Tag: Irish Genealogy

Irish surname websites for genealogy

Irish surname websites for genealogy

Posted on by Jack

Sometimes you just get lucky.

Maybe someone has already done a good bit of work on your family but you don’t know it. Perhaps a third or fourth cousin you don’t know.

Or there might be some people searching the same surname who are not closely related but may have some advice for you. Sometimes these people with a wealth of information on your family have a website or sometimes someone with a website for your surname of interest be aware of someone searching the same surname.

One way to see if there is a webpage for people interested in your Irish surname is my webpage listing hundreds of links to websites for particular Irish surnames. Have a look at the links on my Irish surname page .

Another option is to use Google or some other search engine to find the names that interest you. Be creative in your search terms!

Wiliam Riedy (Ready or Reidy) from Rathkeale, Limerick to New York about 1880

Wiliam Riedy (Ready or Reidy) from Rathkeale, Limerick to New York about 1880

Posted on by Jack

William RIEDY of Rathkeale was born around 1861/1862 and emigrated to New York City about 1880. He married Mary O’BRIEN (ca 1863-1918). His parents were Edward or Edmund RIEDY and Mary SCANLAN (we think). Her parents were Patrick and Bridget O’BRIEN.

His last name is spelled Ready in some documents and Riedy in others. The spelling Reidy is also used quite frequently.

William became a US citizen on 8 Oct 1890 in the Superior Court of the City of New York. On December 24, 1895, he was injured in a blasting accident and died about a month later.

The 1852 Griffith’s valuation found Edward RIEDY on a 25.5 acre farm in Riddlestown (townland), civil parish of Doondonnell, Rathkeale, Co Limerick. The farm was leased from Gerald Blennerhassett. This farm may have been around TallyHo Lodge.

More details are on my website.

Irish genealogy and Registry of Deeds Index Project

Irish genealogy and Registry of Deeds Index Project

Posted on by Jack

If your ancestors may have owned or leased property in Ireland you may want to check out the Registry of Deeds Index Project. There are over 110,000 records indexed now and with more being added by volunteers. The index is searchable by name, location, and other ways. This is a wonderful resource for those of us with an interest in Irish genealogy.

Genealogygirl’s Weblog

Genealogygirl’s Weblog

Posted on by Jack

While reorganizing the site, I looked around and realized I hadn’t posted much on genealogy lately. But I have been updating my genealogy pages so I suppose I’m not a total slacker in genealogy.

But while I was looking for some updates for my Irish surname page, I ran across a new blog I had not seen before. GenealogyGirl’s Weblog has some interesting posts. She has Co Antrim and other roots in and out of Ireland.

She doesn’t seem to post often but when she does the posts could be well worth your time as she sometimes posts transcriptions which may not be of general interest but are a great find if it happens to be the area your ancestors came from. Check this blog now and then. You may find something merely interesting or something priceless.

Irish Genealogy Lectures

Irish Genealogy Lectures

Posted on by Jack

There are 2 interesting-sounding lectures on Irish Genealogy coming up. Here is the quote from the National Genealogical Society:

9 August 2009
Ottawa, Ontario – Everyone welcome to a Sunday afternoon of Irish heritage and genealogy starting at 1:30 pm. Two lectures by John Grenham, M.A., well known author and professional genealogist from Dublin, Ireland (www.Johngrenham.com). Topics: “Chasing Shadows: Irish Genealogy Online” and “Whatever you’re having yourself: Irish Census Substitutes.” Admission: $10/person at door. Free parking on site: Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa, Ontario (Canada’s capital). Sponsor: British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. Co-sponsors: Ottawa Branch/Ontario Genealogical Society; The Irish Society of the National Capital Region; Monterey Inn Resort & Conference Centre.
For more info, see www.bifhsgo.ca.

This a a quote from their blog at:

http://ngsgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/08/events-around-united-states-as-of.html

This would be a good blog to checkout upcoming events of interest.

