Guest Book
Welcome to the Finan Family Guestbook! Please reply to this post with a short introduction of yourself, where you are from and maybe a little bit about what your interest are in tracing the roots of your branch of the Finan family. Simply post a reply below.
Anyone wishing to view our old guest book, just click here. I am still in the process of transferring that information over to this new site. Please bear with me!
Please Note: I recently changed the settings so that new posts will appear at the TOP of the page, rather than at the bottom. It seems easier to navigate this way!
Finan Family History 
Hello, I’m Roisin Finan, and I recently relocated to New Haven, Connecticut from Roscommon, Ireland. My family roots trace back to Castlerea; my great grandfather, Patrick Finan, had three children: Martin (my grandad), Mary Kate, and Annie. I’m currently seeking job opportunities and would be thrilled to connect with any fellow Finans here in the US. Feel free to email me at roisinmfinan@gmail.com
I am hoping to find someone familiar with the Patrick Finan family line. According to the 1911 census, the family lived at 12 Moor, Castlerea, Roscommon. Patrick and Ellen would be my great-grands. In 1911 they still had 4 children at home and four older ones had already left the home. Three of them went to NYC – John, Florence( my paternal grandmother) and her sister Ellen. Florence arrived in 1910 and never left the isle of Manhattan. Ellen arrived soon after. My grandmother Florence married John J Dwyer in 1914 and she died young – 1939. Her husband worked for the Post Office. They lived in what was once referred to as the Vinegar Hill neighborhood of Manhattan 136th st Amsterdam Ave. Anything sound familiar. Love to hear from you.
I’m sorry, my family left Ireland before those dates.
Hello, all,
I’m a great-great-grandson of Catherine Finan, who was born in Ireland in 1815, or close to that year. My wife and I will be travelling to Ireland in August this year, and I am searching for my Finan roots. My DNA analysis from Ancestry.com says that some of my forebears originated in South Sligo/North Roscommon. Does anyone have any information about Catherine Finan? She had a daughter Mary (born in Ireland about 1851). They both emigrated to New York City. Sorry, I don’t know Catherine’s maiden name, or the first name of her husband.
Thank you!
Hello, Hal,
Do you know where Catharine went after arriving in New York? Did she and her husband end up in Youngstown, Ohio? I have ancestors Catharine and Parick Finan, but my information differs slightly from yours, for example the birthdate of daughter Mary.
I did ancestry.dna but I do not have data on region of Ireland but I’m fairly certain it is Sligo/Roscommon.
Sandy Ashton
My great grandmother Catherine was a Finan from Sligo. She was born in around 1854 and stayed in Sligo her whole life. Her mother was named Catherine and father Thomas. Are you on Gedmatch ?
Hi, Maureen,
I’m on gedmatch but don’t really use it. I don’t know the original surname of my Catharine Finan. She married Patrick Finan. They had a daughter born in Ireland and came to the US around 1850 and had more children here. You and I may have relatives going way back in Ireland and I really should get up to speed with gedmatch!
Sandy Ashton
Hello Sandra,
Thanks for your message. My great-great-grandmother Catherine Finan and her daughter Mary (my great-grandmother Mary Smith, maiden name Finan) stayed in New York City after they arrived. I’ve searched for them on rootsireland.ie. The website reported that there was a Mary Finan born to Patrick Finan and Catherine (maiden name O’Brien) in 1845 and a Mary Finan born to Patrick Finan and Catherine (maiden name O’Byrne) in 1854 and both were baptized in the Sligo Parish of the Catholic Church. Neither baptismal date fits with other information that I have about my great-grandmother Mary — she was likely born in 1850 or 1851. Could one of these families be your ancestors?
Hal
Hi, Hal,
I am fairly certain that my Mary Finan was born in 1847. Your research seems very thorough and I will re-examine my documentation in the near future, in light of your revelations. There are so many Patrick and Catharines!
Thank you,
Sandy Ashton
Hi Hal,
I posted a long and detailed answer to your query but for some very strange reason, it has disappeared from sight. I did see it at the top of the page afterwards but no longer there. Very strange!!!!!! Anyway, please contact me on cullenfamilyyokine@gmail.com and I can fill in all your gaps.
Hi Gerry,
I’ll contact you shortly on your gmail.
Thanks,
Hal
I am not a Finan, but a Fr. Patrick J. Finan was instrumental in my adoption to California in 1961-1962. I learned this from my birth mother, who was a member of his parish and spoke of him with great affection. I even have a picture of him from that time.
Does anyone recall him?
I have a connection to the Finan tree and was wondering if anyone has any more info that can add to my little branch. I say “little” as Finan is not my direct line, but nevertheless when going through some print-outs of civil marriage records I found the marriage of my great-great-grandparents Patrick Grogan (1797 – 23/11/1873) and CATHERINE FINAN (16/6/1816 – 27/2/1890) in the parish of Elphin, Kilkeevin, County Roscommon, Ireland. Catherine’s sister was a sponsor on the day and she was called ELEANOR FINAN. I had no proof up to this where Eleanor fitted into the family tree although I did have a note attached to her that her parents may be PETER FINAN (1780 – 1832) who was married to Anna Shaughnessy (1792 – 1867) from Kilkeevin, Castlerea. This branch of the family were firmly settled in Ireland during this period. Does anyone have any info that goes back that far or can add to, or fine tune any of the dates above? Just to give you the line of descend – From the above Patrick Grogan and Catherine Finan who lived in Behy, Castlerea, Roscommon; their son, Thomas Grogan married Winifred Creighton on 2/2/1889 in Loughglynn Church and their eldest daughter was my grandmother Mary Kate Grogan (28/11/1891 – 25/9/1983). I have no photographs of any of the later generations either and I would be most grateful if anyone can help me with any of the above names. Thank you in advance. My email address is cullenfamilyyokine@gmail.com for convenience if you prefer to make contact that way.
Good morning
My grandfather was James Finan from Ballymote, Sligo he was born in 1900 and died in 1972. There are a lot of Finans on my family tree.
My great-great grandfather came to the US and settled in Keene, NH. My great-grandfather settled in Concord, MA where my father’s family were raised. What’s nice is I’ve connected with Finan relatives in our family tree.
Hello, my great grandfather was Roderick J Finan. He came to the US from Liverpool in 1868, eventually settling in Waltham, MA. My grandfather and my father were both Waltham people Eventually we moved to Sudbury, MA. My father, Ernest T Finan jr was a MA state police officer. Early in his career he has based out the Concord police barracks near the prison.I always knew that there was a Finan family in Concord, but I never knew anything about them
Rod Finan
My great Uncles were the Concord police chief and Concord Fire Chief so basically the Finan’s ran the town. :*)
My great-great grandfather was Thomas Finan from Ireland who settled in Keene, NH. My great grandfather was James whose son Philip I’m named after. They settled in Concord, MA where my grandfather’s brothers were the police chief and fire chief. I have a family tree going back to Ireland showing as much family info as I could gather.
Hi Phil, it is good to hear from you again. I hope all is well with your family.
Tim
Hi Tim,
Been a long time. I’m in Tampa now. Hope all is well with your family and you enjoy the holidays. We need to meet up sometime.
Phil
Any idea where in Ireland ?
Also all Finans originate in Roscommon / Sligo area
David Finan
Hi David. Mine are from Sligo. I should have been clearer. My great grandma was a Finan. I was wondering where in Ireland the guy from MA/NH’s Finan’s were from since he advised he has a pretty good family history. My great great grandfather was also named Thomas. Thanks David !
My 2x great grandmother was Sarah Ann Finan/Finnan 16yrs…from Tipperary on her marriage certificate..Parents John Finnan and Mary Shay/Shea..she married in Geelong Australia to James Breed my 2x great grandfather from the British Army in 1857 and had 2 children…He served in the NZ Wars as well so she then came over with the children….He went back to Essex in 1864/5 to demob and never came back..She remarried to James Rogers from the same 40th of foot Regiment.No divorce is noted from both parties as the 1st James remarried too
What my query is that I have never been able to find a birth or passenger list for her as an orphan maybe or a convict as to why she was in Australia at a young age
My thought she was working in the army barracks when she met him…
Maybe she changed her name..I have a marriage for her parents in Cashel Elmy.. 1832..but whether it’s the right people…
Would be grateful for any help..
I am Cora Finan, Granddaughter of James Lee Finan, known as Jim; originally from Detroit (I do believe). I know of a few family members living elsewhere, but wanted to see how unique my last name is and find the genealogy.
Hi i was wondering if you had any information on Teresa Finan born 27 of Janurary 1942 her adopted mother was winniferd Finan of Easky
I am trying to trace the Finan side of my family. All I know is that my great grandfather, John Joseph Finan, was born Sept 1865 (I believe) in Co Sligo, Ireland, and came to the US in 1886 or 1887. He married Bridget Delia Marren in 1895, who also was born in Co. Sligo on 3/2/1866. John died in Providence, RI in 1911. I’ve been told his parents were Michael Finan and Hanorah, or Honora Finan. I believe Honora’s maiden name was Bree. I would love any additional information anyone has on this branch of the Finan family.
Pat Flynn Hustus
My great, great, grandfather was James Finan born c1831 in Sligo (but could have been Roscommon) died in 1880 in UK. Until recently I believed his father may have been called Peter, but a recent post from a My Ancestry member has named his as Michael, who I believe could be your Michael.
Greetings. I am Kelley Finan, from Akron. Ohio, now living in Columbus, Ohio. Grandfather was Charles Albert from Pennsylvania, great grandparents were Daniel Finan and Anna Lee. great great grandparents were James Finan and Mary Brown (?). (Mary Brown was written on Daniel’s death certificate as the mother, but that doesn’t seem too Irish so would love to verify her real last name.). Anyway, looks like James was married twice – First to Mary Brown then to Mary Hession (Eshion). My ancestor was born to Mary Brown so I don’t care too much about the Hession (Eshion) family. Here’s where I am stumped: I am trying to verify the parents of my GGG James, who was born 1831 in Sligo or Roscommon. One tree says Peter, born 1812, was his father. Another tree says Michael, born 1800, was his father. Can anyone from this line or otherwise knowledgeable help me? This whole line moved to England in 1850s-60s. Thanks so much for any light shed. It would have been o helpful had they not all been named the same 10 names!!!!
We are definitely related. James appeared to have had 3 children by his first wife in Ireland before moving to England. His first wife’s name has always been a mystery to me. My line goes back to his first wife, where Peter (my great grandfather) was one of the 3 children. He moved to England at the same time as his father James. Peter’s son Walter was my grandfather (died before I was born). So our common ancestors were James Finan and his first wife.
I’ve always assumed he was widowed in Ireland, as his 2nd marriage to Mary Hession in England (York RC Cathedral) was soon after arriving in England.
Yes it can be very frustrating when so few names were used!
David Finan
Wow David, indeed we must be related. I came upon the name Mary Brown on Daniel Finan’s US death certificate, which my grandfather Charles Albert actually signed. Anyway, this cert lists James as Daniel’s father and Mary Brown as his mother. I assume they just didn’t bother to ask or check the spelling, co could be Byrne, Burns, many variations. Thanks for your response! I will keep digging on Mary’s last name as well as whether James’s father was Peter or Michael.
Hello Pat,
Your great-grandfather was born John Finan on 20 October, 1866 in Glennagoolagh Townland, Ballysadare Civil Parish, County Sligp. Some of his siblings were: Michael Finan, born 17 Sept, 1868, Bridget Finan, born 04 Sept, 1874, and James Finan, born 06 Sept, 1876. During the 1860-1915 period there were two Finan families living in the 233 acres of Glennagoolah Townland. They would surely be related, but more research would be necessary to determine just how (brothers, cousins, father-son, etc.)
I found three Bridget Marren births in 1865-1866 in County Sligo. One of the three was born on 02 March 1865, and that is the birthday that Bridget/Delia gave on her 1935 Rhode Island State Census form, so I believe that is the right one. She was actually born 02 March, 1865 in Glen Townland, County Sligo. In that 1935 Rhode Island Census, she gave a DOB of 02 March, 1866, shaving one year off her age. There were four townlands named Glen in County Sligo, and I do not know which of the four was hers.
John emigrated to America in the 1880s, and the Finans remaining in Glennagoolagh are listed in the 1901 and 1911 Censuses of Ireland. John’s father, Michael Finan, died in Glennagoolagh on 12 Jan, 1915, his age given as 76. His wife, Honor Marren Finan, died on Christmas Day, 1915. Her son, Michael, reported the death. Her age was also given as 76.
I received your email, and I will forward all the documents to you that support the statements in this posting.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
Hello, I am looking for information onto Peter Finan family. Peter was born about 1820 in Corsallagh, Tobercurry, Sligo, Ireland. He married Margaret Sweeney born about 1822, also in Sligo. They were married about 1843 and had the following children: Margaret born 1844, Mary A born 1848, James A born1850, Edward born 1852, Ellen J born 1854, and John J born 1863. The family immigrated to the US between 1865-1870. They settled in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hi, I am trying to trace my Finan ancestors. My great grandmother was born Hanora Finan. She married Michael Flattery of Rathmore Tulsk in Kilmurray Castlerea. Her father was Patrick Finan and she lived in Carrabane ( also known as Carrowbaun). My grandad Stephen Flattery inherited Hanora’s brother John’s farm in Carrowbaun. She died 09 June 1945 and is buried in Tulsk. Trying to trace her mother and other siblings.
There are other Finan’s in my family tree Thomas M Finnin son of Patrick Finnin and Margaret Early(parent details on his death cert 1916) who married Mary Anne Flattery in 1889 in San Antonio Bexar Texas. Any information gratefully accepted
Davina Flattery
Hello Davina,
I found your Honoria Finan’s marriage to Michael Flattery on 25 Feb, 1884
in the church at Kilmurry. She gave her age as 20, but I could not find
her birth in the Civil Registration records for 1864. (I suspect that she
was a year or so older).
Government Civil Registrations began 01 Jan, 1864, and if Honoria was born
before that the only place to find a record of her birth is a Catholic
baptismal register. For her baptism I first checked the Kilkeevin
(now called Castlerea) Catholic Parish Baptismal Register, but I could not
find her birth there. The only Honoria Finan birth that I found there
occurred in 1856 in Cloonfower Townland. That Honoria died in St. Louis,
Missouri in 1945.
The Kilmurry Baptismal Register begins on 15 Jan, 1865, and I did find
a baptism of one Honoria Finan on 10 Feb, 1865 (born 01 Feb), whose parents
were Patrick Finan and Bridget Beaty. They lived in the Townland of Corlis.
The birth was registered in the Civil Registration on 10 Feb, and it was unnamed.
The mother’s maiden name was spelled Betagh in the Civil Registration record.
Because of the proximity of all the locations, I suspect that Honoria may
have been connected to the Finans in the townlands of Lisalway and Rusheen.
However, I could not find any documentation to establish it.
I downloaded Honoria’s 1884 marriage registration, and the marriage registration
of her brother John in 1898 to Margaret Gill. I also obtained the Kilmurry baptism
of the Honoria born in Corlis in 01 Feb, 1865. I also downloaded the 1901 and 1911
Census pages of John and Margaret Finan in Carrowbaun. I cannot upload them to this
website, but I will attach and email them to you if you send me an email to:
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
Thank you for all the information.
My email is davinawarren2@yahoo.co.uk
Even though my fathers homeplace( formally John Finan’s farm) is strictly Carrowbaun it was always known as Corlis.
I posted a piece about my Finan forebears on the old website back in 2015. That piece seems to have disappeared from the updated site, and as I’ve a few bits to add to the story, I thought I’d revise it and post it again.
My paternal grandmother Teresa Finan was born October 27 1872 in Birmingham (UK). My father told me that her family came to Birmingham from Castlerea, Roscommon because of the famine. Her birth certificate gives her parents as James Finan, labourer, and Catherine, nee Fleming. I believe James and Catherine arrived in Birmingham in about 1851-2 along with her father John and her sister and brother Mary and Patrick.
UK censuses started in 1841 and occur every 10 years. The family do not appear on the 1841 or 1851 censuses, and the earliest UK record is of the marriage of James and Catherine at St Chad’s RC Cathedral in Birmingham January 11 1852. The marriage certificate gives his father as Martin Finan, nailor, and her father as John Fleming, labourer.
According to later UK censuses, my great grandfather, James Finan, was born in Co Roscommon in about 1828. He died in about 1892 having worked as a glassmaker and a bricklayer in Birmingham. There is a baptismal record for Martin Finon (sic) in the parish of Castlerea October 21 1805 who may be my great great grandfather, his parents given as Patrick Finon and Anne Horan.
My grandmother Teresa had five older siblings, Catherine (b1855), Thomas (b1858), Mary-Ann (b1860), John (b1864) and Margaret (b1869); between the six of them they only managed three offspring, and Teresa’s line of descent is the only remaining one!
