Robert McDowell Longford

Genie4me:

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I searched Roots Ireland and found one possible sibling for Robert but not Robert's record. Did he have a sister Abigail? Clonbroney parish is just to the northeast of Mostrim parish where Edgeworthstown is located.

Roger McDonnell

Name:Abigail McDowellDate of Birth:08-Aug-1824
Date of Baptism:08-Sep-1824Address:DrumnacreghParish/District:CLONBRONEYGender:FemaleCountyCo. Longford
Denomination:Church Of Ireland
Father:John McDowellMother:Ellen Cody

Hi Roger,

Thanks so much for this information.  This is the first record I've heard if or found about John and Ellen Cody McDowell.  Cody isn't that common a last name and the parents are a perfect match so this must be Robert's younger sister.  I only know of Robert and Charles.  Is there a record of Abilgail's marriage?

I know that John McDowell had died before 1856 when Robert filled out his information for the Emigrant Bank Records.  His mother was still alive but his father was deceased.  Would his parents have been born in Ireland or Scotland?

Thanks so much for your help!

Barbara

Barbara:

I could not locate a marriage record for Abigail.

Cody was not common in Lonford but was a very common name in Kilkenny. See http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/

The 1854 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Clonbroney parish shows a number of McDowells, No Robert shown but there was an Ellen in Lissameen townland. Possibly the widow? 

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/longford/clonbroney.htm

Roger

Barbara,

Like many Irish surnames the spelling varies over time and depending on who is recording the names. I was looking at the Tithe Applotments website ( free to search on line) and came across the following McDawalls recorded in 1825 Widow McDawall, Samuel McDawall and James McDawall at Drumcross, Parish of Clonbroney.

Also John McDawall at Knocksceagh, Parish of Clonbroney, Alexander McDawale at Leitrim, Parish of Clonbroney and John McDawall at Listerahee, Parish of Clonbroney.

The Tithe Applotments record the Tithe(Tax paid) by tenants and land holders. The area held in Acres,rood and perches are usually recorded divided into 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class land and the amount due or paid.

A good many of these Low Church of Ireland families arrived in County Longford in the 1600s. Some are decendants of soldiers who arrived with the armies that came in 1618 - 1620, or in 1640's with Cromwell or in 1690 with the Williamite army. Instead of pay they were given land in lieu of wages as the English state could not pay the wage bill and many settled to become farmers. Many of the families were of Scottish or North of England decent, many were Presbyterian but conformed to the State Church of Ireland as the law treated Presbyterians very badly.

Cody is a name connected with Tashinny parish, Co Longford in more recent times.

Personally I have two good friends, one is married to a McDowell and another has a McDowell as his mother. I can put you in touch if you wish.

Sorry, address in previous post should read Drumnacross, Parish of Clonbroney

Robert Cody listed on Tithe Applotments at Lisnanagh, Parish of Killoe for 1831 might be a possibility as the nearest Cody family geographically. Several other Cody families also listed in Co Longford

Hi John,

THanks so much for all of this information.  I really appreciate your not  only finding it but explaining it to me.  I'd love to be in touch with the McDowell's you know.  Are they from Longford?

I found Charles McDowell and Ellen McDowell both listed for the same property in Lissameen in Griffith's.  This was in the 1850s.  Charles came to the US in 1860/1 and signed for his brother Robert's bank account.  He was married to Katharina Soden.  In the 1870 census only shows, Charles, Katharina, John and Jane.  The whole family is listed in the 1880 census in NYC.  The names of the oldest two chidlren are lined out since they probably did not live with the family.  This is his entry:

OccupierCharles M'Dowell  LessorE F Leslie  CountyLongford  BaronyGranard ParishClonbroney TownlandLissameen OS Page Numbers9 and 14  Self Residence CountyLongford

I believe that Eliza died and then Charles and his family came to the US.  He and his wife and two children are in the 1870 census for Brooklyn, NY but then the entire family is listed in the 1880 census.  The oldest two children are listed but then crossed out: John who was 36 and Elizabeth who was 32 in 1880.  Here is the listing in the census:

NameCharles Mcdowell Age63 Birth DateAbt 1817 BirthplaceIreland Home in 1880Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USAStreet17th StHouse Number363Dwelling Number27 RaceWhite GenderMale Relation to Head of HouseSelf Marital StatusMarried

Spouse's Name Katharina Mcdowell Father's BirthplaceIreland Mother's BirthplaceIreland Occupation Keeping House

Household MembersNameAge

Charles Mcdowell  63 laborer

Katharina Mcdowell  60 Keeping house

John Mcdowell      36  Crosssed out

Elisabeth Mcdowell   32  Crossed out

Janie Mcdowell   27 Seamstress

Annie Mcdowell    24 Seamstress

Robert Mcdowell   22 Laborer

Charles Mcdowell  19  Laborer

Do you have an email address that I could use to send you copies of the documents i have.  Perhaps they will make a lot of sense to you since you are aware of the geographical lay out.

Thanks again so much for all your help on this.

Barbara

PS--I just realized that a few of my previous posts to you were never posted!  I'm so sorry about that.  Now I think I have it down.

Barbara

Hi John,

I hope all is well with you and yours.  I'd love to be put in contact with the McDowell connections you mentioned above.  

Thanks!

Barbara

I'm concerned that I haven't heard back from John C. Farrell.   Does anyone on the list know if he is OK?  I certainly hope so.  It's unusual that he not answer in such a long time.  He was going to put me in touch with two people with knowledge of the McDowell family.

Thanks for any information you may have about John.  I hope he's doing well.

Barbara

Barbara,

Only seeing your message now but all is well here

You can email me at johncfarrell@eircom.net and I will pass the information to my friends who have McDowell connections

Best Wishes

John

John:

I just sent you a message to your Ireland Reaching Out e-mail. Please ignore since you have seen Barbara's message. Thanks!

Roger McDonnell