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I am hoping to learn more about my Brennan ancestors.  According to Griffith's Valuations, they lived in the vicinity of Tobercurry.  My great-great grandfather was John Brennan, born in Sligo around 1821.  His mother was Mary and his father was possibly named Mark (according to Griffith's).  His siblings included Ann (1833-1879), James (born 1819) and Mark (1829).  Ann immigrated to the United States and was in California by 1858.  In a strange turn of events, she became the equivalent of a millionairess before dying at age 47.  John, James and Mark all ended up in Lancashire by 1850 with John and Martin moving to Wolverhampton in Staffordshire by mid 1850s.  Their mother eventually ended up there as well according to a family will.

My assumption has been that the family was forced to emigrate due to the famine.  But I don't know if some members were left behind?  I would also like to pinpoint where their family's home was.

lavfam

Thursday 12th Dec 2013, 12:50AM

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  • Hi Mary

    There are 3 John Brennan baptism records 1821 + - 1 year Sligo on www.rootsireland.ie/

    The parish for all is Riverstown not Tubbercurry however and none has mother named Mary

    No luck on www.irishgenealogy.ie either!

    The Tithe Applotments (free online) have 56 Brennans in Sligo including a Mark in 1833

    Col

     

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 12th Dec 2013, 04:07AM

  • Mary:


    Following up on Col's lead, I looked at the Tithes listing for Achonry parish. In 1827, there were three Mark Brenan records in the Tithes in Carrowwilkin, Carrowreagh and Snugborough townlands. The links are below. Its possible that there were three separate Mark Brennans or one or two who had multiple holdings. Carrowwilkin and Carrowreagh exist today and are south of Tobercurry. Snugborough was likely subsumed by another townland when they finalized the townland boundaries in the 1851 census. Possibly Snugborough is now part of Carrowreagh or Powellsborough.


    I also looked at the 1901 census and there were 127 Brennan housholds in Achonry parish. I only located one Mark Brennan who was 13 and living with his family in Carrowreagh (Knox) townland. Possibly there is a connection.


    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Sligo/Tobercurry/Carrowreagh__Knox_/1689580/


    Roger McDonnell


     


    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004239502/004239502_00340.pdf


    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004239502/004239502_00337.pdf


    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004239502/004239502_00328.pdf

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 12th Dec 2013, 03:49PM

  • Col and Roger:

    Thanks for your speedy responses.  Is it possible to pin down where land holdings were located exactly using the Tithe Applotment books? 

    Also, given that we have 3 John Brennans born in Sligo in 1821, can we assume one of them was my John?  If Mary was his mother's middle name perhaps?

    Thanks again---Mary Lavin

    lavfam

    Thursday 12th Dec 2013, 07:08PM

  • Mary:


    I'm not aware of an easy way to take the Tithes info and tie to the Griffiths data. The only thing you can do is to take the number of acres shown on the Tithes (the first number) and see if there is a similar number on the 1858 Griffiths Valuation data for Sligo for the same townland. www.askaboutireland.ie  is a good site to see the acreage leased in each townland in 1858 and the name of the lessee.


    Col may want to comment also but Riverstown is a good deal to the east of Achonry parish so I doubt the three John Brennans located by Col are  your relative.


    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Friday 13th Dec 2013, 06:34PM

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