The censuses show that the Fleming family including Catherine’s father, brother and sister who all lived in Birmingham close to James and Catherine also originated from Roscommon. The census returns unfortunately only give the county of birth (Roscommon) for all these people, except for 1911 which specifies Castlerea as the birth place of Catherine’s brother Patrick Fleming, the last survivor of that generation.
There are some other Finans in my story but I don’t know exactly how they relate to my direct ancestors, and I haven’t fully researched them. My grandmother’s sister Catherine Finan (b1855) married Thomas Cooney and they lived mostly in Birmingham and for a while in the 1870s in Kettering. In 1871 Thomas Cooney is living with his parents David and Ann (nee King) and in their household are nephews Thomas Finan (b1850) and John Finan (b1861) and niece Margaret Finan (b1859). It turns out they are the children of John and Winifred Finan (nee King) and I believe Winifred and Ann Cooney to have been sisters. I don’t know any more about John Finan senior but he could well be the brother of my great grandfather James. Thomas (1850) married Lucy Serjeant in Kettering and in 1881 they are in Birmingham with a baby daughter (Lucy) and Thomas’s brother and sister.
Wow great history! As far as I know, my Finan’s are from Sligo but I definitely have DNA hits from other areas. Have you done DNA ?
No DNA so far Maureen but thinking about it!
Hello Rod,
Chances are that your ancestors were not from the Town of Castlerea.
They were probably from one of the townlands in the countryside around
the town. When asked where in Ireland they were from, the rural Irish
often gave the name of the town nearest the farm where they were raised.
Castlerea is also the name today of the Catholic parish of the area.
Its name in the nineteenth century was Kilkeevin Catholic Parish.
During the nineteenth century there were some five dozen Finan families
living within 10-15 miles of the Town of Castlerea (including my own).
I have been researching those families for more than 30 years now.
I am aware of one particular Finan family in that area who were sawyers
and nailors (carpenters) in the later records. That family lived in the
Townland of Brenabeg, which is located some 3-5 miles or so northwest
of Castlerea Town. That family has descendants today in the U.S. States
of New Hampshire, New York and possibly in other states. I did not know
that they were in the U.K. also, but it is logical.
Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland was done in County Roscommon in 1857, and
there was a 146 acre landholding in Brenabeg Townland shared by James Finan,
Michael Finan, Dominick Phillips, and Patrick Phillips, with four houses
on the landholding. There were also 13 Fleming families living in Kilkeevin
Civil Parish at that time. It is only a guess, but this would be my guess as
to your family’s origin.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
Thanks Tom
My mother was raised in an orphanage in Athlone but according to her Baptismal Cert was Catherine Finan from Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon and father was Michael McDermott. She was born in 1912 and later married John Cassidy.
My name is Philomena O’Neill (new Cassidy) and would love to find more information particularly on the Finan family.
Hello Philomena,
I will try to help you if you can give me some more information.
If her father was Michael McDermott, why was she baptised
Catherine Finan? Since you have the cert, was the baptism
in Loughglynn Catholic Parish in 1912, what was the date
and who were the sponsors?
About when and where did she marry John Cassidy, and was it
as Catherine Finan or Catherine McDermott?
I can tell you that there was a large Finan family in Athlone in the
early 1900’s. They had originated in Brenamore Townland which
is in Loughglynn Civil Parish.
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Hi Tom,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I’m afraid, having read back over my initial message, I didn’t give you accurate information.
My mother was Mary Kate McDermott and her parents, according to her marriage certificate, were Michael McDermott and Catherine Finan (Loughglynn). I do not have her Birth Certificate but I believe she was born in 1912 and was raised in the orphanage run by the Sisters of Mercy at Summerhill, Athlone.
As you discovered she married John Cassidy in 1942.
I am particularly interested to know if Catherine Finan had any siblings or if she gave birth to any more children.
Any information you can provide would be appreciated.
Thanking you
Phil O’Neill (nee Cassidy)
Hello Philomena,
Thank you for the additional information. I have now been able to find documents
and put together what I think is the story of your Mary Kate McDermott. Things do
not fit together perfectly, so you will have to judge for yourself…
Since she was born in 1912 I went looking for her government birth
registration. I only found one Mary Kate McDermott born in 1912.
She was born 01 September, 1912 in Kilrudane Townland in the
Civil Parish of Tibohine. Kilrudane (proper spelling is Kilroddan)
is also located in the Catholic Parish of Loughglynn. The father’s
name is left blank, and the mother is Mary McDermott. Mary
McDermott’s occupation is listed as a domestic servant, meaning
that she was not living at home with her parents when she gave birth
I then looked in the 1911 Census of Ireland for McDermotts living in
Kilroddan. I found Michael McDermott, age 68, and his wife. Catherine
McDermott, age 67, living alone.
I then went back and tried to find their marriage. I found the marriage of
Michael McDermott of Kilrudane and Catherine Finan of Cloonfower
Townland on 12 March, 1877. On the marriage registration Catherine’s
father is John Finan of Cloonfower. I have done work on the Cloonfower
Finans in the past, and John was one of a number of brothers who had
landholdings in Cloonfower at the time. He is one that I had not done
family history research on, and your story is a help to me.
At this point, keep in mind that Catherine Finan McDermott would be
69 years old when Mary Kate was born in 1912. Something is amiss here.
I then looked in Kilroddan 10 years earlier, in the 1901 Census, and I
found Michael and Catherine, and their children, Michael, age 10,
Catherine, age 9, and Margaret, age 7 in that census. Again, Catherine
Finan McDermott would have been very old to have had those children.
However, in 1912 their son, Michael, would have been age 21, and I suspect
that he got Mary pregnant out of wedlock. She had the baby, and it was put
into an institution.
That is as far as I have taken the research. I do not know who the mystery
Mary McDermott, mother of Mary Kate, was. As I said earlier, things do
not fit together well.
I have downloaded all the documents mentioned in this posting so you can
make your own judgement. You can email me at ntvoyles@netzero.net
and I will send them to you as email attachments.
I am sorry that the story is so confused.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
Hello Philomena,
I have found a marriage at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Athlone
on 01 November, 1942 between John Cassidy and Mary Kate McDermott.
John was a soldier at the time. Does any of this sound familiar?
Tom Voyles
Hello
My name is Neil David Finan I was born in 1954
My father was Stanley Noel Finan (do not know his date or place of birth)
How can I proceed with my family tree?
Any help would be very much appreciated
Best regards Neil
Where were you born Neil, and have you done DNA ?
Hi Maureen
Was born in Stoke-on-Trent England
Regards Neil
Have done 123&me but no luck
Hi Neil. There are several on Gedmatch. You can upload there for free. Give it a shot, and down the line I would suggest trying Ancestry as well. They are the largest database !
Hello Neil,
I had a look around online and learned a few things about Stanley Noel Finan.
The UK Civil Registration of Births Index indicates that he was born in the first
quarter of 1928 in the Stoke on Trent Registration District, and that his mother’s
maiden name was Piggott. You can get his birth registration (Google it), but
you need to know: his name, the year and quarter of his birth, the registration district
(Stoke on Trent), the volume number that his birth is recorded in (6d), and
the page number of his registration (322).
According to his military records, on 17 Jan, 1946 he enlisted in the General Service
Corps of the Royal Artillery. His service number was: 14115760. The latest entry in
his record was 15 March, 1948.
According to the UK Civil Registration of Marriages Index, he was married during
the first quarter of 1952 to Doris Dudley in the Stoke Registration District. You
can get his marriage registration by knowing the same things as his birth (above).
His marriage is registered on page1601 of volume 9b of 1952 first quarter marriages.
According to the UK Electoral Registers 2003-2010, his address at that time was:
5, Lymevale Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Send me an email if you need more: ntvoyles@netzero.net
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
Dear Tom
Thank you so much for your help
It really is very kind of you
Are you able to find details of his father and grandad?
Best regards Neil
Neil,
I assume that you do not know the name of the father of Stanley Noel Finan, and we need
that to go any further. It should be on Stanley’ s 1928 birth registration which you can order at:
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
I have emailed to you the documents that I referred to in my post yesterday.
Tom Voyles
Hello Tom,
I am seeking information about my great-great grandfather, John Finan. He was reportedly born in December 1865 in Ireland, but I don’t have further details. He married Catherine O’Connor, born in June 1871, in Taylor, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They had a son, James J Finan, born on 2 November 1890 in Scranton, PA (died 9 Sept 1972, in Scranton). Do you happen to know where John Finan, who emigrated to Scranton, PA, might have been born in Ireland, Dec 1865?
Thanks for your research and best wishes,
Tina
Hi all, I’m David Finan in the UK. Father is Albert Finan, who was son of Walter Finan born 1871, who is son of Peter Finan born 1852 in Sligo Ireland, who was son of James Finan born 1831 in Sligo and died 1880 in Co. Durham UK. I believe James father was called Peter who may have been born in 1812.
James and Peter may have arrive together in the UK. Both were widowed several times, had a large number of children. Some name repeat a lot i.e. Peter/James/John/ Mary etc.
I started to build a family tree a few years ago but didn’t complete the job, I have very recently restarted.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
David
Hi Tina, not sure about your John particularly. But I descend from both Finan’s and O’Connor’s. I wondered if your Catherine’s father may have come from Sligo as well? Any idea? There were some Sligo OConnor’s from Carbondale, PA Have you done DNA? Regards, Maureen
Hello Maureen and thank you for the reply. I don’t have much information, actually, only the following:
James J Finan (my great-grandfather)
Birth: 2 Nov 1890 in Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 9 Sep 1972 in Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA
Father: John Finan (my great-great-grandfather): Birth: Dec 1865 in Ireland. Death: in , Lackawanna or Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA (unconfirmed)
Mother: Catherine O’Connor (my great-great-grandmother): Birth: Jun 1871 in Taylor, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA. Death: Before Nov 1930
James J Finan married: Julia Margaret Haggerty (my great-grandmother) on 15 Jun 1915 at Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA.
Julia Margaret Haggerty: Birth: 22 Jul 1898 in Dunmore, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA. Death: 11 Jan 1961 in Dunmore, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA
My grandmother, Catherine Clare Finan, born 27 Aug 1917 in Scranton, PA, was one of their 4 children.
I have not yet completed a DNA test but I am in the process of using 23andme. Best wishes, Tina
Ancestry is the best DNA company, they have the largest membership by far and give you a better chance of finding a match. I have tested with both plus My Heritage and Family Tree.
Hello Tina,
Sorry about the delay in commenting. Tracing your family took a bit of work.
I have collected some information on your John Finan. On his 1900 U.S. Census page
he said that he was born in Ireland in December, 1865. I will come back to that later.
On that census he also said that he came to the U.S. in 1880. On his 1910 return he said
that he came to the U.S. in 1877. On his 1920 return he said that he was born in
Pennsylvania, so his year of arrival is blank. This kind of thing is why I don’t
know how confident we can be in the Dec, 1865 date of birth
John married Catherine Connors about 1890 and they had their first child, James,
on 02 Nov, 1890 according to your information. On the 1900 Census they said that
James was born in November, 1891. According to that census they went on to have
Patrick in Jan, 1894, Catherine in Oct, 1896, and Mary in Jan, 1898.
By the 1910 Census they had added Alice about 1904, John about 1905, and Joseph
about 1907. I also found a birth certificate for Annie Finan on 19 Dec, 1907,
and a death certificate for an infant female on 20 Dec, 1907. I guess that it
is possible that she was a twin of Joseph.
The death certificate of Catherine Connors Finan says that she died from pulmonary
tuberculosis on 08 January, 1912. It also says that her father was James Connors,
born in Ireland, and that her mother was born in Ireland, but her maiden name was
unknown. The information was provided by her husband, John. Catherine was buried
in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. The newspaper announcement said that she was age 48.
John never remarried, and the last document that I found for John was his 1940 Census
listing. At that time he was age 65 and living in Dunmore with his daughter, Alice,
and her husband, Joseph Barris, a mechanic with the D.L.and W. Railroad.
Now for the origin of your John Finan in Ireland: government registration of births,
marriages, and deaths in Ireland began 01 January, 1864. If John didn’t shave some
years off his age, then he should be listed. I found 6 John Finan births in 1864,
2 in 1865, 3 in 1866, 1 in 1867, 1 in 1868, and 1 in 1869. Of the 14 births, 6 were
in County Sligo, 7 were in County Roscommon, and 1 was in County Galway. Of the two
1865 John Finans, one was born in July, 1865 and the other in October, 1865. However,
in going through my records I found an unnamed baby born 16 Dec, 1865. The baby was
baptised on 24 Dec, 1865 in Castlerea Catholic Parish as John Finan. His parents were
Patrick Finan and Bridget Kilduff, and they lived in Cloonree Townland, which is in the
vicinity of the towns of Castlerea and Loughglynn in County Roscommon.
The way to confirm if this is your John Finan is to get his death certificate and hope
that his parents’ names are on it. He was age 65 on the 1940 Census, and he should have
died by 1965 (age 100).
If you would like to have all the documents that I collected, send me an email to
ntvoyles@netzero.net and I will attach them to a return email.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
As an aside here. I have traced a few O’Connors to this area from Sligo. And my line is Oconnor/Taylor but my great grandmother was a Finan. So if DNA was done I would love to check it against mine. Regards Maurern
My name is David Finan born 1946 in Newcastle upon Tyne England. My great grandfather was Peter Finan born 1852 in Sligo.. Moved to Selby in Yorkshire, England (already a Finan living there). Married and had a son Walter (my grandfather). Walter moved to Station Town/Wingate in Co.Durham. Walter had several children including Albert Finan, my father. Any information on Peter Finan would be greatly appreciated.
I descend through my 2nd gg Peter Finan b 1828, Catherine his daughter b 1854. I wonder if she and your Peter were siblings? Have you done DNA ?
Thanks,
Maureen
Thank you Maureen
I’m just starting out. I’ve ordered a DNA kit. So early days for me.
Awesome. Ancestry DNA is the largest database. 23 & Me is second. Once results are in you can download your raw DNA and upload it to other sites. Gedmatch is free, and FTdna are My Heritage charge a small fee for the mstching/tools. 20 or 30 US. You have to take both Ancestry and 23 & Me though because they wont allow uploads to their sites.
Hello David , my father is called Peter Finan , his grandmother was Walters sister Catherine she gave birth to Michael Finan my Grandfather “out of wedlock” and then went on to marry a man called Parker and gave birth to another son alas Catherine died and both boys were raised by their extended family. I do have more history and dates but would need time to source them for you , My name is Pat Fenton , Finan being my maiden name .
Hello Pat
You are the only one who has commented / supplied information. I’d be fascinated to learn more of the family line. I know virtually nothing of the lives they had. There is great secrecy of the life of Walters eldest daughter who went into ‘service’ to a household in Leeds as a 13/14 year old and returned home pregnant soon after. I’d appreciate anything you are able to tell me.
Kind regards
David
Hi Pat
I’d love to learn more. I know virtually nothing of the lives they had.
Kind regards
David
Hello David,
As you’ve already researched, Peter Finan was born in 1852 in Sligo. Peter moved to England and married Ruth (no surname known) from Selby, Yorkshire. Ruth must have had Irish origin as my father’s DNA is 100% Irish (recently sent off via a DNA kit.)
The 1881 census has the family dwelling as Seymour Street, Wingate, County Durham. The census record has the family as – Peter Finan, age 29, origin- Sligo Ireland, occupation- colly horse keeper. Ruth Finan, age 26, origin – Selby, Yorkshire. Children – Walter Finan, age 9, born in Selby, Anney Finan, age 5, born in Cassop, County Durham, Catherine Finan (my great grandmother), age 2, born in Wingate, County Durham and Maria, age 1 born in Wingate. John Finny is down as boarding with the family.
The 1891 census has “our” Finan family living in Brewery square, Wingate. Ruth died 08/03/1890 aged 37. Peter remarried with Maria El Robson in 1894.
Anney Finan married Arthur Mullen and had children – Arthur and Ruth. We know nothing else of her life.
Maria married a man with the surname Bartley (unsure of first name) and had a son called Patrick Bartley, who we understand became an MP for Chester-le-Street.
As I’ve mentioned previously, Catherine gave birth to my grandfather out of wedlock – Michael Finan. Catherine then went on to marry James Parker in 1899. She gave birth to William Alfred Parker in 1901. The Parker family moved to Wheatley Hill, County Durham. Catherine died in 1904, age 25. Following Catherine’s death, my grandfather returned to live with his maternal grandfather, Peter Finan. I have no knowledge of what happened to William, or who raised him following Catherine’s death.
My grandfather continued to reside with the Finan family in Brewery Square. He served in the navy in the First World War. Following the war, he then moved to Murton, County Durham to work at the colliery and boarded with a family where he met and married my grandmother, Anne Loftus. They had three children- Ellen (Nellie) Peter (my father) and Bernard. Unfortunately Michael died aged 39, leaving Anne a widow with three children. She moved in with her bachelor brother and spinster sister who continued to support her in raising the family.
