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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Galway => Topic started by: Lark on Saturday 02 February 08 20:23 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to find information in Count Galway regarding Michael Comer, born ca 1828 in County Gallway. Married Mary Ann Higgins, probably in Ireland, about 1853 and relocated to Sheffield, Yorkshire, England shortly thereafter. He first appears in Sheffield on the 1861 census and at that time has a 7 year old son who was born in Sheffield. His occupation was listed as bricklayer
Based on the census records he may have gone to Yorkshire with a John and Ellen Comer who also appear in Sheffield at about the same time.
-Carol-
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Hello Carol,
There are three items you require when searching for Irish ancestors.
1. Denomination.
2. Parish
3. Townland.
You'll have to rely on Church records as civil registration in Ireland was not introduced until 1864. Non Catholic marriages were registered from 1845 onwards. When registration for BDMS started in 1864 some people didn't bother with the registration for a few years after that date. Keep your fingers crossed that church records still exist.
There were Comer and Higgins families in the same Galway parish when Griffith's Valuations took place in the county in 1855. The Valuations are on John Hayes failteromhat.com website.
Christopher
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Hi Carol,
Your story is very interesting, but it could be coincidence.
I am looking for Michael Comer born around 1864 in Co Galway. He relocated to Sheffield, Yorkshire where he married in 1895. He was a bricklayer's labourer at one point.
I am fairly sure from family tradition that his parents were John and Ellen Comer. I don't know if they ever went to Sheffield.
Keen to share info if you are still working on this.
PS I've looked for your Michael Comer in Sheffield in 1861 but I can't find him - can you supply details? There only seems to be a James Comer.
Steve
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Fascinating.
John and Ellen Comer were my great grandparents.
Michael was their third son born in 1864 and was a bricklayers labourer. He married Margaret Raftery in 1895 and both are buried in Sheffield (I have all references if needed. They had a number of children in Sheffield, Stephen 1897, John ?, Nora 1902, Mary 1901, Thomas 1901, Catherine 1910. His wife Margaret died in Sheffield in 1911 and Michael remarried Ann and they had a son * in 1923. Hope this is of use.
I have most details on John and Ellen Comers family but havent anything further back. Love to find out.
Moderator's Comment: name of possible living person removed in accordance with Rootschat policy
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Dear Steve and Gibbo
I too have Comer blood in my veins, my grandfather was James Comer born about 1882 and "from Galway". According to his wedding certificate, his father was James Comer deceased by 1914 and a farmer. As far as I know there was no Sheffield connection but I've posted for two reasons. Firstly, Carol "Lark" hasn't been online since 2008, so is perhaps unlikely to see these posts. Secondly, there are a few Comer families in Galway all using the same first names and I've made no progress in sorting out which were "mine", but circumstancial evidence suggests they may have been from Glenamaddy, which is in the NE corner of Co Galway.
The website Irish-roots seems to be under active development at the moment so I'm hoping more info will emerge fairly soon. I'll keep an eye on this thread...who knows what may turn up.
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I see there is a James Comer listed in the 1911 census in Raheen, Co. Galway. Not sure if this is of use. Bridget is listed as the head of family so may not be right.
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Thank you for looking - this is the James who may be mine. In 1901 he was not in Ireland and I may have found him with his brother in Stoke on Trent. I know he did do some toing and froing as he went back to Galway during WWI, even though he was married then with a child, and came back to Manchester about 1919 after which my mother was born. His age given on different documents doesn't quite tie up - a year out here and there and I can't identify his birth registration for sure. It's tantalising because I feel I need just one more bit of info to tie him down. I never knew him and both my mother and her brother are long dead, so there's no one to ask. However, I remain optimistic because in the last 12 months, I've made good progress on my grandmother's side, finding relatives I never knew I had and getting copies of photos I'd never seen before, including one of James Comer.
It only takes someone to read this thread, then....who knows?
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Well good luck with the search. If I come across anything Ill let you know.
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Thank you :D
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Dear Gibbo,
I'm very excited to read your posting, since the family of Michael Comer and Margaret Raftery is the same one I am descended from. We must be related.
I would be very keen to find out what you know, and naturally I will share the info I have, as far as I can. I have a very broad family tree of cousins in UK, Ireland, USA and South America, all descended from John and Ellen. However I have nothing earlier then John and Ellen (at present!).
Like Alpinecottage, I feel as though I need one more piece of evidence tied down Michael's birth for sure (because I have several candidates in the same part of Ireland).
I think it is probably best to move to private messages. I'll contact you again when I've checked a few things.
