O'Friel Ancestry in Balloor, Fanad

I have traced family back to Clondavaddog, Fanad, Donegal who may be related to your Friel family. I have not been able to make a connection, but on the Baptism Records for the children of my great-great grandparents, they have sponsors with the last name of Friel. I don't know if the Kerr's and/or Gallagher's were related to the Friel's, but it is common that a close relative would be a sponsor.

My G-G-Grandparents were Charles Kerr/Carr b.~1832 and Grace Gallagher b.~1833.

Their children's names (and sponsor's listed on Baptism Record) are:

Daniel (Bridget Friel and Edward McGrenaghan)

Mary (same as Daniel's)

Catherine (Hugh Friel and Sarah McConigley)

John (John Friel and Mary Gallagher)

Edward (Mary Gallagher and James Kerr)

Sarah (Dennis McConigley and Mary Kerr)

Maybe we have a connection?

Have a great day,

Howard King

Hi Paul, welcome to Ireland Reaching Out. 

That is a fascinating story about your earliest ancestor Edward Friel, who you traced back to the Parish of Araherra near Fanad Head. There are that many people that log into the Irelandxo.com that have had varied success in finding out an actual location where their ancestor emigrated from so long ago especially when you go back far beyond 200 years. I am afraid when you get back beyond the mid-1800’s the documentary evidence or records become less and less, in this you have been very lucky as DNA has stepped in and branching the gap to bring you back a few more steps while also being helped by local family research from Fanad also. 

I have come across your O’Friel family tree on ancestry and it is very impressive, it is well detailed and you can clearly see the connection stepped back to Arraherabin. I was born not too far away and would have some local knowledge of the area, I should say also that you are coming up as a DNA match for my father and he was born only about 10 mins walk from there. The local name for the Araheera is pronounced sounding as ARA-hear-ah. It is a beautiful part of the countryside quite close to Fanad Lighthouse. There is a few history articles on this page you should check out, there is one for the lighthouse built back in 1814, the same era when your family would have lived there.

I see that you are looking for a family map of the Friels families from Arraheera but because it is so far back as records go, I can't see there being any better or more accurate information than what you have up on your family tree already. The information you have added into your tree is local Friel family information researched by Friel families from Fanad. I have contacted the family researcher that supplied the information that you have displayed on ancestry to see has he any more information to give or any updates that can be shared with you. It is quite possible you may know him already. He is very helpful with his time and sharing knowledge. 

The Birth and baptism started to be recorded in the Parish of Clonadavaddog (Fanad & Glenvar) in 1846 and the Civil recorded for the local area in 1864, so none of these go back as far as you need as regards Record Evidence. 

The land records taken in 1850’s called the Griffith Valuation (1858) is somewhat helpful as it give the head of the household in every townland within the Parish which is an anchoring point for you to other Friel families that stayed and did not emigrate. The only other land record that can bear names for certain location is the Tithe Applotment Book (CLICK HERE) taken back in 1834. I have attached both of these images to this reply. This is as far back as I can go to help your cause.

I am afraid very caught for time at the moment but send me a reply regarding this. As I say you are as good as an expert in this family research at this stage and there is very little I can add more then you have already. 

Location of Arraheera in Google Maps - Lighthouse Tavern 

Regards 

Seamus 

Howard:

I am extremely interested in trying to learn more about your Kerr/Carr family. 

My wife of my great great great grandfather, Edward, was named Catherine Carr (b. 1800).  However, the census records indicate that she was born in the United States.  What do you know of the earliest Carr/Kerr emigrants to the United States?   My supposition is that the families knew or knew of each other in terms of arranging the marriage.  

Further, there are two separate Friels who wound up in Hollidaysburg, Pennsyvania.  One, Bernard O'Friel (b.1775), married to Margery (b.1774), was a major contractor on the Union and Main Line Canals.  The other, Francis O'Friel (b. 1811) emigrated to the United States in 1836 and was apparently well-educated. (His occupation was listed as clerk on the ship's manifest and he was later a highly successful merchant and politician.)  In researching Francis O'Friel, I came across another Kerr/Carr connection.  Francis' young neice, Annie Kerr (b.1862), was instantly killed by a bolt of lightening that struck his house in July 1881.  She had only arrived six months earlier from Ireland.  

