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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Tyrone => Topic started by: Trishmcc23 on Tuesday 26 January 16 21:23 GMT (UK)

Title: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Tuesday 26 January 16 21:23 GMT (UK)
Born around 1859 in either Dromore Co or Caledon Co Tyrone.   I have a reference given to her prior to migrating to Sydney Australia in 1879, from Eugene McKenna CC in Enniskillen.   She was married in Australia to James Walsh born 1850 in Limerick.   Cannot find any information on her at all.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Schoch on Wednesday 27 January 16 02:06 GMT (UK)
How sure are that her 1st name was  Margaret and not Mary?
There is a tree on Ancestry that shows a Mary Agnes McMahon, born in Northern Ireland and who ended up in Australia as well.

There is this record though that supports your details.

Name:   James Walsh
Spouse Name:   Margaret Macmahon
Marriage Date:   1887
Marriage Place:   New South Wales
Registration Place:   Sydney, New South Wales
Registration Year:   1887


Richard
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 27 January 16 03:10 GMT (UK)
Hi Richard
The records I have here which are the same as you have shown and would appear that Margaret is correct.  I just keep hitting a wall when I try to find her in Ireland.   My uncle has told me an ancestor of hers was Squire to Lord Caledon but how far back I am not sure.  The name Alexander was also mentioned.  My uncle has since passed on and I only have what he wrote to me. 

Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Wednesday 27 January 16 11:48 GMT (UK)
McKenna CC
As in Catholic Clergyman?

Does this mean Margaret was RC,
I was looking at the RC register last night to see if I could find her but only found a Mary or Maria, can't quite remember now.
The places named a quite far apart but anyway if you want to look.
If she is RC
Dromore
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0305

The other place name of Caledon is in the parish of Aghaloo http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0180

I didn't search for long just a quick look.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Schoch on Wednesday 27 January 16 12:21 GMT (UK)
Here is a possible arrival of Margaret with another person, may be her sister Ellen, in 1879. They are listed as "servants"

There are other arrivals listed for other years but none show a middle name so it is impossible to be certain.

Name:   Margt McMahon
Estimated birth year:   abt 1859
Age:   20
Port of Departure:   London
Port of Arrival:   Sydney, New South Wales
Voyage Arrival Date:   6 May 1879
Vessel Name:   Peterborough

Richard
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 27 January 16 21:47 GMT (UK)
Yes Margaret was RC.  I have looked at a register in Dromore but I found it very difficult to read the pages.  I don't know if there is some easier way of looking at them.  I used the zoom but that didn't make a huge difference.  Will go back and have another go.
Thank you Sinann for the addresses.

Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 27 January 16 22:17 GMT (UK)
Richard
I only knew my GGM for a few years when I was quite young and all I remember is her sitting in a huge chair and saying very little.   Most of the little information I have came from an uncle who has since passed on.  I know she received the reference from Eugene McKenna on 2nd July 1879 so I believe the Peterborough may be too early.   I saw another Margaret McMahon on ship Conore which arrived in October 1879 and I think that would be more likely.   I have no details of her arriving with family and I did not know of any here in Australia other than her children.   The ship does not give a lot of details which would help in the search.
Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Wednesday 27 January 16 23:22 GMT (UK)
Yes the Dromore register is very difficult at times, play around with the buttons (circles above the image) to lighten, darken, invert.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 27 January 16 23:25 GMT (UK)
Will do.  I am getting better at it. I guess practice makes perfect.
Thanks

Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 27 January 16 23:26 GMT (UK)
Parents of Margaret Agnes McMahon are John and Margaret McMahon.  Don't know Margaret's maiden name.

Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Saturday 30 January 16 13:05 GMT (UK)
Sinann and Schoch - Hello...Have been able to find Mother and Father of Margaret Agnes Walsh - John and Margaret Walsh.  Searched Griffiths Valuation which I found very informative even though I don't understand all of it.  There are a few John Walsh and I now know the towns to look in so that may make it easier.  There are lots of McKennas there as well so the Reference from Eugene McKenna CC given to Margaret could have come about through them.  All supposition at this stage.
Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Saturday 30 January 16 16:07 GMT (UK)
She married a Walsh and her mother was a Walsh, yes?
Have I got that correct?