My father, Peter is still alive at the grand age of 93 and his brother Bernard is also still alive and is a Roman Catholic priest. Unfortunately, Nellie died a few years ago.
This is all information I’ve gleamed from the internet and the family. I hope it is of some use to you in your own research. I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated with any new discoveries.
kindest regards,
Pat
Many many thanks Pat
Some of what you have told me I was aware of, but most was not. I’ll certainly add it all to my file.
Best regards
David Finan
email: david@davidfinan.co.uk
Good morning
My paternal grandfather was James Finan born 1900 and passed away 1972. He lived in Cardigans Upper, Ballymote, I would love to know more about him and descendants. My mum was Nora Finan 1940 to 2020.
Thanks Fran
Hello Fran,
The majority of 19th century Irish Finans lived in County Roscommon
and County Sligo. I specialize in Roscommon Finan records, but I have
tried to look at Sligo records for you. I hope that I have researched
the correct Finan family.
I went by your year of birth for your grandfather, James Finan, being 1900.
The closest one that I found was a James Finan born 04 Jan, 1901, and
I researched his family. He was born on 04 January, 1901 in the 185 acre
Townland of Belragh (sometimes spelled Belra) in the Civil Parish of Achrony
in County Sligo. His parents were Patt Finan and Honoria Bradley.
While I was at it I gathered the family as follows:
Patt Finan and Honoria Bradley were married on 20 July, 1899
in the Catholic Chapel of Rockfield, Killorgan. The father
of Patt Finan was James Finan of Belra. The father of Honoria
Bradley was Patt Bradley of Canagh Townland (which I cannot locate
in the townland database. It is probably spelled differently there).
Their children (the ones that I found):
1. James Finan born 04 Jan, 1901. He died on 16 Sept, 1902 of influenza.
2. Mary Kate Finan born 16 Feb, 1902.
3. Patrick Finan born 17 March, 1903.
4. Norah Finan born 17 April, 1904. She must have died before 1912, but I didn’t find it.
5. James Finan born 26 Oct, 1905
6. Robert Finan born 05 Dec, 1906.
7. Annie Finan born 26 June, 1908. She died on 10 Sept, 1908 of whooping cough.
8. Michael Finan born 26 Aug, 1910.
9. Norah Finan born 08 Sept, 1912.
The family is listed in Belra in the 1901 Census of Ireland as follows:
Patrick Finan, head, age 37
Nora Finan, wife, age 28
James Finan, son, age 2
In the 1911 Census the family is listed in Belra as follows:
Pak Finan, head, age 49
Norah Finan, wife, age 41
Mary Kate Finan, daughter, age 9
Patrick Finan, son, age 7
James Finan, son, age 5
Robert Finan, son, age 4
Michael Finan, son, age 7 months
Griffith’s Valuation was done in County Sligo in 1858.
Landholding number 3 in Belra Townland lists Mary Finan
with a house and 15 acres. I assume that she was a widow,
possibly of James Finan (your grandfather’s grandfather).
The mother, Nora Bradley Finan, died in Belra on 08 January, 1944
of stomach cancer. She was 70 years old (take that with a grain
of salt), and her death was reported by her son, James Finan.
Two months later the father, Patt Finan, died in Belra on
08 March, 1944 of myocardial degeneration. He was a widower,
age 74 (grain of salt), and his death was reported by his
son, James Finan.
I then found the marriage of James Finan and Norah Gorman
on 26 April, 1931 in the RC Church of Ballymote. James lived
on Mill St. in Ballymote, and his father was Patrick Finan.
Norah was from Cloonagashel Townland, and her father was
Michael Gorman.
The birth registrations of their children are not available,
but I found possible children of theirs in the births index.
The index is done quarterly and that is the best precision
possible. These are Finan births to a mother named Gorman,
and some of these may not be your family:
1. Nora B. Finan born during the second quarter of 1940 (1940, Q2)
2. Patrick F. Finan born 1932, Q2
3. Unnamed female Finan born 1937, Q1.
4. Mary A.P. Finan born in 1938, Q2
5. Michael G. Finan born 1942, Q4
6. Belinda J.B. Finan born in 1945, Q4
7. Mary C. Finan born in 1949, Q1
I hope that all of the above is your family. If you would like to
have all the documents mentioned in the above message, email me
at ntvoyles@netzero.net and I will attach and email them.
Cheers
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
(Currently spending the summer
in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
I was given this web site by JoAnne Finan and told you might be able to help me. I am trying to find out as much as I can about my grandfather and great grandfather. This is the information I have at this time.
My name is Judi Hughes (nee Finan)
John Fredrick Finan ( my father)
Dec 10 1919
Married in 1944
Eileen D Johnstone
January 30, 1926
August 26 2015 (DOD)
Alexander Finan (John Finan’s dad, my grandfather)
Born in 1878 ?? -County Monaghan???, Ireland.
Married in 1912???
Gertrude Mary Graham (John Finan’s mum)
Born March 31, 1888
I have no information at this time about my great grandfather which is what I’m really looking for.
I would appreciate any information you are able to give or what avenue’s I could explore. thanks
Hello Judi,
I have been researching Irish Finans for more than 30 years, and I will try to help you.
During the nineteenth century about 85 percent of Finans in Ireland lived in the counties
of Sligo and Roscommon. The other 15 percent were scattered all over the country, and
your family might have come from County Monaghan. I suspect that your grandfather’s
first name may not have been Alexander. I could find no Alexander Finan births
anywhere in Ireland during 1864-1900, and I found only three of them born in the UK
between 1868 and 1888. Those three were: 1. Thomas Alexander Finan, born in the
fourth quarter of 1878 in the Salford area of Lancashire, 2. Dominic Alexander Finan,
born in the third quarter of 1885 in the West Darby area of Lancashire, and 3. David
Alexander Finan, born in the fourth quarter of 1868 in the Doncaster area of the
West Riding of Yorkshire. I lean toward the third one, since I found the birth of
Gertrude Mary Graham in the second quarter of 1888 in the area of York in the
East Riding of Yorkshire, although she would have been 20 years younger than
her husband. If you send me an email I will try to help you further.
Tom Voyles
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Tom,
Judi’s great grandparents and my great great grandparents are the same, Patrick and Maria Finan. If that helps. Patrick’s parents were Dominck Finan and Catherine Stretch.
Patrick was born in Cloonflower Townland in 1848. He and Maria were married in Dewsberry in 1875.
Hope this helps find Alex.
JoAnne On Fri, Jul 17, 2020, 12:01 PM Finan Family History wrote:
> Tom Voyles commented: “Hello Judi, I have been researching Irish Finans > for more than 30 years, and I will try to help you. During the nineteenth > century about 85 percent of Finans in Ireland lived in the counties of > Sligo and Roscommon. The other 15 percent were scattered ” >
Thank you for your reply and I apologize for my late response I am going to look through all the other information provided and although it could take me awhile I will contact you again. I do want to thank you for all your help. I was quite pleasantly surprised when JoAnne gave me this address it has given me more information to work on,. Again thank you.
Hello Judi,
I have continued trying to research your Finan family, and I think
that I have located them in UK Censuses. I still have not found
a birth record for your Alexander Finan though.
1891 Census:
Lancaster District of Lancashire
27 Greenbank Road
John Finan, Head, Married, Age 40, Inspector of waterworks, born Ireland.
Hannah Finan, wife, Female, Married, Age 40, born: Ireland
Hannah T. Finan, Daughter, Age 4, born: Lancashire, Liverpool
John P. Finan, son, age 2, born: Lancashire, Ellel (?)
1901 Census:
Birmingham
124 Greenfield Road
John Finan, Head, Married, Age 44, Civil Engineer, Born: Ireland
Hannah Finan, Wife, Married, Age 44, born: Ireland
Alexander Finan, Son, Single, Age 15, Pupil, Mechanical Engineer, born Lanc, Liverpool
Terissa Finan, Daughter, Single, Age 13, born: Lanc, Liverpool
John P. Finan, Son, Age 11, boprn: Lanc, Liverpool
James P. Finan, Son, Age 9, born: Lanc, Liverpool
1911 Census:
Alexander Finan, Boarder, Age 25, Single, Engine-fitter in an engineering works, Born Lancs, Bootle
I do not know why Alexander Finan is not on the 1891 Census.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
Sorry.. error on the last message. GGgrandfather was Michael Finan, not Thomas Finan… & apologies if today’s initial post was possibly duplicate Info
My GGgrandfather was Thomas Finan b. Feb. 22, 1817 in Riverstown,
Taunagh Parish, County Sligo.
My GGgranmother was Catherine Carbary, b. sept. 1820County Sligo in Sep., 1820. In County Sligo.
They eventually settled in Manistee, Michigan US, where my GGrandmother, Margaret Finan was born.
Michael finan, i have done research on finans from dromore west. . what year did your grandfather live in dromore west. at the turn of the 19th century there was 3 families in dromore west
good afternoon,
i am assisting a lady trying to find out information on her finan ancestors. she does not know where they came from in Ireland. she believes they came to England after the famine or during the famine. she is not sure which. all the finan information she has is a Roland William Finan was born in stoke on trent in 1915 and his father was James and his father was Thomas.
Hello Pol o Frithil (Dr. John Murphy ??),
This is a reply to the inquiry from a lady asking about Roland William Finan…
Statistically Roland’s grandfather, Thomas Finan, would have come from either
County Sligo or County Roscommon. During the 19th century about 85 percent of
all Finans in Ireland lived in those two counties. This moprning I did some
research, and I found some records that I think are this lady’s Finans.
Roland William Finan was born to James Finan and Mary Freeman in
Stoke-upon-Trent Registration District on 14 or 16 Aug, 1915 (conflicting
records). Apparently, the family lived in Hanley Borough. Roland married
Eileen G. Danks during the first quarter of 1951 in West Bromwich
Registration District. He died in Sandwell Registration District,
West Midlands during he third quarter of 1977. (Unfortunately, only
the quarterly indexes are available online).
Roland’s parents were James Finan and Mary Freeman. James was born in
Stoke-upon-Trent Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1865.
In the 1881 UK Census he was age 16, and living with his father, Thomas,
and younger brother Martin Finan at 30 Weaver St, Hanley Borough. That
census is interesting because his father, Thomas, is listed as being
married, but there is no wife listed. In that census I did find a
Mary Finan living at 48 West St. in Hanley Borough with her sons William
Finan, age 13, and Thomas Finan, age 9. They are all living with a coal
miner named Joseph Hughes.
As a complete speculation, I might mention that Finan and Freeman
intermarriages occurred during the 19th century in Barnacawley Townland,
Tibohine Civil Registration District, County Roscommon. (Keep in mind
that his is only speculation).
James Finan’s father, Thomas Finan, died during he second quarter of 1897
in Stoke-upon-Trent Registration District. If Thomas had lived until the
1911 UK Census, he would have had to indicate where in Ireland that he
was born. If you obtain his actual death registration from the UK Civil
Registration office, it MIGHT have his parents’ names. With those, I could
tell you if he was from County Roscommon (my area of concentration), and
just which townland and family that he was from. The ordering particulars
are on his death index listing which I will attach and email to you.
Send an email to ntvoyles@netzero.net and I will attach a number of the
documents that I have referred to in my above message.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@netzero.net
thank you tom for all your help. will pass on the information. Pol
my great grandmother was a Finan from Sligo. In 1877 when she married in Easkey Parish; her father is listed as Thomas but on census records etc he was Peter. Has you client done DNA, this will help narrow the area and family connections.
did she marry a man called james taylor . her father Peter died in 1904 there are 2 james taylor on irish graveyards.ie website buried in easkey. one james died in 1910 age 47 and the second james died in 1954 age 73. a catherine taylor died in 1935 age 88.
Not sure if I ever replied because I just saw this Pail, but yes. That is my family.
Hello from Montreal! I guess we are kin. I am related to Patrick Finan he would be my 3rd great grandfather. I estimate he would have born between 1800-1814. He had one daughter that I know of my 2nd great grandmother Mary Finan born in 1836. Mary Finan married a Scottish man Martin Erwin (born 1833) who’d immigrated to Ireland, before immigrating to the US. I’m looking for Patrick’s birthdate, death date or family members’ names. Unfortunately, Patrick and Mary Finan are terribly common names.
Where were Patrick and Mary from in Ireland?
My mother is a Finan (Anne Marie Waters nee Finan) from Cloonfower .. Related to Hubert Finan
Hi my name is Karen Clare. I have no connection to Finan family only I bought a cottage belonging to the Finan family In Cloonfower. Castlerea. It was built in 1904. The Finan family lived in it up to 1985 when the last son was put into a home. I have no information on them but if anyone thinks they may be related I could post a few picture of the cottage and area for people to see.
Kind regards
Karen Clare
Hi Karen,
I would LOVE to see some pictures. I visited Cloonfower back in 2001 and probably visited your home. I believe
you might be referring to Michael Finan? Is your home in “The Wood”?
Thanks,
Tim
I would like to see some pics as well My great-grandmother was a Finan.
Although I would love to see photos, as well as make connections with any related Finans, I am pretty sure that I am from the county Sligo (Riverstown) line of Finans, and not the Cloonflower line. The photos are still interesting!! Thanks, Suzanne Flatley Morphew
>
Have you done dna ? I know my gg was from Sligo but going back further not so sure. Mayo is pretty close so there could be a connection.
Hi Karen….can you email me directly at timothy.finan@gmail.com? I’d like to ask you about the cottage you bought.
-Tim
My name is Barbara Finan, married to Turlough Finan from Castlerea, Ireland. We now live in Hamilton, ontario, Canada. Turlough is one of 8 children from parents Maureen and Peter Finan of Ireland
Hello Barbara,
It is great to find your posting on the financlan.net website.
I am sorry that I missed the reunion in Castlerea last February due to my broken hip in
January. I don’t know if my name was mentioned, but I have known Dick and Nora
for decades. (I would have tried to fall on something softer if I had known that a
big reunion was taking place). After 6 months I am still not walking properly. I had
discussed visiting Bobby in August, but I do not feel that I have recovered enough yet
to make the trip that soon. They say that it sometimes takes a year to fully recover.
This summer or autumn I will be updating the part of my 1989 Finan tree that includes Dick,
Bobby, Turlough and me. I will be emailing Turlough and Declan to request their help in
updating their part of the tree.
I don’t know if Turlough is a regular emailer, but you might ask him to check from
time to time. Right now I am trying to locate Annie Mahon’s origin in Co. Roscommon,
but so far without success.
I REALLY regret not being there in February !!
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Elizabeth Hilbert from America. Looking for information on Honor Hilbert, or any other Hilberts that settled in Ireland and where they came from originally. Thank you very much.
Hi Elizabeth. How are you connected to the Finan name ?
Not that I know of. I did some research on the Hilbert name and this site popped up. I guess there were some Hilberts in the Castlerea area of Ireland. I know my ancestors adopted an Irish boy, giving him the name Hilbert. I was always under the impression that Hilbert is a German or Czech name, but I’m part Irish through the Hilbert side of my family.
Ngā mihi nui, e whānau Finan! Many great blessings to the Finan family. My name is Guy McCallum, originally Finan at birth. I am 32, and descend from Finans on my mother’s side. Her father arrived in New Zealand around the 1920s having been born on the way over. Her father is Laurence Henry Finan, born 1914. He served in World War 2, with tours in Crete, Egypt, Greece and occupied Italy. He married Zoe Hunter in 1944 when he got back from service, was father to a son and three daughters. He died in 2003, buried in Huntly Cemetery, in the section for returned servicemen. I’m interested in tracing his family’s journey to these islands, which I’m told (though I have no means of verifying this) was through South Africa and Australia. I’m also interested if anyone knows which specific pressures or attractions led the family’s migration. My email address is guy.mccallum@gmail.com if you have any information. Kia ora tatou!
Hello,
I just discovered this site. I am a Finan. I believe that my g g grandfather was born in County Roscommon about 1810. He left Ireland and moved to Liverpool. His wife’s name was Margeret Cotton. My great grandfather was born in Liverpool in 1845. He came to America after the Civil War and joined the US Army. Upon completing his service, he moved to Waltham, MA. His wife was Elizabeth Griffith, whose parents were from Cork. Both my g g and great grandfathers were named Roderick, as am I. These Finan’s lived in the Boston area. I believe that the family originated from the Castlerea area, possible Cloonfower. I suppose that I would like to know the likelyhood of digging up more information about my ancestors or other relatives.
Rod Finan
HI Tom,
Thanks for the update. I did not realize that my reply did not have my name, and obviously, you could not connect me with the DNA match without it.
Suzanne Morphew
ruprogame365.info
Hello,
My G grandfather was Michael Finan, born Feb. 22, 1817 in Riverstown, county Sligo. Moved to US, ended up in Manistee, Michigan, married Catherine Carbary.