I look forward very much to hearing from you.

Best,

Paul

Seamus:

I look forward to going through the information you passed along.  You mentioned that I have a DNA connection with you father.  Could you please tell me more?  It would be extremely useful to correlate that match with the others that I have made.  

How many of the current Friel families in Arraheernabin can trace their origins back to the early 1800's? Are they receptive to outsiders at all?  I very much hope to visit the area this summer to learn more.  

I have been in touch with Donal Friel, who has been invaluable in trying to piece together this complicated story.  Is he the researcher you mentioned?

Also, please see my earlier post to Howard mentions two other Friels, Bernard and Francis, who likely originated from the same area.  Francis clearly was highly educated (he wrote math puzzles for the local newspaper in Cambria County) and had ostensibly had a government position as a clerk before he emigrated to the United States.  Bernard was a very successful contractor on the Union and Pennsylvania Canals, with substantial other investments in land and warehouses.  He had to have some capital on arriving in the States to do the work he did.

My belief is that Bernard, Edward, and Francis were all related, possibly as brothers, but most certainly as cousins.  

Does any of this fit with your understanding of the history and genealogy of the area?

Very best,

Paul

PS -  Would you have any suggestions on where to stay during my planned visit in July?  My thought is to fly into Dublin, rent a car, and then drive north to Donegal.  My wife and I would stay five days.

Hi Paul,

The Kerr/Carr family that I referred to (with all the Baptism Records) was the first family to emmigrate in the Kerr/Carr branch of my family tree. They arrived in New York on the Ship Minnehaha on 16 May 1866.

In that family, Edward Carr b. 14 Jan 1865 married Catherine Shaw (born in Philadelphia). The names fit what you mentioned about your 3x great grandfather, Edward Carr, marrying a Catherine who was born in the U.S. , but the time frame does not match. You mentioned 1800 , but this  couple married about 1885..

Have a great day,

Howard King

Paul,

We must talk.  My line of Edward Friel’s are exactly the same as yours I believe. Birth 1795 but immigrated to Philly about 1840. I’m from his line of a son who immigrated to New Brunswick in 1830s.  I visited Ireland last year and drove to donegal from Dublin  we drove to FANAD. At the time I did not stay or tour around FANAD area but wish we would have.  I’ve only recently found out about the township of Arraheenabin and next time go back i plan to tour more in that area longer and get a real feel of the Friel land.  My Edward Friel born in 1795 was a traveling veterinary and was married had a son named Charles in 1816, but his wife died in 1816. He then married Catherine Sweeney  and they had three children.  She died in childbirth in 1822  their three children were Stephen Friel, Mary Friel and Edward Friel (my gggrandfather was the son Edward.) we know father Edward married again to Bridget Boyce And had six more children.  My gggrandfsther immigrated to New Brunswick alone while the other Friel’s immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1840. I found ships passenger lists of the Pennsylvania family but have lost touch after that.  My line of Friel’s immigrated West after New Brunswick  I would love to talk with you 

Thank you

Cindy In CA 

Thank you 

Cindy:

I would very much love to talk with you!  Have you or any member of your family taken a DNA test?  The test results allowed me to fill the historical gaps and identify my family's origins from Arraheernabin.  Ancestry.com was offering a great sale price that is still good through today, if you have not taken one yet.  

My email is: ofrielpc@gmail.com.  Drop me a note and let's figure out a good time to chat.  

Best,

Paul

PS - Have you put any of your tree on Ancestry.com or another site?

