'Big' John Barrett : Short Biography

SEÁN BAIRÉAD aka BIG JOHN BARRETT (born 1816) was probably the youngest son of Patrick Barrett Sr. of Ballinvilla (who possibly died before John reached the age of majority).  His grandfather was  Matthew Barrett (1749-1815), a substantial grazier in the parish of Croghan, Co Roscommon, Ireland.

John was a tenant farmer at #2 Ballinvilla.  By the time of the Tithe Applotment Records of 1842, only John and his siblings (brothers and brothers-in-law)  are recorded in Ballinvilla. 

In 1837, when he was 21 years old, he married Mary Dowd (1818–1865) whose father, John Dowd of Ryefield, was a substantial grazier in Croghan at that time. The couple had at least 10 children, to include an Anne Barrett (b.1841) who must have died in infancy.

His youngest son, Martin Barrett, inherited the family farm. Little is know about what became of his older siblings (presumed emigrated). Would love to know what became of them.

One daughter married a man of German origins in America, they had one son, a priest, who died in the US in the 1960s. 

Reaching out (from Ireland) to any of John & Mary Barrett's descendants.