One of their children was my grandfather’s mom, Margaret Finan (married name Barry) who was born in Manistee, Michigan as well.
I traveled to Ireland last year, and tried to connect with some Finans from Riverstown, but in the end, didn’t work out on the day I was in Riverstown.
Where do you live?
I’m descended from the same Finan’s from Michigan. Went to Riverstown in 2016. Tried to get an appointment with Sligo Genealogical in Sligo but they couldn’t accommodate our schedule. Was not able to locate any graves or headstones. My g grandfather (one of Michael’s sons) was Thomas Finan who migrated to Washington State. I lived there until recently, moving to Arizona, this fall.
Hi Tom,
Just saw this post. Your name has actually come up as a DNA match to me through Ancestry.com DNA. Your G grandfather, Thomas b. October 25, 1859, was the older brother of my G grandmother (Margaret Finan, b. October, 1862). Both were born in Manistee, MI, if my info is correct. I had no idea any of the Finans left the midwest. What brought your G grandfather all the way to Washington state?
I replied a couple of days ago but don’t see it posted. Hmm. OK once again. My G grandfather, Thomas ran a logging company with one of his brothers. I have these notes written by my grandfather, Arthur: I knew John Finan of Detroit and Carl Finan of Chicago. They were my first cousins. Their father Jim Finan and my father Tom Finan had a mill and logging camps in Tower, Michigan in the late 1890’s and until 1910 when we left Tower and came to Tenino, Wash. And Uncle Jim and family moved to Detroit. About 1900, my father fell under the caboose of the logging train and had both legs cut off. He was fitted with artificial limbs in Chicago but it was hard for him to get around in the snow there so we moved to western Washington where the climate is milder.
Since I don’t know your name I couldn’t identify you in the DNA matches.
Tom
Hello, I am searching for Finan’s that came from the Gurteen area of County Sligo back around1830-1850’s. My g-grandmother was Kate Finan Callaghan born in the townland of Greyfield, Gurteen Sligo Her father was John Finan and grandfather was Bartholomew. She had approx 6-8 brothers and sisters
TEST YOUR DNA
Finan’s should have their DNA tested to help the search. Most of the DNA testing companies are having a sale right now. You can probably get your DNA tested for around $50. Very simple test, all you have to do is deposit your spit in a tube and mail it back to the testing company. In my opinion the best DNA company is Ancestry.
Jim Callahan
Kansas City
callatran@aol.com
Hi Jim, I am on Ancestry and Gedmstch among others. Is there a group admin for dna ? Kind regards. Maureen
Hey.. stumbled across these Finan posts.. I have loads of Finan family heritage from the west of Ireland, willing to share some fantastic rambles and fables
David
David mine are fro. Sligo, plesse do share.
Thanks,
Maureen
Frank or PHONSO Finan real name Peter Alphonsus Finan born Balymote, County Sligo 3rd September 1927. Passed away Southampton , England in August 1972. .We know he was in Southampton from 1951 to 1972. Has anyone any knowledge please.. Thank youp
I am from salford, I now live in east manchester. I know of a margaret (aunty) and paul, but I know little else of this side of the family. I’ll have a trawl thru soon and see thanks for all the hard work
Do have any family in Corby Northamptonshire.
Hello, I am looking for additional information such as the marriage for Peter Finan 1828-1904 married to through family lore Catherine Marks (or some variation of the name) from Sligo.
Maureen
Peter Finan was my Great Great Grandfather form what was handed down to me Catherine Mark Father was French and settled around Easky where he or she i am not sure worked in Fortland House which was a big Landlords house
Hi Joe, This is the Maureen you know. I am still searching for additional info on Catherine as I gather you are too 🙂 Hope all is well. Maureen O’C
Hi. I had a great uncle Thomas kilcourse, from keyfield village, ballinlough, Co Roscommon, who married a Maggie Finan. I am unsure how to spell her name. Thomas was born in 1897 to Peter and Honoria Kilcourse. Any relation to your family?
Hello Sue,
Thomas Kilcourse was born 02 Feb, 1897 to Peter Kilcourse and Norah Casserly
of Keyfield. He married Margaret Finan of Foxboro, Kiltullagh on 06 Jan, 1923
in the Roman Catholic Church of Ballinlough. Margaret was born on 24 Oct, 1896
to Pat Finan and Margaret Donnelly of Foxboro. Send me an email and I will
attach those civil registrations to a return email for you.
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@gmail.com
My Name is Terry Finan, I am 59 years old and I live in Queensland Australia. My ancestors were convict stock sent to Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania. I believe we came from the county Cork area. I lived in Tasmania until 2002 and still have family there. My wife and I will be in Ireland from May 14 to 31. We have hired a car and intend to tour for that time and we would like to make any family connections. I can be contacted at
terrypfinan@gmail.com.au
Does anyone have an updated email address for Tom Voyles?
ntvoyles@gmail.com
Hello all. My father (adopted by grandparents) was Frank R Finan. His wife was Rosina. My favorite thing he would do was tell me stories of growing up in Kansas. Model T’s getting stuck in the road, post office uniform getting soiled due to a pig, and other tales I asked to be told over and over again. My dad passed before I was old enough to really dig deeper. He had a sister, Colleen Seiver and her husband which visited us more than once. I recall a visit of an uncle Gary. Someone had a pet raccoon. Like to match up the stories with people. My dad met Rosina in Germany when he was stationed there.
I am related to Frank Finan and Rosina Finan. I think I am also related to Alexandra. I am Lori Katz. We can connect and see if our background matches up.
Looking for information on Mary Finan born about 1803-1807. Married John Sullivan from County Cork and came to Canada early 1823. Would like to know where in Ireland Mary Finan was from.
thanks.
Hello, I am Douglas Finan and am looking into our Finan roots. Thanks to my father John M. I have traced the Finan name back to a Patrick Finan that lived in Richmond NY (now Staten Island). Married to Julia A. Casey (?). Patrick was born in Ireland abt 1830, they had 3 children Mary, John and Elizabeth (may have been called Abby) all born in Richmond, NYC. John (my great grandfather) became a NYC patrolman. Have not found when or where Patrick came to the US. It was probably before 1853. I found a ship manifest on Ancestry with a Patrick (20) and James Finan (22) arriving in NYC in 1854, but that does not seam to be the correct Patrick Finan.
On a baptismal record for Bridget O’Connor Oct 10, 1816, Templeboy,co.Sligo, her parent are listed as James O’Connor & ? Finan. Sponsors: Patrick & Bridget Feeny. Does anyone know the Finan’s first name?
Hi! Mya name is Victoria and I am also searching for a Finan. I have the information as follows… James Finan born in Ireland baptized in Dublin. Married Bridgette Connor also from that area I am assuming. Her parents are Owen Connor and Eliza Grady. They had a daughter (James and Bridgette) names Bridgette Finan from Catlereagh might they be related some how?
Hello Victoria,
James Finan and Bridget Connor lived in Cloonfower Townland, Kilkeevin Civil Parish, County Roscommon. They were married in the Roman Catholic Chapel in Castlerea Town, Co. Roscommon on 10 Feb, 1867. If this is your family, here is what I have on them:
James Finan and Bridget Connor of Cloonfower:
Married 10 Feb, 1867 in RC Chapel of Castlerea.
Groom from Cloonfower. Bride from Clooontarsna.
Groom’s father: James Finan. Bride’s father: the late Patrick Connor.
Mary Finan born 13 March, 1869
Bridget Finan born 07 June, 1870
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
My Fathers name was James Aloysius Finan from harmony hill Sligo he was born 1914 and died 1981 he had siblings Mary Alice b1908 d1983, John Joseph, Ellen (Nelly) His fathers name was James ( I think he was a cattle dealer) and his Mothers name was Mary McGowan. Can anyone supply any further information
Hello Tom,
Thank you for offering to network with folk looking for information about their Finan kin. What a gift!
I am trying to do research on Thomas Finan born about 1825 in Ireland and married to Mary born about 1830. They married around 1850. Immigrated to the states around 1861- 1862.
A daughter was born Kate Finan in England around 1855. A son, James Finan, was born in England around 1861.
Another son, Michael, was born in Pennsylvania in 1863.
Another son John Thomas Finan born in Pennsylvania about 1865
Robert Finan born in Pennsylvania about 1868
In 1870 the census shows them living in Hubbard Trumbull Ohio. He was working as a coalminer.
Thomas died 1900 in St. Mary’s, Auglaize, Ohio.
Mary dies 8/27/1911 in Lorain Ohio
There is a DNA connection to a Michael Finan born in Ireland 1843 who died 9/1910 in Clear Creek, Pottawastomie, Kansas.
Regards,
Holly Freeman
Hello Holly, I will try to help you if I can. I should start by saying that Irish genealogy research is generally regarded as the most difficult of any. Catholicism was illegal until the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act, and many baptismal and marriage registers begin at that date or later. Catholics did not usually own land, so they are not in those records either. Catholics didn’t vote so they are not in those records, etc, etc, etc.
Here is what I can tell you: During the nineteenth century there were two large groups of Finans in Ireland. One large group lived within fifteen miles or so of the Town of Tobercurry in County Sligo, and the other large group lived within 15 miles or so of the Town of Castlerea in County Roscommon. These two groups made up about 85 percent of the Finans in Ireland at that time. I have attached a map of the area, showing the two towns. The red X’s mark the locations of some of the nineteenth century Finans.
To me, the most important sentence in your email is the last one, about the DNA connection to the Michael Finan of Clear Creek, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. About 15 years ago I researched him for one of his descendants.
Michael was born about 1849 (not 1853 as many histories claim) in the vicinity of the Towns of Loughglynn and Castlerea in County Roscommon, Ireland. The two towns are 10 miles apart, so his origin is narrowed down to that small an area out of all of Ireland. I have attached a photo of his tombstone in the cemetery in Blaine, Kansas to this email. It is very hard to read, but just under his name are the words Loughglynn and Castlerea. I do not understand DNA, so I cannot tell you how close your Finans are to Michael Finan of Kansas.
The remainder of the family history in your email follows the path of many Irish emigrants. In 1800, Parliament’s Act of Union made Ireland a part of Britain legally, just like Scotland and Wales, complete with Irish representation in Parliament. This continued until the partition of Ireland in 1922. The Act of Union is the reason that the six counties of Northern Ireland are still legally a part of Britain today, since they opted out of the partition.
After Jan. 1, 1801 England and Ireland were now the same country, and one of the things that the Act of Union did was make it possible for destitute Irish to move to Britain in search of a better life. That is why your Finans had two of their children in England. While many Irish remained in Britain right down to today, others were unhappy there and they departed for other places after a few years. That is what yours did.
As for things that you might do: 1. If you could find a death certificate for Thomas Finan in Ohio in 1900, it might have his parents’ names on it and they would help connect him to a family in the Loughglynn-Castlerea area.
2. You could try looking for his birth in the parish baptismal registers of the two parishes where he was born, the Kilkeevin (now called Castlerea) Catholic Parish, and the Loughglynn- Lisacul Catholic Parish. Kilkeevin begins at 1804, with multi-year gaps, and Loughglynn-Lisacul begins at 1817 with multi-year gaps. They are both online, but be ready to read Latin…
Kilkeevin: http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0551
Loughglynn-Lisacul: http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0557
3. If you know of members of the family who remained in Britain, the 1911 British Census (on Ancestry.com) required everyone to enter where they were born. If they only entered County Roscommon, at least this would confirm that fact for you.
Lastly, I have attached both sides of the Quick Start sheet that I give to people attending their first meeting of my Irish Genealogy group here in my retirement community. The sheet may be of help to you.
Good luck !! Tom Voyles (Noel Thomas Voyles) The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@netzero.net ntvoyles@gmail.com
I couldn’t find the map.
I can only send it in an email. Cannot attach things to posts on this website.
Send an email to: ntvoyles@netzero.net and I will send the attachments.
Tom Voyles
Hello Holly,
I will try to help you if I can. I should start by saying
that Irish genealogy research is generally regarded
as the most difficult of any. Catholicism was illegal
until the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act, and many
baptismal and marriage registers begin at that date
or later. Catholics did not usually own land, so they
are not in those records either. Catholics didn’t vote
so they are not in those records, etc, etc, etc.
Here is what I can tell you: During the nineteenth
century there were two large groups of Finans in
Ireland. One large group lived within fifteen miles
or so of the Town of Tobercurry in County Sligo, and
the other large group lived within 15 miles or so of
the Town of Castlerea in County Roscommon. These
two groups made up about 85 percent of the Finans
in Ireland at that time. I have attached a map of the
area, showing the two towns. The red X’s mark the
locations of some of the nineteenth century Finans.
To me, the most important sentence in your email is the
last one, about the DNA connection to the Michael Finan
of Clear Creek, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. About
15 years ago I researched him for one of his descendants.
Michael was born about 1849 (not 1853 as many histories
claim) in the vicinity of the Towns of Loughglynn and Castlerea
in County Roscommon, Ireland. The two towns are 10 miles
apart, so his origin is narrowed down to that small an area
out of all of Ireland. I have attached a photo of his tombstone
in the cemetery in Blaine, Kansas to this email. It is very hard
to read, but just under his name are the words Loughglynn and
Castlerea. I do not understand DNA, so I cannot tell you how
close your Finans are to Michael Finan of Kansas.
The remainder of the family history in your email follows
the path of many Irish emigrants. In 1800, Parliament’s
Act of Union made Ireland a part of Britain legally, just
like Scotland and Wales, complete with Irish representation
in Parliament. This continued until the partition of Ireland
in 1922. The Act of Union is the reason that the six counties
of Northern Ireland are still legally a part of Britain today,
since they opted out of the partition.
After Jan. 1, 1801 England and Ireland were now the same
country, and one of the things that the Act of Union did was
make it possible for destitute Irish to move to Britain in search
of a better life. That is why your Finans had two of their
children in England. While many Irish remained in Britain
right down to today, others were unhappy there and they
departed for other places after a few years. That is what
yours did.
As for things that you might do:
1. If you could find a death certificate for Thomas Finan
in Ohio in 1900, it might have his parents’ names on it
and they would help connect him to a family in the
Loughglynn-Castlerea area.
2. You could try looking for his birth in the parish baptismal
registers of the two parishes where he was born, the Kilkeevin
(now called Castlerea) Catholic Parish, and the Loughglynn-
Lisacul Catholic Parish. Kilkeevin begins at 1804, with multi-year
gaps, and Loughglynn-Lisacul begins at 1817 with multi-year
gaps. They are both online, but be ready to read Latin…
Kilkeevin:
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0551
Loughglynn-Lisacul:
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0557
3. If you know of members of the family who remained in
Britain, the 1911 British Census (on Ancestry.com) required
everyone to enter where they were born. If they only entered
County Roscommon, at least this would confirm that fact for you.
Lastly, I have attached both sides of the Quick Start sheet that
I give to people attending their first meeting of my Irish Genealogy
group here in my retirement community. The sheet may be of
help to you.
Good luck !!
Tom Voyles
(Noel Thomas Voyles)
The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@netzero.net
ntvoyles@gmail.com
Send me an email to either address for the attachments. I could
not post them here. N.T.V.
Thank you so much, Tom! This is great info getting me launched. I will send you my email tonight.
Hi Holly I am also a Finan..My dads family settled in Johnstown late 1800’s and then moved to Swissvale, Pa..My Grandfather was named James Jerimiah and married Mary Trevenan..My name is Jean(Donna Jean Finan)..hope you reply to me..My Dad had 4 brothers..My Dad was Donald, he has 4 brothers named James..Edwin…Gerard…Paul all deceased including my dad
Hi Donna, That is so interesting….who knows maybe that’s the ringer. It fits but we will see. I appreciate you getting back and supporting me on this search.
Best,
Holly
Thomas Finan is my great grandfather on my mother’s side.
Donna, don’t know if you seen my post. Your Dad was my Uncle. He was my Dad’s brother. Hope you see this post.
Hi Holly, I just seen you post. My Dad is Gerard Finan, your dad’s brother. I remember your Dad and Mother. It was before you were born. I lost track, and was not in touch with them. My name is Nancy Finan McGowan. Will send email address.
I did not mean Holly,
I meant Donna, was Donald’ daughter. Donald is my Dad’s Brother. Sorry for the confusion, from Nancy Finan McGowan
Ladyj7777. Did u see my posts?
Yes we finally connected we are 1st cousins…I very happy about that….
I’ve just found this wonderful site! Your grandfather, James, was my great grandfather, John’s, brother.
Do you have any more information on your side of the Finan tree
Ladyj7777:
I am related to you.My grandfather Charles Finan was your grandfather James brother. My father Paul was one of nine children and he is your father’s cousin. My father was born in South Fork Pennsylvania and moved with his family to Akron, Ohio because of a coal strike in South Fork. My grandfather Charles died in 1967 and my grandmother died in 1971. The family settled in Akron. My generation of Finan’s for the most part, have left Akron and moved to other parts of Ohio and other states.