Hi Paul, I am related to Friel's and Carr's from Fanad. My Cousin Maura Martin still lives there on the Martin land.  We had a cousin James Friel who lived a mile away but he died several yrs ago.   Maura knows more of the Friel's and Cars then I do. I know there is a Catherine Friel who liveds in England. I met a Friel here in Phila, but forget her last name now. I also have Sweeney's someone mention not sure if  it was you.  See if you find me Mary Martin on your DNA match.  I  have a Christopher Friel from Fanad on my match but do not know him. there are other Friel matches do know know them either. I have Hugh Carr and Shaun carr dont know them either.

Do you have any Cannon's or Coyle's or Sweeney's?  

Patrick coyle is a researcher on this site and my cousin. I can see who the other Friel names are and let you know. I have done research for many yrs but never really studied the Friel's or Carr's 

Mary.

Cindy: you could also be related to me, I don't have enough info on the Friel's but when I go to Ireland in JUly , I am going to ask my cousin where Jimmy Friel lived it was about a mile or not that far from the Martin land in Ballynalost. If you go there the Ballynalost P.O. is nt that far from Fanad Lighthouse. The guy in the P.O could help you with info on the Friel's they seem to know everyone. There is a Saint Mary's Church in Ballynalost where you may also find some info, Clondavvadog Parish has many records.  Birth and Marriage records are kept in a small town near Fanad called Milford then you would come to Letterkenny. I found Milfoord had more information for me on the Martin's.

My Grandparent's were married and buried at the Chapel of Masmount and there are many Friel  gravesites there at Massmount Cemetery. 

The farm that Jimmy lived on may well be the original Friel homestead. I am not sure if they sold the land or not , he died about 8 yrs or more now.

Mary Martin

The Friel Birth's anyone interested call go to this site and find list of Friels with themarried spouses name and the Child's name. The site ask that you do not copy and share but you can look at the list. 

Donegal Genealogy Resources.

Friel Births, Clondavaddog, Co Donegal this parish includes Arahhera

also has Marriages you just have to change the search field.

If you google Friel births it will come up without going directly to the records but I think you have to join first it is free, you can look up different parish's here.

Hello everyone, I’m just flagging up that I am following this thread with interest as my family- Gallaghers - are also from Fanad. The name Friel is beginning to pop up in my searches. My Gallagher line so far is Patrick Gallagher 1813-? - James Gallagher 1831 - 1913, Married to Jane Mary Alcorn - Hugh Gallagher 1860-1936, married to Catherine McGarvey - Patrick Gallagher 1887-1956, married to Sarah McFadden (emigrated to Scotland) - Margaret Gallagher 1923-2011, then me. I’m looking for information on siblings (some details I have)  of those highlighted in bold. I’ll be in Donegal in August. 

Hello Seamus, Paul, Mary, Howard, Cindy and Kathy (I hope I did not miss anyone)

Where have you all completed DNA I admin 50+ family members DNA and would like to run a few of my elders against several of you. My elders on the Friel side tested on FTDNA Leonard "Pat" Fitzpatrick (my father) his sister Elizabeth "Betty" Patterson, plus their 1st cousin James Allen and many of my known 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins (parent has pasted who was a sibling of Pat and Betty or my Grandmothers siblings grandchildren) everyone is on GM Genesis and I have a few on MyHeritage. I have myself tested both FTDNA and Ancestry and have cousins on Ancestry again all are on GM Genesis.

Anyway, I would love to get information on each of you to see if and where we might connect...this is a side of my tree that I am at a brick wall.

What I know:

My 2nd-Great Grandparents;
John Friel b:Jan 1850 Donegal, arrived Phillidelphia apx 1870's, married Philidelphia, PA abt 1880 he died Feb 1923 his death certificate shows father: John Friel and mother unknown
Annie Gallagher b: abt Feb 1854 (the year changed a LOT) 
they moved to Pittsburgh, PA after son Francis b: 1881 Philly D:1890 and on 1900c they show in Pittsburgh., PA

**I have extended family on Friel side with DNA match. Not sure is sister or cousin.

Thanks!
Kindest regards,
Suz Fitzpatrick-Amrhein
 

Paul, hi , i believe we are talking about the same Friel's and Carr's. I will also be in Ireland beginning of July not sure what dates I will be down in Fanad. My ousin Maura Martin lives on the Martin land and the Friel land was just a few mins drive from there. You can ask the Postman he will tell you Maura's house she has 2 houses on the land. She knows lots about the Friels and Carrs. she does not have a computer but you can just stop and ask her. 

