Share This:

Three brothers:  Hugh Treanor/Trenor/Trainor born 1802, Owen born prob about 1815, James birth unknown but lived in Greenan circa 1853 (no longer on a map; only road name) but south of Newry, although I've seen other villages with similar names (difficult to read the original). 

Hugh immigrated to England, Canada, finally USA.  James & Owen immigrated 1853-1855 but may have returned.  Thanks.  Ellen Vogel Elliott

Hugh was a linen draper and may have left County Down to work in a larger market within Northern Ireland. At some point, if family folklore is correct, he worked in Central London near Hyde Park where he met his future wife, Catherine Sherlock. He sold her a wedding trousseau as her family had arranged for her to marry a 60 year old sea (naval?) captain who was a friend of the family.  Instead she and Hugh eloped.  Location of marriage unknown. Marriage date per a bio written many years later give Sep 16, 1828.  First known son, also called Hugh was born in England around 1830-1831.  At least one of them was a Catholic and as the Catholic Emancipation didn't occur to the follow year, they may not have been married in the Catholic religion. 

They immigrated to  Toronto Canada around 1832. Daughter Mary Ann born there followed by my great grandmother Elizabeth who was baptised April 2, 1834 in St Paul's Catholic Basicila. 

By 1836-37, the family travelled down the Mississippi river to Dubuque Iowa where they settled.  I recently was sent a letter by a descendent of another of Hugh & Catherine's daughters, Catherine Treanor Holmes of Allamkee county Iowa.  It was written by Hugh Sr's brother Owen to another brother James.  I have not been able to find any more info on either brother. Hugh sounds rather miffed at Owen for some reason as he appreas unwilling to help him (definitely a story here and interesting as Hugh eloped which doesn't usually sit well with one's family)  Perhaps James & Owen returned to Northern Ireland??

Hugh died in Dubuque, Dubuque county, Iowa on 18 Apr 1882.  Wife Catherine died in 1862.

TRANSCRIBED LETTER -

Letter from Owen Treanor to his brother, James (both brothers to Hugh Treanor, residing in Dubuque, Iowa. Letter was in possession of Catherine Treanor Holmes (Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes of Lansing, Allamakee , Iowa.

Pittsburgh.. July .. 29th .. 1856

Dear Brother

I write to let you now that I came to as America and landed in Pittsburgh on the 18th of November last. I wrote to Brother Hugh the week after I came here I told him how I came here and left my family at home and everything. Thing (?) respecting my situation he answered my leter (sic letter) in the kindest manner that could be expected he told me he would put me in business that I could make a living if I had my family with me. He also wanted to know how I intended to fetch them out, and what means I could use. I wrote back to him and told him all particulars and wanted him to assist me to fetch them out but I never got a leter (sic letter) but the first. I have wrote 4 letters to him since that so I think when I mentioned the want of help of him it put a stop to him writing. Otherwise he has not got my letters. I told him to tell you to write to me and I do not no (sic know) where to direct to ya (sic you).

I think if he told you. You would have wrote.

 

Dear Brother I was in Grynan in your house on the 1st day of October last you wife and little family was in as good health as could be expected living in the situation they have been left. Namely as I say without a father or a head over your young and improved and helpless children. More liker (sic like) the distressed home of a poor widow and her helpless orphans x that their father

Page two

dead and his corpse only a few hours taken away to be intered (sic interred), and the ^ teer (sic tears) started to their eye when they heard the name of father mentioned.

Dear Brother your wife mad (sic) me promis (sic promise) faithfully that I would ^ do my endeavor to find you and if posable (sic possible) to get you to write home that a leter (sic letter) from you would relieve her mind of a great deal of trouble

Dear Brother I trust if you get this letter that you will write home to your poor wife and family and don’t stray a way the solom (sic solemn ) promius (sic promis) you made before the alter (sic) of god and think on the reward is due to them who will do so hereafter. Moreover think on them inocent (sic innocent) little ones that you ware (sic) the caus (sic cause) of bringing into the world, and has left them in the wide world. I may say without one to ern (sic earn) a mouthful of (ink blotch) only what a kind living and industrious mother can (ink blotch)

Dear James you will (ink blotch) perhaps say that I have said to (sic) much and that I have been wilder than ever you ware (sic) James I admit I have been to (sic) much so in my you days which I am sory (sic sorry) for now but I neve (sic never) forget and I trust in god never will forget my family but James you will pardon me if I have said anything wrong and write to me as soon as you get this and let me no (sic know) what you are doing and what kind of place that is employment and wages give my respects to Hugh and family at must be somthing (sic something) strange he will not write to me if this is answer (sic)I will again. I got a letter from home yesterday your wife has wrote (wrong tense) to Margret wishing me to write to you. I will write home as soon as I get one from you.

Page three

Dear Brother I shall be able with the heap of god to fetch my family to Pittsburg in April or May and I think you might have yours out at the same time. The (sic They) boath (sic both) could come together.

Wages here is $1 per day and not easy yet I am working with a plumber and can do a litle (sic little) at the traid (sic trade) I will be a professed hand next summer if I stay with him.

Let me no (sic know) what kind of a country that is for farming. The (sic They) say land is chape (sic cheap) their (sic there). I wish I had a bit of land out there and my family with me. I think I should do well. Dear James I enjoy very good health thank (misuse of word) wishing you all the enjoyment of the same blessing.

be (no caps) shure (sic sure) and write soon.

Your ever affectionate brother

Owen treanor

Address your letter

Mr John. M.. Mc..Clowry

Attorney at law

Bakewells Buildings

Grant Street Pittsburgh

P.A.

 

 

Ellen

Thursday 23rd Jul 2015, 04:34PM

Message Board Replies

  • Ellen:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    I looked at the 1863 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Kilkeel civil parish, There were a number of Treanor entries and there is a Hugh, Owen and James all in Tullyframe townland. http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/down/kilkeel.htm

    Any possibility these are your ancestors?

    The RC records for Kilkeel parish start in 1839. Possibly you can find records for some of your ancestors. http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0433

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 23rd Jul 2015, 06:11PM
  • Griffiths Valuation for 1864 lists 2 Traynor farms in Greenan. One was occupied by Stephen Traynor (Plots 14 & 15) a 7 acre farm and the other was James Traynor on plot 22 a 5 acre farm. These were fairly close together and the families are likely to be related. Stephen’s property today is on the Mullavat Rd and James’ is where the Chapel Rd intersects with the Greenan Lough Rd.

     

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

     

    The revaluation records show that property 14 & 15 remained in Stephen’s name till 1892 when it changed to Catherine and then to Patrick in 1895. James’ property remained in his name till 1896 when it was amended to “reps of” indicating he had recently died.

    http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

    This was the only Trainor family in Greenan in 1901:

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Newry_Rural/Greenan/1245450/

    There was a James Treanor death registered in Newry on 14.4.1882 aged 66. No other James died in that area around that time. Might be your man. You can view the certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

    https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

    (You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2 to a view a certificate).

     

     

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 23rd Jul 2015, 06:37PM

Post Reply