Alpicott, I wouldn't be too surprised if your Comers are from the area round Glenamaddy. That's where mine and Gibbo's are from. Maybe you will turn out to be related to us too! However there are some spread over other parts of Ireland and some in England. You need a missing link putting together like I do and my current idea is to try and find some other record that might have a reliable date of birth. A driving licence would be great (except they don't exist), or an employer's records perhaps (Stoke potteries?) or a family Bible or diary with birthdays.....
All the best
Steve
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To expand on the original post I made some time ago, the 1861 census of Sheffield shows the following:
1861 Census, Sheffield, England - Residence 192 Sergeant's Yard
Michael Comar - head of household - age 38 - bricklayer's laborer - born Ireland
Ann Comar - wife -age 28 - born Ireland
Mary A, Comar - daughter - age 7 - scholar - born Sheffield
Catherine Comar - daughter - age 5 - born Sheffield
Ellen Comar - daughter - age 3 - born Sheffield
Harriett Comar - daughter -age 11 months - born Sheffield
Also listed on the 1861 census of Sheffield and also a bricklayer is:
John Comer, born 1811 Galway, Ireland
Ellen Comer born 1817 Galway, Ireland
Eliza Comer born 1843 Sheffield
Ellen Comer born 1845 Sheffield
John Comer born 1850 Sheffield
Michael Comer born 1853 Sheffield
Michael Comer died in Sheffield and his death certificate provided the following information:
Death Certificate: Date of death 11/1/1866
Place of Death: 6 Court, Kenyon Street, Sheffield
Age 39
Occupation: Bricklayer's Laborer
Cause of Death: Phthrisis (tuberculosis)
Person providing information: Ann Comer who witnssed the death.
-Carol-
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Hi Carol
Thanks for the update. I can't make any of those Comers match mine. The dates don't work out.
If you can extend your knowledge about these families it will be useful later, knowing which belong to which family as they are all in Sheffield.
Also I suspect they may well be connected further back in Ireland but there are a lot of Comers in Galway. Mine are from near Glenamaddy.
For your Michael, born 1823ish, and Ann, it would be good to get their marriage and narrow down the place. You might try familysearch.org or the new site http://www.rootsireland.ie/. It is payable but you can learn a lot from the indexes before you have to pay.
Hope this helps, all the best
Steve
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Yet another update with some additional information.
Michael Comer married Mary Ann Higgins about 1853 and as far as I can tell the marriage took place in Ireland prior to their immigration to Sheffield.
Mary Ann was born abt 1833. Her brother Martin (who also immigrated to Sheffield) was born abt 1838. Their parents were John and Bridget Higgins of County Galway.
Does this new information ring a bell with anyone?
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Comer and Raftery and indeed Higgins are east Galway names and I suspect maybe Craughwell or Loughrea. Try checking for Catholic Parish records from those two locations for Births and Marriages. There was no civil registration at the time.
Also search for Comer and Raftery in the Griffith Valuation, this would catch family members in situ c 1855-1860 in Galway. People did not travel much back then and they may have lived rather close to each other prior to marriage.
Family names recurred a lot, if their dad was Thomas did they have a child named Thomas etc.
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml
and
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&Submit.x=35&Submit.y=8&familyname=Higgins&firstname=John&baronyname=&countyname=GALWAY&unionname=&parishname=
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Thank you. That indeed gives me a starting point to see whether I can find them.
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My grandmother was Mary Higgins born February 1920 she was born in co. Mayo. she married my grandfather James comer and they lived in ballinrobe on a farm in cloonceary
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Welcome to RootsChat :)
For others reading, here's the link to your grandmother's marriage in 1942-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1942/08807/5184008.pdf
James Comer living in the townland of Carralecka (sic), Ballinrobe. The closest named townland seems to be this one, on the outskirts of Ballinrobe.
https://www.townlands.ie/mayo/kilmaine/ballinrobe/ballinrobe/carrownalecka/
KG
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she married my grandfather James comer and they lived in ballinrobe on a farm in cloonceary
Birth of James Comer on 21st December 1919 at Cloonkerry. MMN Landy
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1920/01221/1507925.pdf
Cloonkerry townland
https://www.townlands.ie/mayo/kilmaine/ballinrobe/ballinrobe/cloonkerry/
Marriage of Patrick Comer and Mary Kate Landy on 3rd March 1919 at Ballinrobe RC Church. Fathers Thomas Comer, a farmer and James Landy also a farmer.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1919/09668/5505801.pdf
Is this Mary Kate Landy in 1911 census with her parents and siblings?
House 10 in Carrownalecka (Ballinrobe, Mayo).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Mayo/Ballinrobe/Carrownalecka/702768/
See reply #16 for Carrownalecka townland
KG
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For others reading-
Birth of Patrick Comer on 18th January 1878 at Cloonkerry. MMN Healy
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1878/02972/2088761.pdf
KG