Paddy Coyle , also a cousin of mine is a researcher on this site so if you talk to Maura she may put you in touch with him. He got me original maps of the Martin land but as Semus said tthat far back may not be copies, however I would bet the 1850 copies are the same land.

You can write me on mayofireland@yahoo.com and I can see if I can find some info out from Paddy on the Friel's.  There were some Friels that lived near here in Phila but I think they both died. A Carr daughter does live in this area but I only met her once from Maura while she was over.

Mary Martin

Paul, hi , i believe we are talking about the same Friel's and Carr's. I will also be in Ireland beginning of July not sure what dates I will be down in Fanad. My ousin Maura Martin lives on the Martin land and the Friel land was just a few mins drive from there. You can ask the Postman he will tell you Maura's house she has 2 houses on the land. She knows lots about the Friels and Carrs. she does not have a computer but you can just stop and ask her. 

Paddy Coyle , also a cousin of mine is a researcher on this site so if you talk to Maura she may put you in touch with him. He got me original maps of the Martin land but as Semus said tthat far back may not be copies, however I would bet the 1850 copies are the same land.

You can write me on mayofireland@yahoo.com and I can see if I can find some info out from Paddy on the Friel's.  There were some Friels that lived near here in Phila but I think they both died. A Carr daughter does live in this area but I only met her once from Maura while she was over.

Mary Martin

Paul, I looked on DNA match I have Bob, Donna, Brenda,christopher,james,Patriia,Jessica Friels

Lawrence,Judith,Roger Carr.   On my Heritage I might have other's.

mary Martin

Hi Suz...

I searched on FTDNA and I do match Leonard Fitzpatrick as a "5th cousin - remote cousin" . My GEDmatch Genesis number is EQ5052067..

I'm also on Ancestry.com (Howard King / Howard E King Family Tree) , MyHeritage (Howard King) and 23andMe (Howard King).

Hopefully we can figure out our connection. The Carr/Kerr and Gallagher families from Fanad have been my brick wall.

Have a great day,

Howard King

Hello everyone

I’ve been somewhat quiet of late but hope to be a little more vocal to help each of you and also get some answers I’ve been searching for.

Paul has been a big help in getting me over to GEDmatch which I did but don’t quite understand the techy side to it with the tons of names and numbers etc.  

I am so so excited to see Suz and Mary,s ancestory and Howard, all these comments make me need to spend all my days here looking for my Friel’s as I’ve hit a brick wall finding anything  past 1795  I’ve looked at Griffith’s and tithe records and they are what led me to 

I do have Catherine Sweeney in my line as my ggggrandmother who died in childbirth in 1822  I can’t find anything about her family except my Sweeney name is from Fanad area  she was born 1790’s.  

My research has put me at Arraheernabin since no other Friel’s are really in any other location in Fanad  that seems to be the origin.  I have found the tithe plots for Edward Friel and I did find one birth record that matched mine so I know I’m on the right track.  I did visit the cemetery at masmount and fanavolty but non of the Friel names seemed familiar or matched mine.  I was specifically looking for the burial place of my Catherine Sweeney from 1822 and could not find it.  A gentleman at the cemetery mentioned it could be in a location 9 miles to the west but I can’t imagine the family doing a funeral procession that far?  I have records saying my family was Protestant religion  so burial wouldn’t have been in the local cemeteries? Just a thought.

Mary I would love to talk and compare notes as well as everyone else   I’m in the process of getting Paul my GEDmatch info but am sort of lost on how to d accomplish that.

