Share This:

I know this is a long shot because I have so little detail, but there's no harm in asking, right? My great-great grandmother was Catherine Conboy, maiden name Farrell. She was born around 1855 - probably in New York, but it's possible she was brought over from Longford as a small child. I am assuming that her parents were probably famine refugees, so they probably left Longford for Liverpool on the way to New York sometime between 1847 - 1850. She married Thomas Conboy sometime around 1880, and I am fairly certain that Thomas Conboy is also a famine immigrant, because I can't find many records at all for him.

Catherine Conboy died in 1931, and her death certificate says that her parents were Bryan Farrell and Ann - maiden name Ryan, and that they were both from County Longford. If Catherine was born around 1855, then I am guessing that her parents were probably married some time between 1835 and 1850. And that would probably have Bryan and Ann's date of birth twenty to twenty five years before this, so probably 1810 to 1830. There is a possibility that Catherine Farrell had a sister named Anna. And from what I have seen in the baptismal and marriage records that I have already looked through, it seems like Ann, Anne, and Anna were all used interchangeably.

 

If anyone can point me in the direction of baptismal records for an Ann (Anne, Anna) Ryan or a Bryan Farrell in County Longford sometime between 1810 - 1830, or marriage records for a Bryan Farrell and Ann Ryan sometime between 1830 - 1850, I would be SO grateful! I just need some leads to start researching, as I haven't had much luck finding any references to Ann and Bryan. Thanks in advance!

Jill

Sunday 23rd Oct 2022, 10:06PM

Message Board Replies

  • This might be Catherine’s baptismal record (findmypast):

     

    New York Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms

    Father's first name(s) Bryan

    First name(s) Catharine

    Father's last name Farrell

    Last name Farrell

    Birth date 16 Feb 1851

    Birth year 1851

    Baptism date 23 Feb 1851

    Baptism year 1851

    Location Manhattan

    Parish Nativity

    Archdiocese New York

    County New York County

     

     

    Mother's first name(s) Ann

    s

    Mother's last name Farrell

     

    Here is the marriage record for Catherine and Thomas (findmypast):

    First name(s) 

    Catherine

    State 

    New York

    Last name 

    Farrell

    Country 

    United States

    Role 

    Bride

    Spouse's first name(s) 

    Thomas

    Birth year 

    -

    Spouse's last name 

    Conboy

    Marriage year 

    1882

    Location 

    Manhattan

    Marriage date 

    20 Feb 1882

    Record set 

    New York Roman Catholic Parish Marriages

    Parish 

    St Francis Xavier

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Patricia

    Sunday 23rd Oct 2022, 11:54PM

  • Thank you SO much for finding that for me, Patricia! I haven't been able to find anything that set a definite date for Catherine's birth. This has to be my great-great grandmother!

     

    I was able to find an entry in the New York Almshouse records from 1875 for a Catherine Farrell. I can't be sure that it is the same person, but the almshouse record says that Catherine is about 20 and has been in and out of the poorhouse for the last 11 years due to the death of her father. The record is brief, but pretty heartbreaking - the person who filled out the admission form said that her future was "doubtful" and that she had never known anything but "a pauper's life". 

    If this poorhouse record is for my ancestor, it probably explains why it's so hard to find any civil records for her. It seems like New York didn't really pay much attention to what was going on in the immigrant slums. And I wonder if this might explain why there is no civil marriage record for Catherine and Thomas - maybe poor people didn't see the point of spending money for a civil marriage license? Maybe this was a religious thing - if the priest says that they're married, then maybe they didn't care so much about what the state said? 

     

    I appreciate your help - you are very kind!

     

    Jill

    Monday 24th Oct 2022, 02:28PM

  • Hi Jill,

    Civil registration began in NYC in 1865.  But it wasn't really enforced well until perhaps 1900. So it's likely your ancestors got married in the church and didn't think it necessary to register their marriage with the city.

    Patricia

    Tuesday 25th Oct 2022, 12:43AM

  • Hi Jill,

    I am late to this discussion, but I thought that I would say hello as I am descended from Conboys of Longford/Leitrim. My great grandmother was also a Catherine Conboy; B:1865 Bornacoola, Mohill, Leitrim, Ireland; D:8 Apr 1915 Cartron, Drumlish, Longford, Ireland. She married by great grandfather, James Flynn, who was a National Teacher and they stayed in Ireland. One of their sons was my late grandfather, John Flynn, who emigrated to NYC in the 1920s.

    My Catherine's father was Thos. Conboy, B:1838 Greagh, Ireland; D:Dec 1917 Strokestown, Roscommon, Ireland. His father was Patrick Conboy 1815–1901 DEATH MAR 1901, Mohill, Ireland. If you're looking for Conboys, you might search in these areas as they may have been relatives/ancestors to your ancestor. 

    Screen shot of my Conboy tree attached.

    Jean O'Connor

    NJ, USA

    Conboy tree of Longford

     

    JMO

    Wednesday 17th Apr 2024, 10:47PM

Post Reply

Login