May family of Skerries

[may2491]

Thank you.  This has opened up a whole area I was not aware of.  I looked up privateering and there is much maritime history on the topic, including that of Loughshinny and Rush.  I have more to read in this area, especially in the 19th c.

[may2491]

I have a May ancestor from near Skerries - a little earlier that your dates though. My gtgtgt grandmother is a Margaret May. She married a Rooney in Skerries/Holmpatrick RC parish in 1841 and they raised their children in Piercetown townland, located between Skerries and Loughshinny

I've a possible baptism for Margaret in 1821 in Skerries parish with parents William May and Etty Archer, but have not traced any sibling or side branches yet..

Shane

I found a record of my Gt-Grandfather, Patrick, as a "boat owner" at "Cross-street and square" in an 1868 Thom's Directory.  This is the last record I have of him. 

In the same directory there are the following:
May, Michael, tavern keeper (Quay-street and Quay)
May, William, boat owner (Quay-street and Quay)
May, Michael, grocer (Strand-street, Great)

Would any of these "May" be of relation to you?  The reason I ask is I am trying to narrow down who they may be, including any relationship they may have to Patrick.  Thank you.

Tim

[may2491]

I have a May ancestor from near Skerries - a little earlier that your dates though. My gtgtgt grandmother is a Margaret May. She married a Rooney in Skerries/Holmpatrick RC parish in 1841 and they raised their children in Piercetown townland, located between Skerries and Loughshinny

I've a possible baptism for Margaret in 1821 in Skerries parish with parents William May and Etty Archer, but have not traced any sibling or side branches yet..

Shane

I have a 1823 baptism of a Patrick May, son of William May and "Easter Archard" who I suppose is probably Esther Archer.  Maybe Patrick and Margaret are siblings.

[shanew147]

I'll double check, but from memory my Mays lived in Piercetown townland to the south of Skerries about half way between Skerries and Loughshinny and sightly away from the coast. Most of the early records I have are RC parish records, so no occupations, but presume they were farmers based Tithe records and later details.




Shane

[may2491]

Thanks for the information about Mays living in Piercetown.

I have a 1868 record of an Andrew Rooney, farmer, living in Piercetown.  The same record has some Archer family members living in Skerries farmers and bakers.

[shanew147]

Andrew Rooney is my gtgtgt-grandfather, he married Margaret May in 1841 - that's my May connection.



S.

[shanew147]

If you look in the same '68 directory in the section for Rush and Lusk, which is just south of Skerries, you will see some more Mays, and Rooneys



S.

[may2491]

Thanks for the information on your Gt-Gt-Grandparents.  I notice on a newspaper website that Rooney is among the top ten surnames in Balrothery.  I will take a closer look at Rush and Lusk.

Tim

[may2491]

If Margaret's younger brother, Patrick (b 1823), is my Gt-Gt-Grandfather then that makes Margaret my 2nd Great Grand Aunt.
This may still be a possibility, especially since the family was from Skerries and the children baptized in the same parish.  I am still not ruling out either the Patrick of Balrothery (1819-1868) whose record you shared.

Tim

I have a May ancestor from near Skerries - a little earlier that your dates though. My gtgtgt grandmother is a Margaret May. She married a Rooney in Skerries/Holmpatrick RC parish in 1841 and they raised their children in Piercetown townland, located between Skerries and Loughshinny

I've a possible baptism for Margaret in 1821 in Skerries parish with parents William May and Etty Archer, but have not traced any sibling or side branches yet..



Shane