My friel’s immigrated to phila In 1840-50 and I’ve looked at a few records but names don’t match  but I won’t give up. I do have civil war records of two brothers friel’s Stephen and Charles in the US so I know I’m in the right general area 

Thanks for added comments  little by little things are coming together 

Cindy, I went to Massmount yrs ago there are plenty of Friels there as you have seen. Lucky Jimmy Friel was there and showed me the Friels that he knew of. My Martins are there but unfornately no one has a stone but I could guess which graves because there were plots next t Friels, Carrs, Cannon's and Boyles, unmarked.  

Even though they lived in Fanad they would have 6 to 8 men carry the coffins all the way or in a buggy that is what Jimmy told me.  Since you mention non-catholic perhaps some are in the other graveyard. I have some non-Catholic in the Cannon family but really don't know anything other what my Cannon Cousin said.  In Fanad there is a church St. Mary's I think it is Father McGarvey perhaps they would have some records for you abd for me.  I was in Ireland 2016 but he was out on a call. I am going in July of this yr. I went to Milford a small town for some records on the Martin's. First I went to Letterkenny the big town but they told me go to Milford.

The only Friel home I knew of was in Fanad not sure of the section it was but not not far from Ballynalost and the light house.

Mary

Hi, does anyone here have any pictures of Friels, Cannons, Carrs, Boyles, Shiels, Dunnes, Sweeneys , Martins.  My Cannons were from Ballymichael, Martins Ballynalost,they rest were all from nearby sectuions.

Mary Martin

My GedMatch is XP4147877. I must confess to not understanding too much about it, but the names Imspotted on the list that might interest this thread are Thomas Carr, Cabrini Friel, James Joseph Martin, Michael Boyle, Seamus Duffy. If anyone wants to email me it’s kathy@jinglepot.co.uk thank you Kathy

Kathy I took your no. to GEd match it showed alot of green but said no dna mattch. My First cousin Maura who I know and visit in Ireland showed the same amount of green and said no dna match, hee hee. Our Father's wer brothers.

Youu can try my kit if yo want A960797

Mary 

Mary 

I did the same with your number on GEDmatch   Showed lots of green butbsaid no match to 23 chrom   ;)

I do believe we are related   Exciting!

Here is my number  see why you think   

LT5733516 

I’m not sure exactly what I Lol at when the number is input but its interesting all the green 

i visited Milford when I was there but didn’t find any churches to go into 

i do have pictures of my early Friel’s  I’ll try to put them up here if I can figure it out   

Im hoping to get back in a few years to do actually digging into the Fanad area   

Tell me why you think and find from the GEDmatch 

Cindy 

Hi,

My Dad Leonard "Pat" Fitzpatrick WR3822326 and his sister Elizabeth "Betty" Fitzpatrick-Patterson ZE1433252 did their DNA on FTDNA. The number is for their GEDmatch-Genesis.
Howard, you match both Dad and his sister Betty. You did not imply you uploaded to FTDNA...Please send me an email when you have completed that so I can review the chromosome browser. I went through this post and compiled a list. This is how I did a search to see if you and my elders were a match.

Not a match -**BUT when you run "People who match both kits or 1 of 2 kits" this shows MANY IN COMMON matches

Kathy Scott XP4147877 **over 50+ In common matches with Charles McCarron and Nicola Martin of interest
Mary A960797  **over 50+ In common matches and 2 matches Nicola Martin + TJdna of interest
Cindy LT5733516 only 25 matches (but geeez that's still good)
Paul "O'Friel"? no GEDmatch number so I searched email" ofrielpc@gmail.com **I need your GEDmatch :-( 

Howard King EQ5052067 ***as you said we match!-YIPPY** **You also have well over 50+ in common matches with both Dad and his sister. And Peg Plummer is of interest to me we took a genetic genealogy course at GRIP a few years ago.

If you all upload to FTDNA please let me know exactly what you name your DNA so I can look.

Feel free to reach out at fitzdna@gmail.com

Kindest regards,
Suz (YJ1835668)

PS off to look at MyHeritage clusters for any of you! xoxo

I have uploaded my info to FTDNA this evening. Name Kathy Scott. Results pending. Thank you Kathy

Suz: I entered your kit Y1835668 into GEd it says error no such kit, is this the right number. I do have Fitzpatricks somewhere in the family but I thought it was through the Roes, Ryans,Donohues. go to look on Ancestry to see if I can find you or heritage.

