The Finegan/Donahue Quest
This post is for the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture, 8th Edition. Genea-bloggers were asked to make a plan to further investigate the Irish side of our trees. It is part of a “Back to School” challenge that involves making a plan and then doing my homework for the school year regarding my Irish ancestors.
My school year is now planned out. I have chosen my two stumbling blocks. The Finegan/Donahue quest shall begin this month. I plan to research some aspect of these tree branches at least once a week for the duration of the school year. What will my final grade be? I’m such a Type A personality. I better not fail.
The Finegan side of my family belongs to my maternal side. My mother is Mary Margaret Finnegan and she is the eldest child of Michael Joseph Finnegan. Yes, I know the spelling is different. It’s not a typo. For some unknown reason, my great grandfather changed the spelling of Finegan to Finnegan once my grandfather was born.
So, onward we go. Michael was the eldest of Patrick Finegan. Patrick is my stumbling block on my mother’s side. I do have his ship record, census records, naturalization record, marriage record, and death certificate. My stumbling block is that I do not know where in Co. Monaghan that Patrick and the Finegan family originates. I scored a major victory with his ship and naturalization records. They both stated Co. Monaghan as his birth residence and last place of residence. I was unaware of that fact. So, my homework is to dig a little further into Co. Monaghan records to come up with his town. I do have the names of his parents thanks to the death certificate (Peter Finegan and Mary Boyle).
By far, my biggest challenge is my next bit of homework. The Donahue family link on my paternal side is a major headache for me. I hope to put at least a tiny dent into the brick wall. My problem stems from conflicting information. Margaret Donahue is my paternal great grandmother. I have her birth year down to a 9 year spread from 1870-1879. Her birth date changes continuously on her marriage certificate, my grandmother’s birth certificate, my great grandfather’s naturalization record and her death certificate. This woman and her family elude me.
Her death certificate states that her father was John Donahue. My great grandfather’s naturalization record states that she was from Co. Mayo but I question that fact. Why? He was in his seventies when he filed the paperwork and she had been dead for over 5 years. He couldn’t even recall her birth date on the record. So, I wonder if she truly was from Co. Mayo and that she came through New York when entering the states. It’s all I have to go on though so I cannot discount it. I will continue to search for a ship record, marriage record (1st), or a birth record for her.
Well, my homework is set. First, I must find the town where my Finegan’s came from in Co. Monaghan. Second, I must find any information I can on Margaret Donahue Maher Bench.
I do love genealogy and researching ancestors. However, when you put “homework” next to it, I feel like a kid again! Do I have too? LOL