So you have John McMahon marries Margaret Walsh
Their daughter Margaret Agnes McMahon marries James Walsh.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Sunday 31 January 16 01:18 GMT (UK)
Sorry Sinann I totally missed that.  No I don't have a maiden name for John's wife, Margaret.  Just that Margaret Agnes Father was John McMahon and her mother was Margaret McMahon.  I will try and be more careful when I am writing the messages.   Could be that it was about midnight here.
Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Tuesday 29 March 16 05:26 BST (UK)
Just received further information on my GG Margaret McMahon's parents.  Her father is John McMahon - mother is Margaret McMahon born Alexander Circa 1830.   Don't have any information on siblings, townland etc.
I have not been able to track down any information to Dromore, County Tyrone.
Any further assistance would certainly be appreciated .
Regards
Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Tuesday 29 March 16 19:04 BST (UK)
Alexander isn't a name that would be generally considered RC, the 1901 Census it shows as mostly Presbyterian but still lots of dispensations in the RC registers.
Thought I'd have a go a finding a marriage, there doesn't tend to be as many to look through as births, started in 1850 in both Dromore and Aghaloo but no joy.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Tuesday 29 March 16 23:32 BST (UK)
Hi Sinann
Good to hear from you again.  I had always thought my GG Margaret Agnes Walsh (McMahon) was RC because her daughters were but that could have come from their father, James Walsh.  She is certainly buried in the RC Cemetery at Rookwood, NSW but that is not to say she did not come from a different family background before she came out to Australia in 1879/80.
It could well be that her mother, Margaret McMahon (Alexander) was of a different religion.   Are McMahons normally RC?
Once again, thank you for your help. 
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Wednesday 30 March 16 00:57 BST (UK)
Going by the 1901 Census McMahon would be considered RC
RC 8569 results
COI 200
Presbyterian 190
But those that are not RC live mainly in the Northern counties so John may not have been.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 30 March 16 09:26 BST (UK)
Hi Sinann
Doing some research today in Griffiths Valuations. Maybe clutching at straws. John McMahon tenant, Earl of Caledon Landowner, County Tyrone, Barony Dungannon Lower, Union Aghaloo, Townland Caledon, Place Name Church Hill.  Can't find marriage with Margaret Alexander but the names, McMahon, Alexander, Caledon, Dromore...keep coming up in my records.   Let me know if I am off course please.   There were also some records of John McMahon in Dromore on Griffiths Valuations as well.
Thanks.
Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 30 March 16 09:39 BST (UK)
Have you seen this record? (may be worth checking for a baptism for him)
John McMahon born c1848 Ireland, parents- John McMahon & Margaret Alexander
   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2715-W51

If he is the same family then you should be able to trace him in U.S. records
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 30 March 16 11:08 BST (UK)
Oh thank you Aghadowey this looks very promising.  I did not think to check US just concentrated in Ireland.  The date looks to be good.
Regards
Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 30 March 16 11:12 BST (UK)
All I did was search for the parents on www.familysearch.org

