Catholic Records, Migration

Co. Armagh, Ireland to Leeds Co., Ontario, Canada: Some RC Marriage Records

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Looking at a run of marriages recorded from 1852 to 1858 in the parish register for St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Westport, Leeds Co., Ontario, the Armagh presence in North Crosby (Co. Leeds, Ontario) is very much in evidence. Of the six marriages recorded for the year 1852, for example, five of the six identify either the bride or the groom (or both the bride and groom) with a native parish in Armagh. The most frequently cited Armagh parish is that of Forkhill.1

Many of the names below can be found in Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, A Famine Link: The ‘Hannah’ — South Armagh to Ontario (Mullaghbane Community Association, 2006). Some of the names can also be found in the township map of North Crosby (from  Leavitt, Thadeus W. H. History of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario [Brockville : Recorder Press, 1879]), available online via the Canadian County Atlas Digital Project (McGill University). Also see this Westport, Ontario, Canada page at Bytown or Bust.

I have only included marriages where one or both parties are identified with Co. Armagh. Other Irish counties cited in the marriage register for St. Edward’s, Westport (for the same period: 1852-1858) include Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Louth, Mayo, and Wexford.

In transcribing these marriage records, I have resisted the urge to “correct” the spelling. Note that the same priest, John Foley, uses three different spellings  (Mullebawn, Mullabawn, Mulibane) for what is presumably Mullaghbawn. The parish of “Creg” probably refers to Creggan, which is adjacent to Forkhill.

Some Marriages from the register of St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Westport, North Crosby township, Leeds Co., Ontario, 1852-1858

DateGroomSon of [Parents] of [Parish]BrideDaughter of [Parents] of [Parish]
DateGroomSon of [Parents] of [Parish]BrideDaughter of [Parents] of [Parish]
14 Jan 1852Henry BennettStephen Bennett and [first name omitted] Kelly of Parish of Creg Co. Armagh IrelandMary RyanAndrew Ryan and Mary Goughean of Drumantee Co. Armagh Ireland
20 Apr 1852John DonnellyPatrick Donnelly and Margaret Byrns of the Parish of Forkhill Co. Armagh IrelandMargaret ByrnsBrian Byrns and Bridget Trennor of the Parish of Dundalk Co. Louth Ireland
13 Jun 1852Felix BennettLaurence Bennett and Rose Bennett of the Parish of Mullebawn Co. Armagh IrelandBridget McCoyMatthew McCoy and Ellen Murphy of the Parish Mullabawn Co. Armagh Ireland
18 Jul 1852Michael McCoyMatthew McCoy and Alice Murphy of the Parish of Forkhill Co. Armagh IrelandMartha O'HereFrancis O'Here and Eliza Smyth of the Parish of Kileve Co. Armagh Ireland
24 Oct 1852Patrick FeganPatrick Fegan and Margaret McKuan of the Parish Lockgilly Co. Armagh IrelandAlice O'HereMich'l O'Here and Ellen MacGinnis Parish of Mulibane Co. Armagh Ireland
1 Feb 1853Peter CarberryBrian Carberry and Bridget McGreech of the Parish of Forkhill IrelandElizabeth McCannArthur McCann and Mary Quin of the same parish
18 Oct 1853John McCoyMatthew McCoy and Ellen Murphy of the Parish of Forkhill Co. Armagh IrelandRose GrantFrancis Grant and Ellen Murphy of the Parish of Forkhill County Armagh Ireland
15 Apr 1855Thomas Grennon, widower[parents not given]Catherine KellyBrian Kelly and Mary [Manion?] of the County Armagh Ireland
26 Apr 1855Patrick HeganJames Hegan and Bridget Boyle of the Parish of Dundalk Co. Lough IrelandBridget MulholmDaniel Mulholm and Mary Burns of the Parish of Fork Hill Co. Armagh
20 Aug 1855James MuckianPatrick Muckian and Bridget Troy of the Parish of Forkhill Co. Armagh IrelandMary Ann SwitherJames Swither and Mary Swither of the Parish of Rathkale Co Limerick Ireland
17 Sep 1855Edward Cunningham, widowerMichl Cunningham and Mary Fonner of the Parish of LoughgillenAnn MulholmJames Mulholm and Mary Burns of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh
7 Jan 1856John McGleadeMichael McGleade and Elizabeth Kennelly of the Parish of lower Killevy Co ArmaghBridget DunnOwen Dunn and Ann Rock of the Parish of lower Killevy Co Armagh
6 Aug 1856George CoburnThomas Coburn and Ann Lock of the Parish of ForkhillAnn McCannThomas McCann and Bridget Keckey of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh
26 Aug 1856Charles O'HereMichael O'Here and Ellen McGinnis of the Parish of Dumintee Co Armagh IrelandElizabeth AgnewHenry Agnew and Ann Murphy of the Parish of Cregan Co Armagh
2 Sep 1856Owen GrantFrancis Grant and Alice Murphy of the Parish of Forkhill Co ArmaghMary LeeLaurence Lee and Cathrine Bennett
25 Nov 1856Patrick Ryens, widower, of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh[parents not given]Tany Tanny, widow of the deceased Martin of Tyrone Ireland[parents not given]
12 Jan 1857Michael DonohuePatrick Donohue and Mary Toole of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh IrelandMary McCarrollBrian McCarroll and Bridget Burns of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh Ireland
10 Feb 1857Brian TrennorJames Trennor and Julia Murtah of the Parish of Crossmagin Co Armagh IrelandBridget SmithThomas Smith and Ann Murphy of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh Ireland
20 Apr 1857John WardJames Ward and Mary McKinley of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh IrelandMargaret RyansAndrew Ryans and Mary Loughran of the Parish of Forkhill
17 Nov 1857Michael CoburnThomas Coburn and Anne Lock of the Parish of Forkhill Co ArmaghEllenor LaurenceFrancis Laurence and Ann McCarroll of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh Ireland
12 Jan 1858Bartholomew MulholmDaniel Mulholm and Mary Burnes of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh IrelandCatherine MurphyJno Murphy and Mary McPartland of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh
14 Jan 1858Patrick HeganOwen Hegan and Cathrine Duffy of the Parish of Dundalk Co Louth IrelandAllice TrennorPatrick Trennor and Mary MacKever of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh Ireland
23 Nov 1858Daniel MuckianPatrick Muckian and Bridget Troy of the Parish of Forkhill Co Armagh IrelandMary LennonJames Lennon [mother not given] of North Crosby
26 Nov 1858James Murphy, widower[parents not given]Mary Conlan, widow of deceased Patrick Lennon of the County Armagh Ireland[parents not given]
  1. Note that Forkill/Forkhill is a civil parish. The corresponding Roman Catholic parish is that of Mullaghbawn. ↩
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Related entries:

  1. John McGlade and Bridget Dunne: same parish of origin?
  2. “the Catholic cemetery at Burgess” = St. Bridget’s, Stanleyville? (burial of Thomas Dunn)
  3. New Ireland-Canada Website

3 comments for “Co. Armagh, Ireland to Leeds Co., Ontario, Canada: Some RC Marriage Records”

  1. Owen Donnelly
    6 April 2012 at 9:08 pm

    Looking for any information on Owen Donnelly born in 1768 who married Margaret McCracken abt 1795. Looking for records of his brothers and sisters and parents if possible

  2. Lori
    6 April 2012 at 9:10 pm

    Lori is looking for info on Owen Donnelly

  3. M.C. Moran
    10 April 2012 at 10:24 pm

    I’m afraid I don’t have any info on an Owen Donnelly. Did he settle in Co. Leeds, Ontario?

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