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My ancestor, Eliza McGowan, and her sister, Jane, both married in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Their marriage records in Virginia show they are both the daughters of Roger McGowan and Sarah Flynn of County Sligo. Eliza married Mike McNally of County Down in 1854 in Lynchburg. Jane McGowan married Joseph Bragassa of Palermo, Italy in 1861 in Lynchburg. From these and later records it appears that Eliza was born about 1829 and Jane was born about 1838. It appears they have a younger brother James McGowan, also born about 1838. He lived in St Louis, Missouri with Eliza and her husband in 1860 and was a baker. Jane's son identified Ballymote, Ireland as his mother's birthplace. 

Based on these birthdates, I would assume that Roger McGowan and Sarah Flynn married before 1828 and were living in Ballymote in 1838.

The Tithe Applotment Books show a Roger McGowan in Kilmorgan Parish, Drumfin Townland, County Sligo in 1833 who may be my ancestor.

A Sarah McGowan, age 69 (b abt 1797) died in County Sligo in 1866

The Sligo Death records Index shows a Roger Gowan, age 70 (b abt 1753) was buried in 1823.

I have not been able to identify the family on any passenger lists. A Roger McGowan,petitioned for naturalization in Philadephia, PA on 3 Jan 1840. He was 46 so would have been born about 1798, but I do not know if this is the one I'm searching for.

Since they are Catholic, I checked the LDS Baptisms & Marriages Microfilm (#926016) which contained Catholic marriages for  Diocese Achonry, Parish Emlefad & Killmorgan from 12 Aug 1824 – 7 Jan 1866. There were a number of McGowans and Flynn's listed but Roger and Sarah did not appear as witnesses or spouses. If they married in Ballymote, I must assume that it was before 12 Aug 1824.

This film also had Baptism Records for the Parish beginning in 1856. There is a Dominick McGowan baptised May 1868 listed. His parents names are not listed, but Drumfin is listed as the parent's town. I am curious whether he is related.

Any knowledge of these McGowans or clues where I might find further records would be greatly appreciated.

Terri S

 

Terri S

Sunday 10th Aug 2014, 01:38PM

Message Board Replies

  • Terri:

    I also looked at the Tithes. The McGowan in Drumfin was Bryan based on what I saw. However, there were two Rodger McGowans: one in Ahamlish parish and the other in Ballysumaghan parish. Neither are close to Ballymote but I wanted to make sure you were aware of the records. (There are a good number of Flynn records in Ballysumaghan parish).

    Roger McDonnell

     

    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587396/00…

    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587407/00…

     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 10th Aug 2014, 03:18PM
  • Roger,

    Thanks for checking. It's great to get such an instant response to my posting. My source for the Roger in 1833 was Ancestry.com. Below is what I got. Do you think this is incorrect?

    Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1823-1837 about Roger McGowan

    Name:Roger McGowan

    County:Sligo

    Parish:Kilmorgan

    Townland:Drumfin

    Year:1833

    Source Information:

    Heritage World and the Genealogical Publishing Company. Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1823-1837 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.Original data: Tithe applotment books for Northern Ireland, 1823-1828. National Archives, Dublin and Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

    Tithe Applotment Books. National Archives of Ireland. 13 rolls. Dublin, Ireland.

    Terri

    Terri S

    Sunday 10th Aug 2014, 03:39PM
  • Terri:

    Ancestry is correct and the National Archives transcribers got it wrong.

    When you go to www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie and search for Drumfin in Kilmorgan, you get 36 entries but no Roger McGowan just the Bryan McGowan that I mentioned, However, when you look at the three pages of microfilm of Drumfin, Roger is listed #160 See the link.

    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625684/00…

    Obviously, the people who transcribed the records for the National Archives failed to list him but Ancestry's transcribers got it correct.

    Roger 

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 10th Aug 2014, 04:46PM
  • Thanks!

    Terri S

    Sunday 10th Aug 2014, 06:06PM
  • Thanks for this Roger. Good luck with your search Terri

    Best wishes

    Clare Doye

    Genealogy Support 

    Clare Doyle

    Wednesday 13th Aug 2014, 10:55AM

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