James McDonnell

[ruchca]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone out there can help me even a little bit. I'm researching my Husband's tree. I am looking for his Great Grandfather, all we know is his name is James McDonnell[ various spellings] and he was born in Ireland in about 1830.
First we know of him is on the 1851 census, he is down as John McDowne age 21 born in Ireland. He is single and living in a lodging house in Cardiff with nearly all other Irish. This seems to fit except the name, which I think is a bad transcription error. The 1861 census finds him still in Cardiff different address, but same area, with a wife Johanna and a small family.1871 and 1881 censuses still in Cardiff now with a bigger Family, including Katherine/Kate [ husbands grandmother]. I am convinced I have the right family, My problem is I have no idea where in Ireland he came from or any siblings or parents. I'm stuck.  I'm wondering if anyone out there may have had relatives of that name coming to Cardiff around well about 1830-1851. Also would there 
 have been a lot of workers/labourers coming over at that time to Cardiff.

[agaff]

there was a lot of irish came to cardiff around that time due to the famine diaspora. That was the lot of some of my ancestors. My research tells me the cardiff docks were just built and there was work there. THe irish clustered around newtown. a lot of the history of the time is available on line and it is worth painstakingly gathering that information to put together a picture of the plight of the irish in cardiff at the time. chances are he went over alone and met his wife there. you could estimate the year of his marriage and do a search on free bmd where you might find the maiden name of his wife.

[ruchca]

Hi agaff, thanks for you reply. Yes the area on the census was marked Newtown.I have found a marriage to a Johanna, which fits in the time Name of Johanna Griffin from Cardiff 1854 and their 1st child was born 1854, it nearly all fits, but on the BMD records she was down as Honora. I wonder if this is another transcription error?  I also can't go back any further on her yet. I will look on internet all about Cardiff Docks, as you say there may be some info, why didn't I think of that? I thought Honora might be the Irish version of Johanna, but on census it said she was born in Cardiff, think I might have to buy their marriage cert.

[aghadowey]

Johanna(h), Hannah, Nora, Hannorah, etc. are often used interchangably in Ireland.

[agaff]

another idea is to work out what catholic church they would have attended, probly st davids, and see if their records are different to the ones held a GRO. THe local cemetery is cathays.