Patrick Finan
Hello- just stumbled on this Finan family site.
I will be traveling to Ireland next month and was hoping to visit ancestral towns, but had pretty much given up on the Finan connections, but after reading this blog.. I have renewed interest!
GGGgrandparents Eugene Finan, b.? Taunagh,, Sligo, married to Bridget Mullegan, b. ?Sligo.
They were parents to:
GGgrandfather Michael Finan, b 2/22/17, Riverstown, Sligo , married to
Catherine Carbery, b. Sept 1820, Sligo
( I believe they were married in 1848 in Connecticut or Massachusetts before they eventually settled the m Manistee, Michigan)
They are parents to my Ggrandmother: ,
Margaret Finan, b. Oct. 1862 in Manistee, Michigan.
She married Thomas Barry (b. 1858.in Wisconsin -parents both from Dublin) -married in Manistee MI.
They are parents to my grandfather, George Barry, b. 7/17/1884 in Manistee Michigan.
Eventually settled in Chicago.
Not sure if anyone will read this prior to my trip, but I’d love to hear any thoughts about family connections:))
My G-G Grandfather was Michael Finan, b 1817 in Riverstown, Tanaugh Parish, co Sligo. Parents were Eugene and Bridget. He died in Manistee, Michigan in 1891.
It appears that we share the same GG grandfather:) My family connection is explained above.
My husband, Michael Fynan, has related to me that his great grandfather came from Roscommon and worked and lived in New Jersey. Due to a misspelling in the parish registry on the date of their marriage, the name went from Finan to Fynan.
Hello Nanette,
I am a researcher of Roscomman Finans, and with a few more details I might be able to help you.
Do you know the given name of your husband’s great-grandfather, or when he came to the USA,
or when and where did he die, or anything else about him?
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
ntvoyles@gmail.com
Hello Nanette,
I research County Roscommon Finans, and I might be able to help you with Michael Fynan.
However, I need more details. About when was he born in Roscommon, when did he come
to the U.S., When and where did he die, what was his wife’s name, etc.
You can email me at ntvoyles@netzero.net
Tom Voyles
That’s right yeah! I’m sure my Gran has a photograph of me handing you a horse shoe! I hope you are all well and my Gran sends her love to you all xx
Hi Lisa, my father was Owen, he had a daughter Maureen,sons John, George, and Joseph from his first marriage he then married my mother Helen and went on to have my brother Gerard and myself Catherine. I was wondering are you related to Kate who you were speak8ng to on this site.
Are you still on here Cathy I’m Gérard finan think we might be able to help each other out with family info
I actually have some land documents in my family history from Owen Finan, who was the brother of my 2nd great grandfather, Michael Finan, b 2/22/1817 in Riverstown, Sligo. The Owen Finan in my family history was also born in Riverstown, Sligo. Might this be the same Owen Finan that you are referring to?
Hi Cathy
No I have no info on an Owen Finan
But
Were George and Bridget Finan your grandparents
Hi my grandparents were George and Bridget Finan they were married at Sligo Cathedral in 1897. My father Owen was born in 1916, I’m sure he was born in Glasgow.
So your dad was called after his grandfather Owen Feeny
He is also in the 1911 census but Feeny was spelt Feeney
Don’t know if you knew that
Your Grand father George is in 1901 census in Scotland as a lodger so I guess he went for work and Bridget followed over
Hi did they have a son John born in Glasgow in c1900
Yes just looked at the 1901 census in Ireland, he was born in Glasgow and my aunty kathleen was born in Ireland .
My email is caraghcoaching@gmail.com
Your a 2nd cousin of my Dad
Im pretty sure
Email I’ll explain
Gerard
Hi, Owen Feeney was my grandmothers father, his wife was Bridget. Their daughter Bridget was my grandmother and George was my grandfather.
Hi Lisa.
Sorry for not replying sooner. Yes your grammar Maureen is David’s godmother your grandpa Tommy was my father in law George’s brother. I think you were at our wedding almost 20 years ago!!
Kate
I have now discovered that Frank Finan was from Ballymote b 03/09/1927. His full name was Peter Alphonsus Finan, the son of Anne and Thomas Finan. Peter passed away in Southampton England in August 1972. and is buried in Southampton. Peter’s grave was organised by John Joseph Keating. Does anyone have any knowledge please. Thank you
Hi Kate, my father was Owen, it was my aunty Kathleen who was murdered, my daughter and I were the last to see her the day she was murdered, I don’t know much about our family tree, but Micheal got in touch a while back. I only know my father had a sister Kathleen brother Tommy from whitevale st, Glasgow and I think he had a brother George who was dead before I was born.
Please does anyone have knowledge of Frank Finan (possibly Francis Finan) born 3rd September 1927. Southampton UK and Jersey Channel Islands UK 1950/1951?
I am trying to make contact with Frank, possibly Francis Finan b 3rd September 1927. Was in Jersey UK and Southampton UK in the1950’s. Close family member would like to make contact.
Hello Gary,
I was not able to help with Albert’s parents or siblings
The only record that I found was his family’s 1901
Canadian Census return. I could not find him in the
1881, 1891 or 1911 Censuses. The 1901 return was
difficult to read, but here is what I think that I understood:
Albert Finnan, Head, b. 03 Dec, 1867 in PEI, Age 33 Tribe: Irish R. Catholic, Farmer
Caroline Finnan, Wife, b. 12 July, 1874 in PEI, Age 26 Tribe: French
Mary Finnan, Dau, b. 23 Nov, 1894 in PEI, Age 6 Tribe: Irish
John Finnan, Son, b. 12 May, 1896 in PEI, Age 4 Tribe: Irish
Larry(?) Finnan, Son, b. 12 Dec, 1897 in PEI, Age 3 Tribe: Irish
Albert Finnan, Son, b. 13 Nov, 1900 in PEI, Age 1 Tribe: Irish
The family farm next door (possible relatives?):
Filix Arsenaux, Head, b. 10 Feb, 1867 in Franch(?), Age 34 Tribe: French R. Catholic, Farmer
Annie Arsenaux, Wife, b. 26 June, 1872 in PEI, Age 28
Carrie Arsenaux, Dau, b. 24 July, 1894 in PEI, Age 6
Peter Arsenoux, Son, b. 20 July, 1896 in PEI, Age 4
Mary Arsenaux, Dau, b. 21 Feb, 1898 in PEI, Age 2
Gilbert Arsenaux, Son, b. 19 Aug, 1900 in PEI, Age 9/12
Of interest: Since Albert’s roots are in Ireland, take note
that during the nineteenth century the majority of families
spelling the name Finan were located in Counties Sligo
and Roscommon, while families spelling it Finnan were
located primarily in Counties Longford and Tipperary.
This generalization ignores those who misspelled their
name, and also other spellings such as Fynan, etc.
I am unable to attach the 1901 Census page to this posting.
If you do not have it, send me an email I will attach and send it to you.
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Hi. I am looking for the genealogy (parentage and siblings) of Albert Finnan born about 1873 probably in PEI, Canada and who married about 1893 to Caroline Arsenault daughter of Amable Arsenault and Julienne Gaudet. Any help appreciated.
Descendants of Albert Finnan
Generation 1
1. ALBERT1 FINNAN was born about 1873 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died date Unknown in Unknown. He married Caroline Arsenault, daughter of Amable Arsenault dit Aimable and Julienne Gaudet, about 1893 in Prob. Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She was born on 18 Jul 1874 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died in 1949 in l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada..
Albert Finnan and Caroline Arsenault had the following children:
i. MARIE ANNE2 FINNAN was born on 23 Nov 1894 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died date Unknown in Unknown.
ii. JEAN ALBÉRT FINNAN was born on 12 May 1896 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died in 1954 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He married (1) ÉLISABETH ANNE GALLANT, daughter of Isidore Gallant and Eléonore Gallant, about 1910 in Prob. Paroisse de St. Anthony (Cascumpec), Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She was born on 08 Apr 1885 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died in 1917 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He married (2) MARY EVELYN “ANONYME”. She was born in 1911 in Prob. Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died in 1951 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada..
iii. LAURENT FINNAN was born on 11 Dec 1897 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard.. He died date Unknown in Unknown.
iv. ALBÉRT FINNAN was born on 13 Nov 1899 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died date Unknown in Unknown.
v. JULITTE FINNAN was born on 08 Apr 1902 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died date Unknown in Unknown.
vi. ANTOINE FINNAN was born on 07 Mar 1904 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died in 1981 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He married Marie Ursule Doiron, daughter of Félix Doiron and Marie Sophique Poirier, about 1936 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She was born on 19 Jan 1910 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue (Duvar), Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died in 2001 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada..
vii. PIERRE FINNAN was born on 09 Oct 1906 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died date Unknown in Unknown.
viii. GILBÉRT FINNAN was born on 03 Jul 1908 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died on 30 May 1972 in l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada..
ix. MARY OLIVE FINNAN was born on 24 Sep 1910 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She died on 01 Aug 2007 in Prince County Hospital, Summerside, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. She married Jean Francis Gallant, son of Charles Gallant and Geneviève Gallant dite Jenny, about 1930 in Prob. l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He was born on 27 Nov 1897 in Paroisse de Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Bloomfield, County Prince, l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada.. He died on 30 Nov 1997 in l’île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada..
Hi, My name is Judy nee Gallant. My father was Olive Finnan’s eldest son. Her father Albert Finnan was born on Sept. 1867 to James Finnan and Odille Gallant, Bloomfield Pei. . He died Jan. 18 1934 . I couldn’t find any more on James but it is possible that Odille was the daughter of Andre and Marie Gallant of South Rustico Pei.
Hi Judy. Thanks for the response. I am going with James’ wife as being Odilia Gallant born in Bloomfield Parish on Oct 4, 1847 to Charles Gallant and Judith Arsenault. She would have been about 20 when she had, if she were the mother. Monsieur Jean Bernard in his Vol IV (Tome 1) page 1860 of GALLANT genealogy, he lists the Odille you have mentioned as being born on Nov 13, 1845 and she married on May 7, 1872 to Fleury Gallant son of Joseph Gallant and Marguerite Gallant). G
Gary, I have to read your note again but I just noticed that I am a DNA match on Ancestry for an Albert Finnan. My grandmother is Acadian and has Arsanaults in her tree. On Ancestry I’m pgb39392. Also feel free to contact me via email: pgburke39392@gmail.com
I’ve sent you an email John.
My great great grandfather, Patrick James Finan (1848-1915) and his wife (Maria, 1854 – 1925), immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from (we believe) Roscommon around 1900s. My great grandfather, James Patrick Finan, Sr. (1883 – 1960) moved to Cleveland, Ohio in the 1920s.
Hello JoAnne,
Since my post yesterday I have found more on your Patrick Finan family.
Patrick was born in Cloonfower Townland, Co. Roscommon in 1848 to
Dominick Finan and Catherine Stretch. By 1871, at age 23, he was in
Dewsbury, Yorkshire working as a masonry helper. He worked his way
up to bricklayer, and in 1875 he married Maria Moran in Dewsbury. They
proceeded to have eight children in Britain between 1876 and 1897.
One of his sons, James Finan, emigrated to Canada between the 1901
British Census and 1911. In 1911 he married Elizabeth Digney in Hamilton,
Ontario. The rest of the family emigrated from Britain to Canada in two
groups during the summer and autumn of 1913.
In the summer of 1915 most of them crossed the border at Buffalo, NY.
on their way to Cleveland, Ohio. I do not know who the first one in
Cleveland was. I think that the pair of James’ brothers who married in
Hamilton in 1917 stayed there.
I will email all the 35 supporting documents to you in a couple of emails.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
Jon , I think my finan ancestors are related to yours . according to Griffiths valuations of the 1840’s approx. there were three finan brothers james, peter Patrick, and there father Michael. .I am descendant of the Patrick line. I remember as a child being told that a james finan lived in a little cottage near my great grandfather’s house . his house faced onto my great grandfather’s yard. . the other finan family that I was inquiring about that lived near the village of dromore west on the ballina side of the village are related to the dunowla finans. but they all died out with any children except one of the girls had a son and he died in august 1918 and is buried in france. not sure what why they are related to the dunowla finans.
regards,
pol
Hi Jon
The Dunowla Finan’s were relations of mine.
My grandfather Bernard was one of many brothers, he settled in Ardagh, Ballina and went on to have a large family, other brothers from Dunowla were Peter and Patrick, they never married.
I’m JoAnne Finan. My great great grandfather, Patrick James Finan and his wife, Maria, immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in the late 1800s from (we believe) Ross Common, Ireland. My great grandfather, James Patrick Finan, Sr. and several brothers moved to Cleveland in the 1920s.
Hello JoAnne,
Your Patrick James Finan died of a ruptured bowel on August 20, 1915 at 131 Shermn Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario.
He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. His death record gives his parents as Dominick Finan and Catherine Stretch.
Dominick Finan and Catherine Stretch were married Dec. 24, 1847 in Kilkeevin Catholic Parish (later renamed Castlerea
Catholic Parish), County Roscommon, Ireland. They would have married in St. Joseph’s Catholic Chapel, the bell tower
of which still stands in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Castlerea Town. Their witnesses were Luke Farrell and Anna Patrick.
Dominick and Catherine’s first child was your Patrick Finan. He was baptised on Dec. 16, 1848 In Kilkeevin Catholic
Parish, County Roscommon. Patrick’s sponsors/godparents were Dominick and Anna Finan. At some point in his
life he added James as his middle name.
Griffith’s Valuation was done in Co. Roscommon in 1857 and 1858. At that time there were only two Dominick Finans
in the county. One lived in the townland of Ballyglass East, and he was married to Ellen Dockery. The other Dominick
Finan is yours. He and Catherine Stretch lived in the townland of Cloonfower. Their house was just at the Cloonfower
crossroads, across the road from where the Lavins live today.
I probably do not have the baptisms of all of Dominick and Catherine’s children, but here is what I do have:
Married Dec 24, 1847
Patrick Finan baptised Dec. 16, 1848 (Died Aug. 20, 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario)
John Finan baptised May 27, 1850
Mary Finan baptised May 13, 1854
Thomas Finan baptised Aug. 15, 1864
I cannot add attachments to this website posting. If you email me I will attach all the documents
that the above information is drawn from If you want to learn about me, and see a photo,
go to: http://www.vgsfl.org When you get there, in the column at the left click on Special Interest Groups.
At the center of the next screen click on Irish Genealogy SIG.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@gmail.com
Thanks, Tom, for this information. And as a descendant of the other Dominick Finan from Ballyglass East, I wanted to add a cautionary note. Ancestry.com errs in their tree, as they link our Ballyglass clan to the other Dominick F and Catherine Stretch. As far as I can tell, and Tom may verify or deny this, “my” trail ends in early 1850s.
Hello–
As it turns out, I am a descendant of BOTH Dominick Finans. One Dominick, from Ballyglass East was married to Ellen Dockry, and one of their children, Hannah, went on to marry John Finan, son of the other Dominick and Catherine Stritch (Stretch). This was pretty confusing for awhile as I was researching this. I assume you are related to Dominick and Ellen?
Gaye Finan Tarallo
Yes–I go back to Dominick + Ellen of Ballyglass east t/l via John, and James J. “Jim” down the line into our past century. The double Dock(e)ry entries were confusing enough, and now the Finan multiplication! That Ancestry.com Finan tree may work for your twice-tangled branch after all.
Hi Tom, THANK YOU!!! We are so excited to hear from you. I will email you. Thank you for all the information.
Hi Joanne-
I just saw this post from a couple of years ago, but we have some common ancestors. My gg-grandfather was Dominick Finan, who was married to Catherine Stritch (Stretch). One of their children, John Finan was my great-grandfather. He was born, as Tom Voyles has noted in Castleria, Ireland. He later moved to England, where he and his wife, Hannah Finan (her maiden name) had 5 children. The weird and confusing thing is that as another poster noted, is that Hannah’s father was also named Dominick, but his wife’s name was Ellen (Eleanor) Dockry (Dockery). I happen to own a Finan family bible in which is inscribed the marriage of John to Hannah and the births of their 5 children. My father ended up coming to New York when he was about 12 and eventually settled in New Hampshire. I now live in Massachusetts and have been trying to put the pieces together about the Finans..both sets of great-great grandparents. If you have any other info on Dominick and Catherine, let me know.
Thanks-
Gaye Finan Tarallo
Hello Gaye,
I would like to add my two cents worth. The repetition of given names from
generation to generation in Irish records is confusing. All boys were given
one of about a dozen first names and the same for girls. You have to add that
to the practice of naming your first two boys and first two girls after their
grandparents. We should be thankful that there weren’t nearly as many
Dominicks as Thomas, Patrick, or John, etc. I can tell you a bit about two
Dominick Finan families living in the area between the towns of Castlerea
and Loughglynn in the mid-nineteenth century.
