William Patrick Grennan - Ballinahown Kings County Ireland

Hello Stewie and welcome to Ireland Reaching Out

Dont know if you have the attached record of the Baptism 

Geraldine Thanks for the welcome and the document. I had found the Baptism document you've provided. Hopefully someone who has some knowledge of this area can add some detail.

Regards,

Scott Stewart

Stephen Murray and Maia Coughlan were Godparents

The problem is Scott that while Ballinahown is the Parish it covers a large area i.e. Ballinahown, Pullough, Lemanaghan and Boher.

Do you have any further documents to help narrow down the area they might have lived in.

Have you considered doing your DNA (or that of the oldest member of your family ie. a generation before you)

Grennan as you man know is a very common name in Offaly 

Geraldine,

     I haven't done my DNA but I gifted my mother this a couple years ago. I'll reach out to her to see if I can get access to the information.

     As for Narrowing down location for William Patrick Grennan (Maternal Great Grandfather) I started with only Kings County Ireland and parents names (Only one of which was an exact match) to find the Baptism Docs in Ballinahown...and this only happened because I searched for an earlier birth date than given (I was given 1869) and guessed he might have been born/lived in the same Diocese as my Grandfather Patrick Williams who was born in Laughil Ballinahown Offaly Ireland. I figured that there was a family familiarity based on similar location in Ireland for him to connect with and marry my Grandmother (Brigid Grennan - Born in Bristol CT USA in 1891) in the USA. One of my goals in this enquiry is to narrow down exactly where in the Ballinahown area he (William Patrick Grennan) was born/resided and for how long he lived there. I'm not certain when he left Ireland although I know William Patrick Grennan was married in the US in the 1890's so It seems likely it was sometime in the 1880's although it could have been sooner.

     If this helps...I'm pretty sure one of William Patrick Grennan's brothers was James Grennan with a prior birth on 14 Dec 1856. William Patrick Grennan was born in January 1861. James Grennan lived in Doon Demense per the 1901 Census (With Wife and Kids) but he did receive his first child - Patrick- in Ballinahown in 1881 (Per Baptism Docs and Birth Registration). His next child Thomas...shows a birth in Doon Kings County Ireland in 1883 So it appears that between 1881 and 1883 this part of the Grennan Family moved from somewhere in Ballinahown to Doon and Its possible it was to Doon Demense Kings County. I don't know if/how to backtrack from this to find out where William Patrick Grennan lived in Ballinahown before at least one of the Family moved but I'm guessing that if there is a way to backtrack that the Ballinahown address for James Greenan would be the same or close to the residence for William Patrick Greenan. 

     I'll get back when I find the DNA info. Not sure how/what to do with it when I get it.

Thanks for your thoughts and any assistance you can give

Scott

Geraldine,

     My mother gave me management of the DNA Test she did on Ancestry.com and I've ordered one for myself. As for my Mothers DNA (She is the Irish connection) what do I do with it to help with my query?

Ok Scott

You need to download her DNA raw file from Ancestry.

So when you log into Ancestry - top right - click on the account name and dropdown and settings

Left menu - click on DNA

Click on her name

Scroll to bottom of page and it will say 'download DNA data'

Click to agree, agree and it will download

Then you have to create a Gedmatch account (its free) and log in

On right hand side of page - 'Upload your DNA'

You have to choose your downloaded file from Ancestry and upload.

It will take a few days for them to come back to you and say your data has been uploaded (maybe quicker)

You will then get a Kit Number - e.g A054058 (my kit)

When you get this done if you come back to me and I will tell you how to join Offaly DNA group (or any DNA group)

Hope this is ok and you can follow, but there are lots of good videos on Youtube on how to download DNA and upload to Gedmatch

Geraldine

I dont have Ancestry membership at the moment but I will see if I can get any more information on the family from the Ballinahown area

Geraldine

Thanks. I'll work on this over the next couple of days.

I have the kit number on GEDmatch UC6000556. Thanks again for your assistance.

My email is rahan@irelandxo if you would like to send me an email and I will send you the results from Gedmatch

There are the top matches

When I run your kit number with my mother H128318 you actually come up as a match with her.  Her family are from the same Parish

These files are your top matches on Gedmatch

Thanks. I sent an email to you. I'm definitely interested in the match our mothers have and where the crossover is.

Regards,

Scott Stewart

Stewie I never received an email from you, just wondering how you got on

Geraldine

So I am trying to determine the Parents/Birthdate  for Michael Galvin. He is my 2nd Great Grandfather on my maternal side. I’ve confirmed his parentage to my great grandmother Anne “Bridget” Galvin as well as his being the grandfather to my grandfather Patrick Williams. For Michael Galvin's Birth, the census indicates it would be around 1831 likely in Clonydonnin or Ballydrowen Westmeath. I see no records at this time but do find a couple of birth records in 1826 an 1827 that might be the one. I’m thinking his parents are Thomas Galvin and Mary McGrath based on witnesses but I was wondering if there were other ways to confirm? During this 1825 – 1830 period are their land records that might specify not only the land or lease holder but also the other family members? Any ideas on where I can go to confirm or deny parentage and birth of this relative would be appreciated.