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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Fermanagh => Topic started by: Birkenhead on Sunday 25 February 18 20:15 GMT (UK)
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Looking for any information about a large family of Goodwins in the Fermanagh area. Not all of the children were alive at the same time. Interested to know if any members of the family still live in the area. Younger members of the family were born around 1916 - 1920. Annie Goodwin, born in 1919, moved to London in the 1940s with some of her siblings.
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Start with finding them in 1901 and 1911 census records-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
Then search for vital records (you won't get births less than 100 years old)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
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Looking for any information about a large family of Goodwins in the Fermanagh area. Not all of the children were alive at the same time. Interested to know if any members of the family still live in the area. Younger members of the family were born around 1916 - 1920. Annie Goodwin, born in 1919, moved to London in the 1940s with some of her siblings.
Hi
Just happened on your posting.
Are you sure about Annie's YOB? No one of that name registered in 1919 or 1920 in Fermanagh.
Do you have names of any siblings?
regards
Michael
P.S. Not really sure what you mean by "Not all of the children were alive at the same time". Taken literally, and barring a super-multiple birth, this would describe every family :)
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GRONI shows a birth for Annie Goodwin on 15 March 1919, registered at Lisnaskea, the transcript I've seen confirms that she was the daughter of John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch of Furnish, which is just within the county border of Fermanagh:
https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/tirkennedy/enniskillen/furnish/
John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch lived in various townlands just north of Fivemiletown, most fall into the Tyrone side of the border with County Fermanagh, here was the family in 1901 and 1911 at Edergole and Aghingowly respectively:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Cole/Edergole/1726908/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Cole/Aghingowly/856619/
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/edergole/
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/aghingowly/
From the birth records of their various children I can see that John and Sarah also lived in Cole and Rahoran:
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/cole/
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/rahoran/
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Some of the later children not shown in the census returns:
- Agnes Goodwin b.1912:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1912/01471/1599463.pdf
- Alice Goodwin b. 1914:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1914/01410/1579624.pdf
- Francis Goodwin b. 1915:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1915/01367/1563320.pdf
- Vincent Goodwin b. 1917:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1917/01311/1541834.pdf
Vincent died later that year: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1917/05213/4441861.pdf
I'm struggling to find a marriage for this couple, the 1911 census suggests c. 1891.
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... I'm struggling to find a marriage for this couple, the 1911 census suggests c. 1891.
The following may sound bizarre to anyone who hasn't yet encountered this phenomenon, but after struggling to find a marriage c. 1891 for John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch (based on the 1911 census return information) and indeed a birth c. 1892 for their oldest child Charles Goodwin (based on the 1901 census return information), I tried looking for John McGuigan and Charles McGuigan.
McGuigan and Goodwin weren't substitutes for each other as a general rule, but there is precedent for it in a number of instances, indeed sufficient precedent for Bill Macafee to mention it in the following document:
http://www.billmacafee.com/databases/spellingsurnamestownlands.htm
Anyhow, it appears that this is exactly what happened here, with the marriage taking place on 12 November 1890 between John McGuigan and Sarah Lynch, it took place in St. Mary's RC Church in Fivemiletown, John was recorded as a 19 year old servant, the son of James McGuigan (deceased), a labourer, Sarah was recorded as a 17 year old servant, the daughter of John Lynch, a farmer, both were living in the townland of Bolies:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1890/10718/5907332.pdf
Bolies is right on the money location-wise:
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/bolies/
And so it was also the case with their son Charles, whose birth at Beigh on 9 September 1891 was registered under the surname Goodwin but later changed to McGuigan:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02377/1886980.pdf
'Beigh' was likely Beigh Glebe:
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/beigh-glebe/
Significantly, note the comment at the left of the above 1891 birth registration, namely:
'... cols 5 and 6 for "Goodwin" read "McGuigan" corrected on the 14th July 1939 by me JF McCrea Supt. Registrar on production of a Statutory Declaration made by John McGuigan Father'.
So John married Sarah as a McGuigan, their children were all initially registered as Goodwin (I think I also saw a 'Gowden' spelling for one of them), the 1901/1911 census returns were completed as Goodwin, and John then attended the Registrar's Office many years later in 1939 to alter the surname in Charles' birth registration to McGuigan.
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Into more speculative territory now, but the following birth at Tullyquin for parents John Lynch and Catherine McCann has to be a possibility for the Sarah Lynch who married John Goodwin / McGuigan in 1890:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1874/03147/2154117.pdf
Tullyquin:
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/clogher/tullyquin/
Several other children were born to this couple, the later ones at 'Beigh'.
The family in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Aghintain/Beigh_Glebe/1726563/
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I tried looking for ...McGuigan
That's great work Gaffy.