The Dominick Finan who was married to Ellen Dockery lived in the townland
of Ballyglass East. His landholding (farm) was within sight of the eastern end
of Lake Glynn (Loughglynn), and a mile or two from the Town of Loughglynn
on the lake’s southern shore. My records may not be complete, but here is what
I have on that family. The post-1864 births are from government Civil Registrations,
which began Jan. 1, 1864. The ones prior to that are from Catholic baptismal
registers:
Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery of Ballyglass/Loughglynn:
Sarah Finan Baptised 10 April, 1857 LPR
Patrick Finan Baptised 03 April, 1859 LPR
Thomas and Margaret Finan (Twins) Baptised 26 Dec, 1861
Jane Finan born 10 March, 1864
Michael Finan born 07 May, 1866 Baptised 10 May, 1866
Mary Finan born 26 Oct, 1868 (Chicago death record, d. 05 May, 1940)
Their marriage and the birth of their son, John, would have occurred
before April, 1857). T.V.
Dominick and Ellen’s son, John, inherited the farm lease. Here is his family.
(Notice that it is another Finan-Dockery marriage. The Roscommon Finans
did this generation after generation and it drives me nuts). T.V.
John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East/Loughglynn:
Mary Ellen Finan born 04 February, 1887
Cecelia Finan born 30 September, 1888
Sarah Kate Finan born 13 March, 1890 Arrived Ellis Island Oct. 13,1911.
Patrick Joseph Finan born 06 March, 1892 Lived in Masontown, Pa.
Teresa Finan born 08 December, 1893 230
Dominick Finan born 28 January, 1895 231
James Finan born 27 November, 1896 238
John Finan born 10 September, 1898 Birth registered late, on 05 Feb, 1916
Now for the other Dominick Finan family in mid-nineteenth century Roscommon.
I THINK that they lived right at the Cloonfower crossroads, which is the
intersection of the road running from Loughglynn Town down to Ballinlough,
and the road running from Castlerea Town out through the center of Cloonfower
Townland. This is important because the people north of that second road
went to church in Loughglyn Town which is Tibohine Catholic Parish. The
people south of that road went to church in Castlerea Town which is Castlerea
Catholic Parish (known as Kilkeevin Catholic Parish back then).
I mention all this because some of that couple’s kids were baptised in Tibohine
and some were baptised in Kilkeevin. The farm where I think they lived is right
on the border of both Catholic parishes. I suspect that this Dominick was not
a landholder, but only a farm laborer. I have not found evidence of him after
the 1857 Griffith’s Valuation.
In any event, here is what I have in my records. I may not have all of them.
Dominick Finan and Catherine Stretch:
Married 24 December, 1847
Patrick Finan bapt 04 Dec, 1848
John bapt 27 May, 1850
Mary Finan born 13 May, 1854
Dominick Finan bapt 04 Aug, 1858
Thomas Finan bapt 15 August, 1863
Gaye, I cannot attach documents to this posting. If you would like some of the
registrations, etc. send me an email to ntvoyles@netzero.net I have nothing on
the family of John and Hannah in England and I would like to learn about them
and their family.
Thanks,
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
Hi Tom,
Re Gaye’s ancestor “Hannah” – I believe she is actually Dominick and Eleanora Dockery Finan’s first born daughter Honora. She was baptized December 22, 1850, godparents: Patrick and Bridget Dignan.
In 1917, “Onnie” or Honor Finan requested a certified copy of the 1851 census from the PRO to enable her to confirm her age in order to qualify for a pension under the Old Age Pension Act of 1908. The 1841-1851 census records were commonly used for this purpose. She needed to provide the details of where she lived at that time and the names of her parents as well as her own name as it appeared. She was sent a certified copy after her information was verified. Her married name is also Finan giving support to marrying a Finan. My transcription from the original document of her request follows:
PRO
“Received September 21, 1917 – #7307
Extract From Census Return of 1851
Full name of applicant: Onnie (or Honor) Finan
Address: Mrs. H. Finan, 124 Greenfield Rd.. Harborne. Birmingham, England
Full names of father and mother: Dominic and Ellen Finan
Residence in 1851:
County: Roscommon
Parish: Tibohine
Townland: Ballyglass East
Place in record treasury: 1851
Record searched: September 25, 1917
Copy dispatched to applicants address: September 27, 1917
Resided 1851: Roscommon
Barony: Frenchpark
Parish: Tibohine
Townsland: Ballyglass East”
(Note: Some internal record keeping details/numbers omitted)
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
Linda
Hi Gaye,
I don’t have any other information. I love learning more though.
JoAnne Finan
john lohmann , your finan ancestors from dunowla, do you know if they were related to a finan family who lived in dromore, dromore west . the head of the household was Michael peter finan.
Pol, I really know very little about the family while they were in Ireland, really only about them after they came to the US. I can’t say if they were related or not. Sorry.
–John
Hi Chris Kelly.
I know your family, St Helens I recall. Sarah Finan (nee Kelly) was my gran. I spent most of my summer holidays in Clonkee where she lived, I remember the Kelly’s coming on holidays to see her and sadly I remember during one of those trips there was a sudden death. This may have been you father.
Feel free to email me on 3293mf@gmail.com
Hello, my main research is for my father’s grandfather’s side of the family – Banahan- who are from Roscommon. Thomas Banahan was born about 1845 (I believe) possibly in Ballinlough. He ended up in Lambertville, NJ in 1870 and worked the railroad his whole life which leads me to the family name of Finan. I have information that Martin Finan was the best man for Katheryn Banahan (Thomas’s daughter) and James Curley in Lambertville. Along with the Finan name, I have the names of the godparents of Thomas Banahan’s children – Friel, Egan, Serridge, Cunningham and Cavany (all of which I have found in the Castlerea area of Roscommon. I know it’s a stretch but I was wondering if Banahan or any of those names are related to your Finans. Thanks so much – Patty Gregory-Burke
hi – my maternal great grandfather was named Albert Finnan, d. 1934, age 67, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. I have no information about Albert prior to that time, we assume he had immigrated to Canada sometime prior to that. Married to Caroline Arsenault.
Hello Nancy,
I found a family in the 1901 Canadian Census that may be yours. He is listed as Albert Fernow, with Finnan in parentheses due to difficulty in reading. The family in 1901 Prince Edward Island (District of West Prairie) was:
Albert, head, born 03 Dec, 1867, Caroline, wife, born 12 July, 1870, Mary, dau, born 23 Nov, 1894, John, son, born 12 May, 1896, Larry(?), son, born 12 Dec, 1897, and Albert, son, born 13 Nov, 1900. All six were born in P.E. (Prince Edward?). Albert’s “Tribal Origin” is Irish, Caroline’s is French, and the kids’ are all Irish. All are Roman Catholic, and Albert is a farmer.
I hope that this is your family.
By the way, the Finnans were separate from the Finans in 19th century Ireland. Many Finnans were primarily in Counties Longford and Tipperary, while Finans were primarily in Sligo and Roscommon. Probably came out of one root somewhere way back when though.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Thanks Tom! This gives me a direction to keep looking.
I know 2001 may be ancient history as far as DNA research, but seeing Castlerea is singled out here, I was wondering in the years since this claim below was reported, if any Finans have DNA research to disseminate on our clan’s origins? That is, beyond the very common pre-Norman Haplogroup 1 (or Rb1) gene most Irish (80%+) share. My maternal side is the Loughglynn Co. Roscommon Ballyglass E. t/l. as documented by me, dovetailing with Tom Voyles’ diligent records, back in mid-2014 on this guest list. But I was wondering on either maternal or paternal sides if others have had genetic testing, beyond that general haplotype? Some families on the net are deep into tracing these “blood ties” now.
I had a trial run on Ancestry.com US but the British site was largely unavailable for free (and as I recorded it had erroneous records in the early 19c due to identical names being confused). Perhaps those with wider access to data may have better info? An Irish DNA project seeks to include any one whose eight g-g-parents were living all within 30km of each other, as a relevant aside. Any Finans?
Dr. Cristian Capelli, Dr. David B. Goldstein and others at Univ. Coll. London “assumed the original inhabitants of Britain could be represented by men living in Castlerea, in central Ireland, a region not reached by any foreign invader.” In a 2001 study “Dr. Goldstein and colleagues established that Y chromosomes of Celtic populations were almost identical with those of the Basques.”
(I’d personally root for any evidence that the Finans were not Norman by name but pre-invasion, but that’s my home turf bias. Are they/we considered a Celtic clan, being Ó Fionnáin, after all? Speaking of far-flung Finans, I came across a rumor that Finans showed up in Jordan; this was credited to either the Crusades or post-Famine diaspora–the latter seems very unlikely to me, however.)
I am updating this slightly. Pardon the erudition. I took a Y-STR paternal lineage DNA test via Ancestry-by-DNA and confirmed the Rb1 haplotype [presumably the L-21 to M-269 North Atlantic “proto-Celtic” for lack of a better term–see the eupedia-dot-com entry on Rb1 for context]. This is in 82% of Irish and around Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, up to 95%, indicative of a very high rate of genetic isolation compared to the coastal regions. As a possibly relevant aside, my haplotype was 93% European with 6% Central and 1% East Asian which may indicate a very old origin for my ancestors who settled Ireland early on. I will raise here for further speculation that the Finan-Norman connection posted regarding the Fannings (~the Norman name “Panin”) as on Alan Finan’s “Financlan” homepage may blur the reality that even if surnames did not come to Ireland until around a millennium ago, that the Ó Fionnáin indigenous clan may originate in Co. Mayo. [Cf. the surnamedb-dot-com entry for O’Finan.] Perhaps the Galway-Roscommon Fannon surname is applicable here? The Fannings are Normans and they came into Ireland from the Co Limerick direction, not the North.
I posit a Connacht origin for the Ua Fionnáin, given the predominance of the name there instead. The farthest back I can find for a Finans is that one ruled Coolcarney, Co. Mayo, [~Cuil Cearnadha “Callraighe of Cuil”] in the Barony of Gallen, later Bonnicolon & Attymass parish (near Kilgarven, this area hard hit in the Famine). My hunch is that the Ua Fionnáin later dispersed south to the counties of Roscommon and Sligo, where the surname is usually found. The Finans were the O’Fionnain chiefs loyal to the Ui Fiachrach Muaighe/Muaidhe [~Moy river]. They occupied this Ox Mountains area between Cos. Mayo and Sligo. The Fiacrach descended from Cenel na hÉogháin, allied to claim descent {or at least alliance?} with the Northern Uí Néill. My question is if any Finan descendents have had genetic testing. My STR test established only an Rb1 haplotype, and I am a Finan by the maternal line. Have any of you Finan descendants taken mtDNA and/or SNP tests at a granular level? I wonder if the M222 “aka Niall of the Nine Hostages” subclade may be tied to the Finans? I have found no mention of the Finans among surnames associated with the Uí Néill/M222 in my research, but the ancient, pre-Norman fealty paid the Uí Néill by Ua Fionnáin may align with this genetic marker. While the Red Hand surname is tied to Ulster, the Fiachrach branch reached down into Connacht.
These Hy-Fiachrach ancestral genealogies must be examined with caution, as David Lacey stresses. If Niall existed, he likely lived fifty years earlier than the purported chieftain who enslaved Patrick, for instance. One Eoghy Mugmedon is garbled into English as the supposed 124th “Heremonian” King of Tara while Fiachra was the second “Heremonian Dal Cuinn” King of Connacht in the chronicles that document Finan and our fabled progenitors. Some information was taken from John O’Donovan’s 1844 (search via Google Books) “The Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiacrach.” There is also as many of us recall a St. Finan’s Bay and a St. F. who died 664, but these may be the “fionn” name as “fair or bright” used as a moniker, I suspect, while the Coolcarney F. may be a clan name.
I wanted to add a new twist to our saga. This from the SurnameDB site. “Originally recorded as O’ Fionnain, and now O’ Finan, Finan, Fynan, and Fanning, this is an ancient Gaelic surname. Although Irish it derives from the word ‘fionn’ meaning fair, and whilst widely held to be associated with St Finan, of which more below, it probably indicates a surname of Viking ethnic origins […] The majority of the Vikings were much fairer skinned than the native Hibernians, who had a mixture of Olde English, Celtic and Scots blood. Be that as it may, the annals indicate that by the 17th century the clan were centered upon Counties Mayo and Sligo, although thereafter they gradually moved eastwards back to Roscommon. Here it is claimed, are to be found the greatest number of nameholders in the 21st century. The clan also claim association with St Finan, who died in 661 a.d. This is at least five centuries before the coming of surnames as we know then today, but such was his fame that it is not surprising that that there appears to be a clan dedicated to his name.”
Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Finan#ixzz4P9srQ7yZ
So, the ‘coat of arms’ Norman southern Finans adapted this name and perhaps then Gaelicized it to Ó Fionnáin, as the Scandinavians did their names into surnames after settling in Ireland. It has been suggested that surnames came in perhaps in the wake of the Norse to Éire. The combination of the Irish ‘fionn’ as an understandably common moniker, the clan associated with the Uí Fiachrach Muaidne originally on the River Moy in Mayo and later moving into Sligo and Roscommon, appear most likely as the ‘clan’ of those on this forum centered there. The Norman descendants also rendered the surname as shown above, but they remained a Tipperary originating and then Limerick-based group, I reckon apart from the Connacht sept.
It does make me wonder where our Northern surname originated. Homage to St. Finan? Viking incursions along the coasts? If so, how do these Scandinavian markers connect or supersede those of the Mayo sept? The ties as I’ve documented to the Uí Neill, which are fascinating as Fiachrach can be traced back to Conchobur McNessa of the Táin, and his wife, both at least in legend progenitors of the Ua Fionnáin.
Again, I remain curious if anyone on this list has taken the deeper level DNA tests so we can start to incorporate that data, to go beyond the ‘my granda was from such-and-such and married so-and-so’ that naturally comprise the majority of our posts.
Wow, just found this. My name is Michael Finan (aged 48) living in Wales, UK but originated from Ardagh, Crossmolina, County Mayo leaving there when I was 19years old.
My grand father came from near Dromore west in Sligo.
On 3/4/16 12:16 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Michael Finan commented: “Wow, just found this. My name is Michael Finan (aged > 48) living in Wales, UK but originated from Ardagh, Crossmolina, County Mayo > leaving there when I was 19years old. My grand father came from near Dromore > west in Sligo.” >
Michael, just seen your message on this forum . do you have a name for your grandfather and a date of birth for him.
Hi
Bernard Finan from Dunowla,Dromore West. He settled in Ardagh and died back in the early 80s.
Looking for my great aunt Sarah Finan (nee Kelly) who married Bernard Finan St Helens UK before moving to Co Mayo Cloonkee
Greetings, Michael Finan,
I just saw your note, too. My great grandfather James Finan came to the United States with his mother Ellen (Rafter) Finan and three brothers in the mid 1860s from Dunowla. My wife and I went to Dunowla two years ago and met Liam Finan, a fascinating, well informed, sheepherder and one of two Finans left living in Dunowla.
A distant cousin, Melvin Kiernan, whom I met on this blog, has given me an extensive history of the early Finan family in the States. If you are interested, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind my sharing it with you. You can contact me at Lohmann_192@comcast.net and I will email it to you. My mother, Jane Finan Lohmann would approve.
–John Lohmann
Hi Michael, this may be a long shot but wondering if your an old school buddy. Or have I got the wrong family. Any information welcome. Donal Kelly from Glenmore
Hello
I am Ramzi Raymond Finan from Beyrouth Beirut Lebanon
I am associate professor of OB GYN in St Joseph university medical school and chief of OB GYN department in Hotel Dieu de France
To my knowledge the migration of the family to the Middle East occurred during the crusades ( there is a Finan Valley in Jordan) the other theory is that the migration occurred after the starvation in Ireland and people went to south of France and from there most went to the USA except a few who came to this area
Hello Ramzi I am Fred Finan and live in the UK.. I have spent a lot of time in the Middle East and Jordan and found there is a village called Finan. On that particular trip I was with my family so it came as a bit of a surprise.
Hi Michael, got the photo, trying to see if there is a resemblance speak soon Cathy
Hi Michael, I haven’t managed to speak to my sister-in-law yet, but I would like a copy of the photograph if you don’t mind, my e-mail address is cathybroon@hotmail.com speak soon Cathy
Hi Cathy
I sent that photo on to your email address yesterday.
Michael
PLEASE CANCEL ALL FUTURE E MAILS RE FINAN FAMILY THANKYOU
On 11/12/15 2:13 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Michael Finan. commented: “Hi Cathy I sent that photo on to your email address > yesterday. Michael” >
Can you please tell me how this site works as I received this reply, I can only presume it’s because I let Michael send me a photograph.
