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O’Donnell and Dougherty – Roman Catholics

John O’Donnell born Feb 1836 Kilmacrenan (Skreen Upper or Skerry)

According to their Death Certificates John’s Father is James and his mother Bridget Gallagher.  John immigrated to the USA around 1854 and finally bought property in Allamakee County, Iowa in 1870.  He married Eunice Unity Dougherty in Oct. 1870, Lansing, Allamakee Co., Iowa.

Eunice or Unity Dougherty was born 1850 in Skerry, to John Dougherty and Eunice. Her family consisted of 5 or 6 sisters that I know of, Catherine born 1838, Rose 1841, Ellen 1847, Unity 1850, there was also a sister Mary birth date unknown.  There could be brothers but I don’t know of any. Rose stayed in Ireland and married Charles Cullen of the same area.  They had 9 children and I have the information for them from Civil Registration.  Catherine born 1838 and her sisters Ellen, Unity and Mary immigrated to the USA.  Eunice immigrated 1860 according to the 1900 Iowa Census.  The McCafferty’s were cousins to the Dougherty’s and some of them also arrived in Iowa.

I am trying to find out about John O’Donnell’s family and if any more of them came to the USA, including his parents.  There is an Anthony O’Donnell born 1813 married to Susan Gallagher and Hugh O’Donnell born 1814 married to Unity Coyle that live in the Allamakee area and I am wondering if these are relatives or not.  Also were the Dougherty’s living in the same area as the O’Donnell’s in the Kilmacrenan area.

PatPasmore

Wednesday 12th Aug 2015, 08:41PM

Message Board Replies

  • Dear Patricia

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    Can I ask how you found the details of John's birth - I haven't been able to find his baptism record or that of any of this siblings? (I assume you meant to put a place year of 1836 and not 1936). One of the issues with your O'Donnell search is the early period - it is quite difficult to find out information about those born and married prior to the Famine as very often the parish records do not exist. 

    Best wishes

    Clare Doyle

    Genealogy Support 

    Clare Doyle

    Thursday 13th Aug 2015, 10:57AM
  • Thank you so much Clare for the reply and yes I did make a typing error of John's date of birth.  It is 1836 and I have made the correction in the post.  I figured the records would be sparse but thought someone else could possibly be working on some of the members of these families.

    Thank you again for your quick response and bringing John's birthdate to my attention.

    Pat

    PatPasmore

    Thursday 13th Aug 2015, 06:06PM

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