I've heard of the McGuigan/Goodwin connection but never encountered this among my Goodwin's (aka Gudden, Goodin, Godin) in South Fermanagh. Discovering a specific re-registration is very informative. I'm guessing this surname association was peculiar to a single family rather than a more widespread practise within the 'clan'.
Still can't see Annie (1919) in GRO or GRONI searches - I'm guessing not yet updated under 100 year rule.
Good luck with your searching.
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Thank you all so much for your help.We were in Fermanagh and Tyrone last year and were confused by the Goodwin, McGuigan names.I
Annie was 1child of 17/19 children, some of whom sadly died in infancy.She was The youngest and hardly ever spoke to her own children about her life as a child.
The archivist in Enniskillen library said he was from Goodwin/ McGuigan family too.
Now trying to find death certificates for Sarah and John.
Definitely going to keep on searching.Once again thanks for your help.
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Still can't see Annie (1919) in GRO or GRONI searches - I'm guessing not yet updated under 100 year rule.
GRONI has updated birth/marriage/death records right up to today's date (23 June), so Annie's there.
KG
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Just to take stock of the children of John Goodwin (a.k.a. McGuigan) and Sarah Lynch:
1. Charles Goodwin (b.1891 at Beigh), surname changed to McGuigan in 1939 - birth reg. at reply #5
2. James Gowden (b.1893 at Beigh):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02270/1852917.pdf
3. John Goodwin (b.1896 at Cole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1896/02181/1825660.pdf
4. Mary Elizabeth Goodwin (b.1897 at Cole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1897/02126/1808063.pdf
5. Patrick Joseph Goodwin (b.1899 at Cole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1899/02038/1780832.pdf
6. Ellen Jane Goodwin (b.1901 at Edergole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1901/01952/1753827.pdf
7. Esther Elizabeth Goodwin (b.1903 at Edergole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1903/01867/1727117.pdf
8. Sarah Ann Goodwin (b.1905 at Edergole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1905/01782/1700158.pdf
9. Peter Goodwin (b.1907 at Edergole):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1907/01707/1676610.pdf
10. Michael Francis Goodwin (b.1909 at Aghingowly):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1909/01611/1646293.pdf
Died in 1911:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05403/4508957.pdf
11. Edward Goodwin (b.1910 at Aghingowly) - twin of Thomas:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1910/01569/1632816.pdf
12. Thomas Goodwin (b.1910 at Aghingowly) - twin of Edward - birth reg. as above
13. Agnes Goodwin (b.1912 at Tullyquin) - birth reg. at reply #4
14. Alice Goodwin (b.1914 at Rahorn) - birth reg. at reply #4
15. Francis William Goodwin (b.1915 at Rahorn) - birth reg. at reply #4
16. Vincent Benedict Goodwin (b.1917 at Rahorn) - birth reg. at reply #4
Died in 1917 - death reg. at reply #4
17. Annie Goodwin (b.1919 at Furnish) - birth info. mentioned at reply #3
The only 'early' deaths for these children that I could find in the vicinity up to 1921 (on the 'irishgenealogy' website) are as listed above, ie. Michael Francis in 1911 (accident, rather than ill health) and Vincent Benedict in 1917. The previously posted 1911 census return for the family at house 5 in Aghingowly stated 12 children born and 11 children living, which is entirely consistent with the above list of births up to that census date (ie. the position on the night of 2 April 1911) and the death of Michael Francis just over a week before that census date (on 23 March 1911).
The only other two children 'missing' from that 1911 census return (shown in the relevant 1901 return) were Charles and John Goodwin - but I can readily surmise that these chaps were them in 1911, working for a living in the nearby townlands of Tullyweel and Tattyreagh on the Fermanagh side of the county border:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Cross/Tullyweel/522395/
https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/tirkennedy/enniskillen/tullyweel/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Corralongford/Tattyreagh/522157/
https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/magherastephana/aghalurcher/tattyreagh/
So, it looks like 15 of the 17 children survived through to the 1920s onwards.
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There is a reasonable possibility that the following may be John and Sarah Goodwin's son Patrick Joseph born in 1899, it is a marriage between Patrick Goodwin and Bridget Caulfield, the groom's father recorded as John Goodwin, a farmer, it took place on 11 October 1920 at St. Mary's in Fivemiletown:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1920/09281/5360351.pdf
I can also see a transcript of a daughter born to this couple about 9 months later, the record confirms the father's full name as Patrick Joseph Goodwin and the address given as Cran, just west of Fivemiletown:
https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/magherastephana/aghalurcher/cran/
Edited later to add: I can see a Patrick Goodwin sailing to New York in 1927, his address was given as Cran, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone (the next ticket no. was for an Edward Caulfield from nearby Clabby Road, Fivemiletown), Patrick was then followed by his wife and children and they lived in Brooklyn.