There is a “unsubscribe bar” at the bottom of your screen. Click on it
On 3/4/16 6:14 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Callatran@aol.com commented: “There is a “unsubscribe bar” at the bottom of > your screen. Click on it” >
For Sandy Ashton:
Hello Sandy,
I had a look through my records today for a Patrick Finan birth
about 1820. If he were from County Roscommon he would
have been baptised in either Kilkeevin Catholic Parish (now
called Castlerea Catholic Parish), or next door in Loughglynn-
Lisacul Catholic Parish. Almost all 19th century Co. Roscommon
Finans lived in one of those two parishes (except for my own
large Finan family who lived in Ballintober-Ballymoe Catholic
Parish. All three of these parishes are contiguous in Co. Roscommon.
The Kilkeevin baptismal register has a gap from July, 1819
to August, 1827. The Patrick Finan baptism nearest to 1820 was
July 9, 1819. He was born to Patrick Finan and Mary Philips.
You didn’t mention if you know the names of Patrick’s parents,
so I don’t know if this is your Patrick.
The Loughglynn-Lisacul baptismal register begins in 1817.
Between that time and 1823 I only found one Patrick Finan
baptism. He was baptised March 22, 1823, born to John Finan
and Alicia McGuire. Again, no way to tell if he is your Patrick.
The problem is the same when trying to find the 1847 baptism of
Mary Finan born to Patrick Finan and a wife named Catherine.
The Loughglynn-Lisacul baptismal register has a gap from
November, 1840 to December, 1849.
There is no gap in the Kilkeevin register around 1847, but I was
unable to find a Mary born to Patrick Finan and a Catherine
between 1844 and 1854.
The good news is that these parish registers were put online
on July 8, 2015 by the National Library of Ireland, so you can
examine them yourself. They are in Latin, but are mostly
just lists of dates and names.
Go to: http://www.nli.ie and click on Catholic Parish Registers.
You will be transferred to their site with the registers. Just
enter Kilkeevin or Loughglynn-Lisacul as your parish of interest
and the images of the actual registers will appear.
My own records are based on a one-day look at the books in
the church in 1991, and they may be questionable. I need
to sit down and compare my transcripts with the registers
now that they are online and make the necessary corrections.
Good luck to you,
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Hi, Michael I am looking for the roots of my great great grand father Thomas Finan born about 1826, left for the US in May of 1845. In the US he married Nancy Dwyer who was from Galway and that has lead me to suspect he might have been from Roscommon, but I am not sure. I was just wondering if you had stumbled across his name anywhere. He had an interesting time, went to the gold rush in California in 1849 and returned east in about 1865.
Hi all at Finan Family History and thank you to whoever set the site up. My name is Michael Finan. I live in Sligo, Ireland and on finding the site by chance, I read Cathy Brown’s story from Scotland, posted on October 12 2013 where she mentioned about the murder of her aunt Kathleen in Glasgow in 1988. My dad Jack, who died in 2011 at the age of 94, had mentioned the murder of his cousin in Glasgow to me back then but, not knowing Kathleen nor very much about the Finan clan at that time, unfortunately, I didn’t take too much heed of the story. But now I hope Cathy is still in touch with this website as I am pretty sure that she and I are cousins. Her grandfathers name is George Finan, originally from Sligo. My Great-grandfather, John and his wife Kate (Feeney), also from Sligo had six children (John, James, George, Thomas, Molly and Stephen). I have a photograph here in front of me, of John and Kate with their young family taken in the early 1900’s. John, our Great-grandfather, was a cattle dealer and exported animals from Sligo to Scotland. I know this from my fathers story about his trip to Glasgow with his grandfather when he was about eight-ten years old. I really hope Cathy will get this message and reply quicker than I did to hers.
All the best,
Michael
Hi Michael, I have received your story, I don’t remember my grandfather but my grandma was Bridget Feeney Finan, my dad was Owen and he had a brother Tommy I think there was another brother George but I never met him I think he was dead, I think my dad was born in 1914, he died when he was 64 in 1978, my aunty Kathleen was 84 when she was murdered. My dad used to talk about somebody called JoJo and my aunty Kathleen used to go to Ireland for holidays nearly every year. We live in Spain but I always say to my husband I would like to know if we have any relations in Ireland Thanks for getting in touch I would like to know more. Cathy
Hi again Cathy
It seems that, if we are related, the connection is through the great-grandparents and their sons John (my grandfather) and his brother George (your grandfather), I don’t have a lot of information about the tree branches but will share anything I have that may help you.
I am the ninth of ten children born to my father and his wife (Josie Gannon). My dad Jack, was the eldest son of a family of seven children (six boys and one girl).
Grandfather, also Jack (John) was the eldest son of a family of the six children listed earlier. Both he and his wife (Margaret McCann) died before I was born so we never met and I never got much history of him. I know he was in the British army for the first world war and I think perhaps also in the second.
My father was born in 1915 and now I understand the possible psychological effects that that could have on the young soldier out in a war situation and on the young wife and some of their children who were born at that time and left at home in the middle of Irish revolution. That is probably why dad didn’t talk much about his earlier family life.
The name JoJo doesn’t ring a bell. But a lot of the names, like my (deceased) brother’s and dad’s and some of his cousins had the name John-Joe which could have been shortened to JoJo Another little piece of information is that Thomas, George’s (g.grandfather) brother went to America at some stage. But I don’t know where.
So, it seems from my your great-grandfather and my great-grandfather were possibly the one-and-the-same John.
Hope Spain is nice.
Take care
Michael
Hi Michael, just reading all these names, my father was Owen Patrick , he was married twice, his sons from previous marriage were called George, John, and Joseph. Myself and young brother are from second marriage, my young brother was called Gerard but. Sadly he died four years ago this month. I know that he had also tried to find out about relations in Ireland but not sure how far he got I will speak to my sister-in-law about it. I’m sorry I never asked my dad more bout his family. We have friends who come from n. Ireland they come out here for a few months they have a place round the corner. They come from Ballynahinch not sure how to spell it. Cathy
Hi Michael are you still on this site do you still have my email address I lost yours we had floods in Spain and I lost a lot of information Cathy
Hi Cathy
Sad to hear about Gerard’s death. Don’t know if you spoke to your sister-in-law about what your he may have found out about your and his family history. If you think you are connected to this Finan family branch through the great grandfather, John, in Sligo the only other thing I can offer is to scan a copy of the photograph and send it on to you, if you want it. I’ll need your email address if you do.
Take care, Michael
Hi Michael are you still in Sligo as we are coming over on Sat. 13 th Aug. It would be great to meet you. Cathy
Hi Michael sorry I haven’t been in touch a lot has happened since we last met, we have moved back to the UK now living in Shropshire do you still have my e-mail address if so can you message me thanks Cathy x
Hi Michael,
I knew Gabriel Finan from Sligo whose father I seem to remember was a cattle dealer and that Gabriel did some dealing himself – I wonder where Gabriel is now?
Kind reagrds,
Patrick O’Brien
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2015 13:56:58 +0000 To: obrienp_277@hotmail.com
Hello Patrick
afraid I don’t know nor haven’t ever heard of any Gabriel Finan from Sligo, but if I do hear of him I’ll post it up for you.
All the best
Michael
Hi Michael I have stumbled across this website I am researching the Finan’s from Sligo on behalf on my husband David and gather in law George Finan. George’s father was Thomas Joseph and born in 1908? His parents were George & Bridget Finan ( Feeney) and had children Kathleen, George Thomas Joseph, John & Margaret. I see in other post with you & Cathy Brown a son Owen is mentioned my father in law hasn’t mentioned him but there is a definate connection as Kathleen Finan was my father in law’s aunt who was murdered in Glasgow! I see you have mentioned some family photos would you be able to email these to me as George who is 81 now is very keen for any info. David , myself and 2 boys went to Sligo last week to re trace the family steps George seems to think there is a strong connection to Harmony Hill but looking at the census info seems to be Church street Sligo to John Finan who may possibly be my father in laws uncle?
Kind Regards
Kate Finan
Good evening Kate,
I came across this forum whilst looking into my own family history and it turns out, my Gran (Maureen Finan) is god mother to your husband David? Is this correct? X
Hi Lisa, was your gran married to Jim Mc Laren, and did she have brothers George, John,Joseph? Did she have 3 children.
Hi there Cathy; that was a different Maureen, my gran was married to Thomas Finan. Owen was my Grandads (Thomas Finan) brother who’s daughter was called Maureen xx
Hi Lisa, Kate mentioned that you are Irene’s daughter, your mum is my cousin, I’m Owens daughter, I had a brother Gerry but he died at 56. Does your family ever hear from Maureen’s family, Maureen, Lorraine and William, and also Maureen’s brothers, George and John, Joseph I don’t know very well.
Hi Kate, did your father-in-law live in whitevale st Glasgow and was his dad Tommy and his wife Lizzie if so my dad and Tommy were brothers along with my aunt Kathleen who was murdered. My dad was Owen
Hi Lisa, my dad was Owen, he married my mum after Maureen’s mum. Maureen, John and George used to come visiting our house. Was your gran Lizzie, and did she have a daughter Irene. If so I’m sure Irene was my brother gerrys God parent
Lizzie was my Great Grandmother from my Grandad Thomas Joseph’s side. Lizzies daughter Irene was my Grandads sister. Irene moved to Grangemouth and married John Smith xx
Hi Lisa, Irene is my cousin, uncle Tommys kids were older than me and my brother Gerry, ( who passed away in 2011 ) we are off to Sligo on Sunday to see if we can find out anything about the Finan’s . Is the lady Kate, a relative of yours as she went to Sligo I wonder if she met anyone.
Hi Kate can I ask if you found out any information on the Finan’s when you went to Sligo.
Hi Cathy .
Irene Smith was my husband’s David’s aunt. Lisa is his cousin Irene’s daughter . When we went to Sligo cemetery there are lots of Finan graves near the bottom.there was someone working there who directed us to the Harmony Hill Finan graves . He did mention that there was a relative who was in her 90’s living opposite the cemetery and we should go over for a cup of tea!! We didn’t… let us know how you get on. Kate
Hi Kate thanks for this info, I was a lot younger when we used to visit my uncle Tommy and Aunt Lizzies house, I remember Irene and another sister was it Beth, and I can’t remember if it was one or two brothers. I think they came to my aunt Kathleen’s funeral.
3 brothers George ( my father in law), Tommy and Jim (youngest) 3 sister’s Irene, Josephine and Elizabeth known ad Biff. Xx
Hi Kate, we are in Sligo now, going to genealogy office tomorrow, what ages are your father- in- laws brothers and sisters, I’m 66 and I know they were older than me. They must remember my dad Owen we lived next close to my aunt Kathleen in Duke St, before she moved. Cathy
Attention Please Tim Voyles::: I’m reposting this to see if it might be possible for you to shed any light on this particular branch on my paternal side? I can document this line in the USA but have not been able to trace them back to Ireland. ay help will be appreciated. Sandy
Hello, This is my first post. I am trying to trace my Irish ancestors (father’s side) back to Ireland. These are the facts I have been able to document — Patrick Finan (born about 1820) and Catherine Unk (born about 1825) married in Ireland and had daughter Mary there in about 1847. After that, they emigrated (date uncertain) and lived in New York City. Twins Michael and John were born in New York City in 1853. Son James was born about 1858 in Ohio. There may be other children. Son John married in 1874 to Margaret Gaughan (born about 1857 in Ohio, daughter of Mich Gaughan and Bridget Haran — both born in Ireland). John was a Kenton County Kentucky, Alderman. John and Margaret had several children — Mary, Henry, Nellie, James, David, Willie, Anne, Catherine, John Michael (my grandfather), Joseph Leo, Gertrude, Raymond, Earl, Edward. John died in 1917 and Margaret died in 1914. Both are buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
I am excited to have found this forum! Thank you!
Sandy Ashton, Annapolis Maryland
Hello Sandy,
I had a look through my records today for a Patrick Finan birth
about 1820. If he were from County Roscommon he would
have been baptised in either Kilkeevin Catholic Parish (now
called Castlerea Catholic Parish), or next door in Loughglynn-
Lisacul Catholic Parish. Almost all 19th century Co. Roscommon
Finans lived in one of those two parishes (except for my own
large Finan family who lived in Ballintober-Ballymoe Catholic
Parish. All three of these parishes are contiguous in Co. Roscommon.
The Kilkeevin baptismal register has a gap from July, 1819
to August, 1827. The Patrick Finan baptism nearest to 1820 was
July 9, 1819. He was born to Patrick Finan and Mary Philips.
You didn’t mention if you know the names of Patrick’s parents,
so I don’t know if this is your Patrick.
The Loughglynn-Lisacul baptismal register begins in 1817.
Between that time and 1823 I only found one Patrick Finan
baptism. He was baptised March 22, 1823, born to John Finan
and Alicia McGuire. Again, no way to tell if he is your Patrick.
The problem is the same when trying to find the 1847 baptism of
Mary Finan born to Patrick Finan and a wife named Catherine.
The Loughglynn-Lisacul baptismal register has a gap from
November, 1840 to December, 1849.
There is no gap in the Kilkeevin register around 1847, but I was
unable to find a Mary born to Patrick Finan and a Catherine
between 1844 and 1854.
The good news is that these parish registers were put online
on July 8, 2015 by the National Library of Ireland, so you can
examine them yourself. They are in Latin, but are mostly
just lists of dates and names.
Go to: http://www.nli.ie and click on Catholic Parish Registers.
You will be transferred to their site with the registers. Just
enter Kilkeevin or Loughglynn-Lisacul as your parish of interest
and the images of the actual registers will appear.
My own records are based on a one-day look at the books in
the church in 1991, and they may be questionable. I need
to sit down and compare my transcripts with the registers
now that they are online and make the necessary corrections.
Good luck to you,
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
I knew a Gabriel Finan years ago in Cork – we worked together. He had been studying for the priesthood – Mill Hill Fathers in London – but I don’t think he went back.
He was from Ballisodare, Co. Sligo and liked athletics – we use to train together.
He was a great bloke!
My name is Ron Cambias. I live in New Orleans, LA and have long been interested in learning more about my family history. I recently found your blog and realized the connection between the Finans and Lavins of County Roscommon and my own family tree. I am descended from Bridget Finan whom I believe originated in the Parish of Kilkeevan in County Roscommon. She arrived in New Orleans in 1847 and married a John Lavin in 1849. John Lavin was from Loughrea, Galway. However, I have strong suspicions he may have had roots in the same area of County Roscommon. Bridget Finan’s parents were James Finan and Jane Gill; John Lavin’s parents were Michael Lavin and Bridget Christi. I would certainly welcome any information anyone would have on this branch of the Finan/Lavin family tree. Thanks!
Ron
Patrick,
Thanks so much. My father was very fond of your father and mother and always enjoyed visits with them. My e-mail is RCambias@aol.com. I would be happy to share whatever I have as well. Look forward to hearing back from you whenever you get the chance. Thanks!
Ron
My paternal grandmother Teresa Finan was born October 27 1872 in Birmingham. My father told me that her family came to Birmingham from Castlerea, Roscommon because of the famine. Her birth certificate gives her parents as James Finan, labourer, and Catherine, nee Fleming.
UK censuses started in 1841 and occur every 10 years. The family do not appear on the 1841 or 1851 censuses, and the earliest UK record is of the marriage of James and Catherine at St Chad’s RC Cathedral in Birmingham January 11 1852. The marriage certificate gives his father as Martin Finan, nailor, and her father as John Fleming, labourer.
According to later UK censuses, my great grandfather, James Finan, was born in Co Roscommon in about 1828. He died in about 1892 having worked as a glassmaker and a bricklayer.
There is a baptismal record for Martin Finon (sic) in the parish of Castlerea October 21 1805, his parents given as Patrick Finon and Anne Horan
My grandmother Teresa had five older siblings, Catherine, Thomas, Mary-Ann, John and Margaret; between the six of them they only managed three offspring, and Teresa’s line of descent is the only remaining one!
UK censuses show that the Fleming family including Catherine’s father, brother and sister also came from Roscommon and I think it most likely that James Finan emigrated with them in or about 1851. These census returns unfortunately only give the county of birth (Roscommon) for all these people, except for 1911 which specifies Castlerea as the birth place of Catherine’s brother Patrick Fleming, the last survivor of that generation.
my email address is tagregory1@hotmail.com
if anyone would like to correspond through email
Hello, This is my first post. I am trying to trace my Irish ancestors (father’s side) back to Ireland. These are the facts I have been able to document — Patrick Finan (born about 1820) and Catherine Unk (born about 1825) married in Ireland and had daughter Mary there in about 1847. After that, they emigrated (date uncertain) and lived in New York City. Twins Michael and John were born in New York City in 1853. Son James was born about 1858 in Ohio. There may be other children. Son John married in 1874 to Margaret Gaughan (born about 1857 in Ohio, daughter of Mich Gaughan and Bridget Haran — both born in Ireland). John was a Kenton County Kentucky, Alderman. John and Margaret had several children — Mary, Henry, Nellie, James, David, Willie, Anne, Catherine, John Michael (my grandfather), Joseph Leo, Gertrude, Raymond, Earl, Edward. John died in 1917 and Margaret died in 1914. Both are buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
I am excited to have found this forum! Thank you!