Thanks

Mary Martin

Hi Friel Family, 

I hope you don't mind my jumping into your conversation which I was excited to find. I am trying to get through my Friel brick wall. My mother's parents had the surnames of Friel, Friel, Friel, and McGee all living in Gortnalaragh in County Donegal. You can see my dilemma. That and the Irish naming pattern where there are many by the same name. Ancestry and gedmatch have been a great help though many times I'm not sure what I'm looking at because I have gaps in connecting the dots. I ran my gedmatch (BE7015543) against some of your numbers.

I ran my gedmatch and this is what it shows:

Betty Fitzpatrick - 15 shared, largest 9.4 cms

Cindy Friel Ovard - 6 shared largest 4.7 cms

Howard King- 10 shared largest 5 cms

Kathy Scott 7 shared largest 5.2

Mary 12 shared largest 6.4

Cindy 6 shared largest 4.7

My grandfather's mother was Catherine Friel, (b. 1844 ish) whose father was James Friel (also heard him called Seamus the more) and whose brother was Hugh Friel. She married my great grandfather John McGee. 

My grandmother's mother was Bridget Friel (b. 1862) nee Friel whose father was Francis Friel.

My grandmother's father was James Friel (b. 1858ish) whose father was Bryan Friel. 

I do believe that two of my Friel lines cross somewhere because of my "shared matches" on ancestry. There are two lines that come up!

I am not sure of any of my great-grandmother's names, unfortunately.

I would love any help or direction!

Appreciatively,

Teresa Maughan Emory

Ancestry username: taemory or Teresa Maughan Emory and I have a tree on there

email: taemory@hotmail.com

gedmatch: BE7015543

Hello Teresa,

This part of my tree has been my brick wall.

I'm also on Ancestry, as Howard King. We do not come up as DNA matches on their site, but I will look at your tree to see if I can find any matches.

Have a great day,

Howard

My great-grandfather was Edward Friel, born April 10, 1822 in Fanad. (His father was also Edward.) He apprenticed as a weaver and saved his money to emigrate to America. When he was 18yo, my great-grandfather he sailed to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. (His father and brothers later emigrated to Philadelphia PA.)

My grandfather published a book on Edward and his wives. The first wife was Hannah Sharp, and the second was Margaret Ann Herbel. Hannah was Margaret Ann's aunt and had no children. Margaret Ann was adopted when she was 8yo, 

In 1852, the family converted to the LDS Church (Mormons) and in 1854, traveled to Utah via wagon train. They lived in the Spanish Fork area, specifically in Springville. When she was 12yo, Margaret Ann married Edward (in a plural marriage), and a few years later, the first wife moved to Salt Lake City, where the family had purchased a boarding house that was given to her. Margaret Ann had 12 children over 24 years, and my grandfather was the last, born in 1882.

Edward was educated in Ireland and had read the classics. He was able to quote extensively from the Bible and other books. Despite living on the frontier, all of the children were educated, first at Brigham Young Academy and then BYU. The girls became teachers, and the boys went into various businesses, from banking to farming.

Edward died in 1905, and Margaret Ann died in 1924.

In addition to the book published by my grandfather, the genealogical information Is published on familysearch.org.

Just to add some info here:

My mother was a Friel, born In Philadelphia. Her father was Michael Friel, born in Balloor, Fanad, in 1898. His father was John Friel, also of Balloor, born in 1856. He was married to Rose Boyle, Balloor, born 1868. I'm not certain of prior generations but John's father was possibly  Patrick Friel, Balloor, born 1802. I believe John's mother was Sarah (Sally) Carr, born 1821 in Shanagh, Fanad. John Friel was known as John Sally. 
I am on Ancestry (Wallace/Friel family tree) and AncestryDNA. I've also uploaded DNA file to GEDMatch, but I haven't figured out how to use that site yet. 
Hope this is helpful to someone here.

Robert Wallace