. Neither of the following families were in Cloonsheever in the 1901 census. I know that John was taking out poverty relief loans during the famine and his son John had already emigrated to America.

Michael Kelly and Brigid/Honor McGarry.

Dermott Kelly b. 1817 in Cloonsheever (Godparents Jeremiah Dignan and Brigid Kelly)

Thomas Kelly b. 1818 in Cloonsheever (Godparents Bernard and Brigid Flyn)

Elizabeth Kelly b. 1820 in Cloonsheever (Godparents Patrick & Anne Egan)

John Kelly and Elizabeth Concannon.

Isabel Kelly bapt. 17 April 1830 (Godparents James Frehilly and Margaret Dockry)

Michael Kelly bapt. 4 Oct 1832 in Cloonsheever (Godparents Thomas Kelly and Catherine Doyle)

James Kelly

I think that I only came across one baptism for a Martin Kelly baptised in Loughglynn and he was born in 1834 to Mark Kelly and Mary Kelly with Godparents recorded as McDermotts. I doubt this is him since Mark isn't a Kelly name and there were no McDermotts in Cloonsheever unlike Dockerys, Egans and Flynns. Another child born to the couple had sponsors Murphy and Webb which are also not associated with Cloonsheever. I'm surprised that I can't find a baptism for him since it covers the years he would have been born. However, I haven't found a baptism for James born to John Kelly and Elizabeth Concannon either so there does seem to be gaps.

I'm just putting this out there in case anyone can help but I'm not expecting that there will be much anyone can do considering the years in question.

RoscommonGenealogy

Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 01:16PM

Message Board Replies

  • RoscommonGenealogy:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    Two minor points. Generally, our parish page structure is based on civil parish rather than RC parish. So the parish page for your area as you found out, would be Tibohine. Second, looking at the parish register for Loughlynn on the NLI site, there is a three year gap in baptismal records from November 1826-December 1829. Likely your Martin was baptized in the gap period. The marriage probably occurred in another parish which does not have records around 1850.

    https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0557

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 02:47PM
  • Thanks for the reply. It does seem likely that Martin could have been born during that gap. I do think that Martin and Mary probably did marry in the parish of Loughglynn since it seems likely that Mary was from Cloonsheever also since there were three Freehill families living in Cloonsheever in 1901. I found a baptism for a Mary Freehill in 1833 in Loughglynn to Michael Freehill and Judith Mulrenan but I can't be certain if this is the same Mary. There was a gap in marriages from 1837 to December 1849. It is possible that they could have married before December 1849. There could have been a pregnancy before Patrick in 1852 that could have been a miscarriage or the child didn't live long enough for baptism or they just didn't have a child until March 1852. The only mention of a Martin Kelly and Mary Freehill (variants) anywhere else is Killinvoy with a child Martin born in 1850 and Michael born in 1847 but I doubt that they're the same couple considering the distance. I don't get the impression that there was that much movement happening.

    RoscommonGenealogy

    Wednesday 31st Oct 2018, 05:25PM
  • My great great grand father was Michael Kelly of Loughglynn, possibly married to Catherine Regan. His son was Thomas born 1856 ish who was in the army and lived Dublin later in life. Could Michael and Martin Kelly be brothers? Anyone with any information eg when was Michael born, did he have other children please let me know. Thanks David 0876471105

    Monday 18th Jul 2022, 05:58PM

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