I have little experience trying to trace Irish ancestors, and the little experience I have has resulted in a sore head as a result of repeated contact with a brick wall. Now I’m trying to assist a cousin to trace his direct descendant and my ancestor by marriage. If anyone could point me in the right direction, we would appreciate it.
What we know:
Mary Ann (or Maryan or Maryanne) Mullen (or Mullan) married John Thompson (or Thomson) (1813-1906) in Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada on 08 Aug 1848. A John Mullen was a witness as was a Finley McGibbon. Husband John is of Irish descent, son of John & Jane.
The 1851 census data for Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec is missing, or we can't find it.
Mary Ann, John & children Elizabeth, John, Maryann, William, and Robert are fairly easily traced thru the Canada Census from 1861 onward. Most census data shows her as a Baptist, and born in Ireland although the 1861 census shows born in Lower Canada (Quebec). The family lived in Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec until they moved west to Abernethy, Saskatchewan in 1882/83. The 1901 census shows an immigration year of 1833 for Mary Ann.
Her tombstone identifies her as Maryan Mullen, 1830-1907.
What we think:
Her elderly grandson born 1906 told the family Mary Ann was the daughter of John Mullen and Elizabeth Shannon.
To complicate matters:
An 1851 Census of Scotland has worked its way into the research and may or may not be our John Mullan family. That census is for
And pertains to a John, Martha, Sarah, Mary Ann, Martha and John. This would be three years after Mary Ann’s marriage in Quebec so I doubt if it applies, but the Mullan family had intermarried with the McFadzen family from Ayr, Scotland, only about 50 km from Renfrewshire, so it is not inconceivable. These names and dates appear on various Ancestry trees but are not verified as far as I know.
As far as I can see, there are very few records of Irish immigrants to Canada before the mid-1800s, or passenger lists. On-line records for Ireland don’t seem to be a great deal of help, but perhaps I don’t know where to look. AND, I have no idea where in Ireland the family may have come from other than that husband John’s family MAY have come from County Cork.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
What we know:
Mary Ann (or Maryan or Maryanne) Mullen (or Mullan) married John Thompson (or Thomson) (1813-1906) in Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada on 08 Aug 1848. A John Mullen was a witness as was a Finley McGibbon. Husband John is of Irish descent, son of John & Jane.
The 1851 census data for Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec is missing, or we can't find it.
Mary Ann, John & children Elizabeth, John, Maryann, William, and Robert are fairly easily traced thru the Canada Census from 1861 onward. Most census data shows her as a Baptist, and born in Ireland although the 1861 census shows born in Lower Canada (Quebec). The family lived in Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec until they moved west to Abernethy, Saskatchewan in 1882/83. The 1901 census shows an immigration year of 1833 for Mary Ann.
Her tombstone identifies her as Maryan Mullen, 1830-1907.
What we think:
Her elderly grandson born 1906 told the family Mary Ann was the daughter of John Mullen and Elizabeth Shannon.
To complicate matters:
An 1851 Census of Scotland has worked its way into the research and may or may not be our John Mullan family. That census is for
Civil parish: | Houston and Killellan |
Town: | Crosslee |
County: | Renfrewshire |
Address: | Stevenson's Land |
As far as I can see, there are very few records of Irish immigrants to Canada before the mid-1800s, or passenger lists. On-line records for Ireland don’t seem to be a great deal of help, but perhaps I don’t know where to look. AND, I have no idea where in Ireland the family may have come from other than that husband John’s family MAY have come from County Cork.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
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