Let us know if you need help tracing that U.S. lead  ;)
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 30 March 16 11:18 BST (UK)
Thank you so much. I must admit I haven't a clue about searching in the US so I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction.  I have been researching and reading a lot of books on the subject and only started searching on Family Search last week but I was more looking for their birth or baptism records rather than children, although I had been searching for Margaret Agnes.
Anyway another step to take.  Good fun.
Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Wednesday 30 March 16 19:43 BST (UK)
If John was born was born c1848 I wouldn't have found the marriage from 1850 onwards so worth another look.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 30 March 16 22:32 BST (UK)
Good morning Sinann.
I gather from Aghadowey's message that this John is son of Margaret Alexander and John McMahon Snr and would be sibling to Margaret Agnes McMahon/Walsh.    Why one goes to US and the other to Australia would be another interesting story.
According to John Jnr's death certificate from the US his birth would be around 1848 and Margaret Agnes is around 1852 according to her shipping record, as she was 27 when she came to Australia in 1879.
Cheers Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Sinann on Wednesday 30 March 16 23:00 BST (UK)
Progress report, there is at least one Alexander getting married in Dromore in 1846, not to a McMahon but at least we know they are in the area.
There is a baptism of a Catherine McMahon in 1840, no parents names but one of the sponsors is an Alexander, if she is another of the family it would push the marriage back yet again.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Wednesday 30 March 16 23:29 BST (UK)
This is true, particularly if they had a big family.  Margaret Agnes named one of her daughters Catherine Josephine. Her other children were Margaret, Mary, Gertrude Clare and John Francis.  Some of these names may show up as well.
Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 31 March 16 10:24 BST (UK)
Good morning Sinann.
I gather from Aghadowey's message that this John is son of Margaret Alexander and John McMahon Snr and would be sibling to Margaret Agnes McMahon/Walsh.    Why one goes to US and the other to Australia would be another interesting story.
According to John Jnr's death certificate from the US his birth would be around 1848 and Margaret Agnes is around 1852 according to her shipping record, as she was 27 when she came to Australia in 1879.
Cheers Trishmcc

No, I said that John born c1848 Ireland had parents called John McMahon and Margaret Alexander.

I didn't find him in U.S. census records yet (you probably have no idea how many John McMahons born in Ireland around that time are in N.Y.C.!) but this is likely connected (perhaps John died at that address but it wasn't where he previously lived).

1910 census- 126 Bradhurst Ave.
James McMahon, 31, born NY, parents b.Ireland, married 8 years, barkeeper- saloon
wife Margaret McMahon, 29, born Ireland, 4 children/4 living
son John McMahon, 6, born NY
son James McMahon Jr., 4, born NY
daughter Hannah McMahon, 2, born NY
daughter Mary V. McMahon, 6 months, born NY
sister Elizabeth McMahon, 28, born NY, married, 1 child/1 living [wonder if this is actually James' sister-in-law]
nephew John McMahon, 3, born NY
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 31 March 16 11:08 BST (UK)
Have found more information on James McMahon's family in New York but before I start cluttering up this thread with all of it wondered if a separate topic (linked to this one) on U.S. board might be better.
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Thursday 31 March 16 13:21 BST (UK)
Thanks Aghadowey.  I have a small idea about how many people born in Ireland migrated to NYC. I spent most of the day searching records myself without much luck I'm afraid.   
I am still hoping that this Margaret Alexander and John McMahon may be the right ones.
Trishmcc
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Saturday 02 April 16 11:40 BST (UK)
Aghadowey - Whatever you think is better.   I don't know enough about how it all works to make an informed choice about which would be best.
I am just wondering why we are looking for James instead of John.  Not sure if I have missed a message somewhere.
Regards
Trish
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: aghadowey on Saturday 02 April 16 13:31 BST (UK)
John McMahon born c1848 Ireland had parents called John McMahon and Margaret Alexander. His death certificate gave address where he died as 126 Bradhurst Ave., Manhattan.

I haven't yet identified John McMahon in census records, etc. but in the 1910 census there is a James McMahon living at 126 Bradhurst Ave. I think James is a son of the John McMahon we are looking for but others might be able to find more details or rule out what I've found so far.

Will start a topic on U.S. board and post links  :)

Added- new topic here:
John McMahon died 1911 Manhattan- family? (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=745399.msg5925317#msg5925317)
Title: Re: Searching for information on Grandmother Margaret Agnes McMahon
Post by: Trishmcc23 on Saturday 02 April 16 23:38 BST (UK)
Thank you very much for setting up the new query.   Lots of information on there for me to follow up. I have paid a subscription to RootsIreland for 12 months and that should give me an opportunity to do a lot more research with that and Family Search.    Hopefully I can find some link.
I didn't realise you could set up queries on different boards, in fact I didn't realise there were different boards.  Told you I was new at this.  Anyway I am learning...slowly.
Thanks again.   Trish