In his petition for naturalization in 1934, he says that he was born in County Tyrone on 13 June 1899 - which is a day out from the birth of the son of that name born to John and Sarah (Lynch) Goodwin. He also says that he was married in 'Five milltown' on 11 November 1921 - which isn't too great a leap of faith from 11 October 1920, the date when Patrick Goodwin married Bridget Caulfield. So looking more likely that this was indeed the son of John and Sarah (Lynch) Goodwin who went on to marry Bridget Caulfield. In the petition for naturalization, he goes on to mention his wife Bridget and 4 children, 2 born in Ireland and 2 born in Brooklyn. I can see what I think are various other bits and bobs about him and the family on the 'Ancestry' website.
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It looks very likely that, like Patrick Joseph, another two of the Goodwin siblings left Ireland for America, both ending up in Providence, Rhode Island. The 'Ancestry' website has a lot of documentation to support this, and while some of the detail like dates and places of birth is occasionally awry, other detail is compelling and in the round, leaves little doubt that it is indeed them.
Firstly, James Goodwin born 29 December 1893, he sailed to New York on the Cameronia in 1914, the manifest shows him as a 20 year old single man, last residence Fivemiletown, nearest relative is his father John Goodwin, James is recorded as heading to Philadelphia to join his uncle Joseph Lynch. By the time of his declaration of intention to naturalise in 1919, he's living in Rumford, Rhode Island, although his stated birth place is correct (Co. Tyrone), his stated DOB isn't (out by 1 1/2 years), but the detail he provides on his emigration journey matches the 1914 sailing on the Cameronia - also, he calls himself James 'Arthur' Goodwin - I couldn't find any baptisms online for the children of John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch, maybe the registers are still held locally, but it might be the case that Arthur was a baptismal name. The 'FamilySearch' website has a 1921 passport application for James, together with a clear photograph. Unfortunately, the news isn't good for James, the Rhode Island Deaths and Burials collection on the 'FamilySearch' website shows that he died in his thirties in 1930 in Providence City Hospital, his parents recorded as John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch from Ireland, the informant was his wife Annie M. Goodwin and he was buried in Mount Saint Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. I found James and Annie in the 1925 Rhode Island State Census and the 1930 US Federal Census - no children that I can see.
Secondly, Esther Elizabeth Goodwin born 4 June 1903, she emigrated and married a Hugh Walsh, like her brother James Arthur she is often mentioned with another forename, in this case Esther 'Catherine' (maybe again a batismal name), Esther died in 1987 at Pawtucket and was buried in Swan Point cemetery (the 'Findagrave' website records her under 'Esther Cathrine Goodwin Walsh', but the name on the gravestone is 'Esther E Walsh'). The cemetery record states her parents as John & Sarah (Lynch) Goodwin. In her petition to naturalise in 1927 she calls herself Esther Catherine Walsh and says she was born on 4 June 1903 (spot on!) at 'Aughangauly, Tyrone, Ireland', which is clearly meant to be Aghingowly and isn't correct (she was born in neighbouring Edergole townland), but I think she can be forgiven for that. She goes on to say that she first arrived at New York in 1922 aboard the Assyria and that she married Hugh in Providence in 1924. By the time of the 1940 US Federal Census, I can see 3 sons and 4 daughters to this couple, so every chance of living descendants today.
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There was a death registered in April 1986 in Westminster district, London, for a Francis William Goodwin, date of birth reported as 31 July 1915, it could be a co-incidence but equally, given that combination of exact match on name and DOB, it has to be at least just a possibility for the son of John Goodwin and Sarah Lynch (birth posted at reply #4).
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I am the granddaughter of Esther Goodwin and I am responding to your post about the family. Esther did Mary Hugh Walsh in 1924. She lived her life in Rhode Island mostly in the town of Pawtucket. Her sons were John(RED), Alfred(Smitty), Raymond, Richard(Dickie), Dennis and Thomas who past a baby. Her daughters Margaret(Peggy) Kent, Lenora(Mary) Vadnias, Esther (Tessie) Powers Lane and Alice Farrands. All of her children, who all looked very much like her, have passed leaving 23 grandchildren and easily more than 100 great grandchildren. I am the youngest daughter of Alfred who passed when I was young. I lived around the corner from her and so I spent a great deal of time at her house drinking tea and talking with her about her family and life in Ireland. She always had time for me. a housefull of relatives and several cookie jars on the counter for the multitude of grandchildren who lived in her neighborhood. Without a doubt you could always find Peggy, Mary, Dennis, Dickie and Tessie with her. She was everything to me and I miss her to this day!
oh... and Catherine was a Confirmation name. I know her paperwork has both but I remember having this conversation with her at the time of my own Confirmation because I had to choose which of her names I was going to take.