The Proud History of the Reidy Clan

The Proud History of the Reidy Clan

Posted on by Jack

For those who missed it there was a short article on The Proud History of the Reidy Clan By Maeve Molloy in Irish America magazine a few months back. I must have been tired when I posted this last night since I forget the link ( http://www.irishabroad.com/irishworld/irishamericamag/decjan08/departments/TheProudHistoryOfReidy.asp ) as well as the tags. The article has a bit on name variants, history, and various well-known Reidys. Irish America magazine has much of interest online and it is worth looking around. This article happened to catch my attention. Happy reading!

Registry of Deeds Index Project

Registry of Deeds Index Project

Posted on by Jack

Those of us with ancestors from Ireland who may have owned or leased property should check out the Registry of Deeds Index Project. There are over 40,000 records indexed now and that number should grow. The index is searchable by name, location, and various other ways. So it is well worth a look if one of your interests is Irish Genealogy.

Great Book on Ellis Island

Great Book on Ellis Island

Posted on by Jack

I’m reading American Passage: The History of Ellis Island by Vincent J. Cannato. I am enjoying it. I guess I’m about half-way through. There is extensive discussion of the debates about admitting or excluding certain immigrants, changes in immigration law (and the degree of enforcement), and government officials at several levels.

In some cases these are illustrated by discussion of certain cases. For example, in 1912 Chaie Kaganowtiz (a Russian Jewish widow) and her 9 children were almost excluded. But given that milllions of our ancestors came though Ellis Island over about 3 decades, only a very small percentage can be mentioned in any book. By the way, a chapter is devoted to Castle Garden, the previous immigration station in New York.

I’m reading slowly and enjoying while I learn. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone with a interest in Ellis Island, genealogy, or immigration issues.

Limerick Ireland Archives Search

Limerick Ireland Archives Search

Posted on by Jack

A while back I mentioned that Limerick City has archives online at http://www.limerickcity.ie/Archives/.

In the upper right there is a search box that will search many of the records. And it is worth noting that at least some of the records seem to be county wide, not just the city. For example, my Reidys are from Rathkeale in Limerick County so if I do a search on Reidy AND Rathkeale, 12 records are found including my gggrandmother in the 1901 census householders index. I also saw several indices of newspaper notices and some scanned newspapers.

I haven’t installed the viewer needed to view the digital records but I suspect that will make this site even more interesting.

Reidy graves in Limerick, Ireland

Reidy graves in Limerick, Ireland

Posted on by Jack

A while back John Reidy Treworgy sent me some transcripts of Reidy graves in Limerick. I thought I would add them to the blog. The original post is at:
http://www.jackreidy.com/reidy/reidymisc.htm

Killeedy Cemetery (Saint Ida’s) in Limerick:

* Margaret Reidy 1888 – 1977 Glebe, Monagea and late of Glenquin. Mary Ready.

* Erected by Patrick Riedy in memory of his father Michael Riedy who died Oct. 23 1862 aged 67 years of his mother Elizabeth Riedy alias Lacy who died April 5 1870 aged 65 y of his brother John who died August 22 1862 age 36 years and of his sister Ellen.

* Erected by Mrs. Mary Reidy of Gardenfield in memory of her beloved husband Jeremiah Reidy who died Sept the 11th 1868 aged 68 years & also of her children her son William died June the 24th 1824 her daughter Bridget died August 15th 1852.

* In loving memory of William and Catherine Reidy, Ballinaha Ballingarry died 6 Dec 1962 and 20 Dec 1975 and their daughter Eileen d. 15 Dec 1991.

* Erected by George Reedy in memory of his father Jeremiah Reedy who died January 3rd 1827 aged 83 years also his sister Mary Pickley alias Reedy died Aug 1st 1816 aged 41 years.

Cloncagh Cemetery in Limerick:

* Erected by Catherine Reidy of Mundillihy in memory of her beloved husband James Reidy who departed life March 11th 1851 aged 58 years also her daughter Eileen who died Dec 1st 1859 aged 28 years.