Sandy Ashton
THANK YOU—IN FUTURE PLEASE SEND E MAILS TO, JOHN FINAN john@finan.co.uk
On 12/27/14 5:36 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Sandy Ashton commented: “Hello, This is my first post. I am trying to trace > my Irish ancestors (father’s side) back to Ireland. These are the facts I > have been able to document — Patrick Finan (born about 1820) and Catherine > Unk (born about 1825) married in Ireland and had ” >
Hi, I don’t have any info on her or her Finan family. All I know is she left Gurteen and went to Cincinnati, OH to meet up with her boyfriend and get married. They then headed off for free land in South Dakota (Elk Point). She had 5 children and died in her forties from cancer. I don’t know anything about her Finan family. I have been to Gurteen several times but could find no trace of her. Would welcome any info you have on the family. Thanks
Jim,
My Grandmother was a Finan and was born in Cincinnati.
I am very proud of my Irish heritage and have been researching my family history for the last few years. Most of my focus is on my father’s side of the family because some of my cousins have given me a great starting point.
My father John Patrick O’Leary (23 May 1925 – 26 Jul 1981) was the only child of Patrick John O’Leary (15 Feb 1894 – 26 Jan 1975) and Katherine Ellen Finan (2 Dec 1891 – 9 Mar 1983).
My Grandmother Katherine Ellen Finan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Katherine Ellen Finan’s parents
Father: James Joseph Finan (15 Nov 1863 – 12 Jul 1923)
Mother: Margaret Sweeney (22 Feb 1861 – 20 Feb 1917)
I know that Margaret Sweeney was born in Ireland but not sure where. She had a brother Thomas Sweeney (17 Jul 1862 – 5 Apr 1944). He lived with my Grandparents. He was always referred to as “Uncle”. He died at the age of 81 years old. He never married. He died during WW II.
I do have Thomas Sweeney’s passport. It shows an address in Ireland as High Lake, County Roscommon. Most likely his sister, Margaret who was my Grandmother, also lived in High Lake. The information you sent me shows that the Finan’s lived in High Lake.
I know my Grandparents, James Finan and Margaret Sweeney were married in the United States because I have the marriage certificate. Based on what you have sent me it appears they might have known each other in Ireland.
Census records show James Joseph Finan arrived in America 1882 or 1883.
Census records show that Margaret Sweeney arrived in America 1881.
Hi Patrick, sorry for the late response. My g-grandmother was Kate Finan Callaghan from the Gurteen area of County Sligo. She left Sligo in the early 1860’s for Cincinnati OH to meet up with her boyfriend and get married. They married in Cinci and their first child was born there and then they headed off for the Dakota Territory where they were giving free land to anyone that would settle there and farm the land for five years. I don’t know why they chose to go to Cincinnati from gurteen, possibly there was already family there. I found two Callaghan sisters that left the Gurteen area some 20 yeaers later and also went to Cincinnati. Don’t know if there was a family connection or just a lot of jobs.
I really don’t have any Finan info. The only Finan’s I could find in the Gurteen area was a John Finan in Gurteen so I assumed that was probably her father or brother.
I think there might have been a Bartholomew (or something like that also living in the home). By the time the census came around all the Finans were gone from Gurteen.
I have been to Gurteen several times looking for callaghan’s and Finans. There is / was a parish Priest named Finan about 1 mile from Gurteen that I met. I also took a Sligo / Western Ireland phonebook and sent a letter to all of the Finan’s that I could find. No responses since I had so little info to provide
I hope you find your ancestors
Good Luck
Jim Callahan
Kansas City—USA
callatran@aol.com
THANK YOU, IN FUTURE PLEASE SEND E MAILS TO—JOHN FINAN john@finan.co.uk
On 12/25/14 1:17 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Jim Callahan commented: “Hi, I don’t have any info on her or her Finan family. > All I know is she left Gurteen and went to Cincinnati, OH to meet up with her > boyfriend and get married. They then headed off for free land in South Dakota > (Elk Point). She had 5 children and died i” >
Hello from Michigan USA. Helping my son-in-law trace his family…looking for more information on,
John Finan
Birth in Greyfield Gurteen Co Sligo Ireland
Death 1861 in Greyfield Gurteen Co Sligo Ireland. any more information would be most helpful…thank you Terrie Gregory
My G-grandmother was Kate Finan Callaghan 1835-1883 also from Greyfieldd in Gurteen. She married Corneilus Callaghan from Moydough in Gurteen. She died from cancer in South Dakota
Jim Callahan
Kansas City
callatran@aol.com
Hi Jim Callahan, will have to look into this further to see if they were relatives. Thanks for your reply. And Merry Christmas!
yes i did find your G-grandmother and her husband on Ancestry.com. Do you have all the information you need on her? Or could I help you in some way?
Terrie Gregory—–would you please send me your email address, I would like to explore more and see if there is a connection between your Finan and mine. Thanks
Jim Callahan
callatran@aol.com
tagregory1@hotmail.com
THANK YOU IN FUTURE PLEASE SEND E MAILS TOJOHN FINAN john@finan.co.uk
On 12/28/14 12:39 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Terrie Gregory commented: “tagregory1@hotmail.com” >
THANK YOU IN FUTURE PLEASE SEND E MAILS TO JOHN FINAN john@finan.co.uk
On 12/27/14 3:22 AM, “Finan Family History” wrote:
> Jim Callahan commented: “Terrie Gregory—–would you please send me your > email address, I would like to explore more and see if there is a connection > between your Finan and mine. Thanks Jim Callahan callatran@aol.com” >
I am totally floored to see Papa’s exact shield on your opening page! He/we (I’m a Finnan – 2 middle n’s by marriage). The motto on his shield is “Suivex La Raison” – Follow Reason. I have been researching all of my family background, but have included my in-laws for my sons to know. I’m sure you know there is a St. Finnan whose grave and history starts in Scotland. How do 1 n Finans and 2 n Finnansrelate?
h
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I am a Finan from Pittsburgh, Pa…Donna Jean Finan..love to be in contact with Finans all over
whatever you can find out about the Finans from Pittsburgh I would love to hear about it..email me and answer me here also
What year was I born. My name Mary Gabriel Finan -mid 1930’s born in Galway. Mother Angela Dowler- father Michael Joseph Finan
Hello Mary,
Here is the record of yourself and your siblings (those that I found):
Feb. 21, 1935 Mary Gabriel Finan, born at Seamount Nursing Home, Galway R.D. to Michael Finan, College Road, Galway, occupation: Engineer. Birth registered on May 11, 1935 by W. Kenny, occupant, Seamount Nursing Home.
April 5, 1936 Michael Leo Finan, born at Seamount Nursing Home.
May 2, 1938 John Charles Finan, born at St. Benedict’s, Limerick to Michael Finan of Kylemore Village, Gorbally, Limerick.
Feb. 2, 1940 Vivian James Finan, born at St. Benedict’s, Limerick to Michael J. Finan of Kylemore Village, Limerick.
Dec. 26, 1941 Geoffrey Steven Finan, born at 5 Lower Mallow St., Limerick to Michael J. Finan of Clare View, Farranshore(?), Limerick.
Dec. 15, 1942 Carol Veronica Finan, born at St. Anne’s, Gorbally, Limerick to Michael Joseph Finan of St. Anne’s, Gorbally, occupation: Civil Engineer. Birth registered by the father Jan. 5, 1943.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
Hi,
My name is Francis Finan and I am a Sligo native living in Galway. The main reason I noticed you page was because of your coat of arms, I was wondering where you found it as I grew up with a very different coat of arms in our house. The one I grew up with had three birds on the coat, not three stars, was just looking for more info as to where the coat you display came from.
Also if any of you have nay questions you would like to ask me, please do, I will make sure to try and help to the best of my abilities.
Regards,
Francis
Good Lord. I haven’t come across this website before. Thanks to you, Tim Finan I assume, for getting this up and running! This is a great repository of information!
Im Tom Finan, researcher into the Finans coming from John Finan, son of Hugh Finan, who came to St. Louis c. 1870.
I will have a read on this later tonight…thanks again!
by any chance are you the guy who is the professor in st louis university
Yes, that would be me!
do you know were your finan ancestors came from in ireland .
Greetings from Louisville, Kentucky USA. I am looking for any information about my Great Great Grandparents James Finan (1835-1885) and Catherine Muldoon (1841- ???). My records show they lived in Castleplunket, County Roscommon. They had nine kids – I think, James (1863), John (1864), Patrick (1867), Ellen (1871), Catherine (1873), Patrick (1875), Bridget (1877), Honoria (1877) and Delia (1879).
James Finan came to America and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hello Patrick,
I have been doing Co. Roscommon Finan research for over 25 years, and I know all about the
Finan- Muldoon family. I will be happy to give you all the information when I return home from
vacation. I am currently staying with Finan relatives about 5 miles from Castleplunket. I will
be home in Delaware Aug. 3. Please send me a reminder email then.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
ntvoyles@netzero.net
i have found a headstone on irish graveyards.ie. the grave is located in easkey cemetary. the main name is for a george a gallagher who died in 1945. also mentioned are the taylor and finan families on the headstone. would anyone know what is the relation between the 3 surnames.would anyone know what finans are buried in this grave
Dr. Murphy,
1. I too, used to correspond with Linda Kuhn of Cleveland in 2002, but lost track
of her. I haven’t seen her name anywhere in years.
2. The trees posted online are undependable. People make guesses and post them.
Others come along and incorporate the inaccurate information into their trees. Soon
many trees contain the same inaccurate information. You have to “trust, but verify”.
3. I went through my records and gathered the following events concerning
Ballyglass East Finans. (I don’t remember any Finans ever being in
Ballyglass West Townland). Sorry, but I did not find a marriage for your James
Finan, b. 27 Nov, 1896. Do you know if he stayed in Ireland, or emigrated?
I ask this because, below, it seems that John ended up with the landholding
in Ballyglass East.
Baptisms in Loughglynn-Lisacul Catholic Parish Register:
22 Dec, 1850 Honoria Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
19 May, 1853 John Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
08 Nov, 1855 Mary Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
19 April, 1857 Sarah Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
03 April, 1859 Patrick Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
26 Dec, 1861 (TWINS) Thomas Finan and Margaret Finan, born to
Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
Government Civil Registration of Births, Marriages, and Deaths
began 01 Jan, 1864. (If you would like the images of the following
registrations, email me at ntvoyles@netzero.net):
10 March, 1864 Jane Finan, born to Dominick Finan and Ellen Dockery.
10 Aug, 1867 Death, Dominick Finan, of Ballyglass East, married, age 55, heart
disease, found dead. Death reported by Thomas Peyton, coroner, Roscommon County.
04 July, 1882 Death, Bridget Finan of Ballyglass East, widow, age 80 years,
senile congestion for 4 months, Mary Mangan present at death.
04 Feb, 1887 Mary Ellen Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
30 Sept, 1888 Cecelia Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
13 March, 1890 Sarah Kate Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
06 March, 1892 Patrick Joseph Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
08 Dec, 1893 Teresa inan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
28 Jan, 1895 Dominick Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
27 Nov, 1896 James Finan, born to John Finan and Mary Dockery of Ballyglass East.
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Tom Voyles
Actually you have more info than I do. After looking at Irish records, I am only guessing at which area of Roscommon was their home.
Please share any info on other Gaffney relatives. I can help add some to your tree as well as some photos. Thanks! Jane
My name is Joanne Fuller, I am looking for information on Rodger Finan, who died in 1837 and Eleanor (Calloway) Finan who died in 1844. They had a son named John Finan Born 28, January, 1806 in Ireland. He married Ellen Moran on 10, July, 1837 in Ireland. They immigrated to America about 1847 and lived in Paulding, Ohio. The name was changed to Finerd sometime after 1842.
Mt second try: I’m looking for relatives who know something about my relatives. My great-grandfather, James J. Finan, (born 24 May 1843) and his brothers, Robert (1841-1909) and Farrell, left Dunowla, County Sligo, in 1866(?) for the United States. Their parents, Farrell and Ellen (nee Rafter) (1800-1884) Finan probably lived in Dunowla but I have no record of that. I have seen census records of Finans in Dunowla from 1901 and 1911, but I do not know what relations they were, or if they were. I welcome any comments from anyone knowing any other relations.
i am a descendant from the Finan’s in Dunowla. there was a James and he was my great great grandfather’s brother . he had no brothers called Robert or Farrell. or if he did cannot find a trace . there were Finan’s in the parish of Templeboy which is the next parish . so they may have been from there. there were also Finans in a townland called Farranmacfarrell and Dromore . these are in the same parish as Dunowla. The man who lived in Farranmacfarrell was a Peter and the man who lived in Dromore was a Michael Peter , he was born in 1830 approx and died in 1931. the first Finan i found in Dunowla was in 1830. he was Peter , unless your Finan’s are descendants from brothers of his
Thanks for the quick response. I got the information about my great-grandfather James J. Finan from a history written by a relative who knew a considerable amount of the family history, i.e. wives, children, birth dates, etc. of each of the brothers so I’m fairly solid about their coming from Dunowla. How long they lived in Dunowla is another story I don’t know, though. Their mother, Ellen (Rafter) Finan was born n 1798 but I don’t know where she was born. I have no other information about their father Farrell Finan. I wonder if you (or Tom Voyles) have any information about my other great-grandmother on my (Finan) mother’s side. She was Jane Carlos, born about 1860, I believe in Strokestown, county Roscommon. Thanks again. –John
Farrell and Ellen (Rafter) Finan were cousins of my great-grandfather Bernard Melvin, whose mother was Catherine Finan. Ellen (listed as a widow) and three sons Farrell, James and Thomas arrived in New York 2 January 1861 on the Emerald Isle. Her son Robert arrived a year earlier, 1 June 1860 on the Harvey Birch. There is no further mention of Thomas, but the other three sons raised families in New York City. Persons named Robert and Farrell Finan were living in Pittsburgh in 1850. Clearly they were relatives since this Robert was witness on the citizenship papers of my great-grandfather’s brother Matthew Melvin. I have found no further mention of these Robert and Farrell Finan. It is possible that the Pittsburgh Farrell was Ellen’s husband, immigrating early to find employment but dying before Ellen joined him. I have extensive information from census and directory records about the next two or three generations of Ellen and Farrell’s family. Both my great-great grandfather Bryan Melvin and a Farrell Finan held adjacent tenancies in Easkey, Co Sligo, as listed in the Applotment Book compiled in the 1830s. Easkey, Dromore and Dunowla seem to refer vaguely to the same general area of coastal Sligo. Other cousins of mine who lived in Easkey until recently were married to other Finan families. I would be happy to share my research on the Finans with you.
Melvin,
We’re related. Two years ago, I received a four page history of the “Finan Family” from my second cousin in Las Vegas. It began, “According to Mary Kiernan, brothers Robert and Farrell Finan were cousins of her mother, whose father’s mother was Catherine Finan Melvin…It is not known for certain how the Finans are related to the Melvins. Bernard Melvin’s mother was Catherine Finan; by age, she could be the sister of Robert, James, and Farrell’s father, Farrell…”
I can’t find the documents right now, but I do have a note stating, “Robert & Farrell Finan, naturalized Pennsylvania, 2 Oct 1856, Circuit Court and District Court, Western District, PA.” These dates agree with those you have but they may be a different pair of Robert and Farrell from James’ brothers. I have a certificate for James Finan registering for citizenship 22 October 1867 (finally granted 22 October 1886). I’d be glad to ship you copies of the information I have in exchange for yours.
Feel free to contact me at: Lohmann_192@comcast.net
Thanks for writing and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
–John Lohmann (Jane Finan’s son)
The material you received “According to Mary Kiernan …” originated with me. I had sent a copy to Kathleen Olsen of Aberdeen NJ, a descendant of one of the Finan brothers.
The Robert and Farrell Finan in Pittsburgh must be at least a generation older than the Robert, James and Farrell who were Ellen’s sons, since a person had to be at least 21 years old for a grant of citizenship.
I have no further information about the Finan family, beyond the text you have. I visited the parish church in Easkey a few years ago, but their records begin in 1892. My own family, the Melvins, left Easkey at the time of the Famine and moved to Manchester, England. The father and two children died there in 1847. The others in the family are listed in the 1851 British census. My great grandfather Bernard Melvin and his brother Matthew emigrated, presumably in 1854. No United States immigration records have been found, so I assume they came through Canada, where the immigration records for the 1850s were lost in a fire. Matthew settled in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh and raised a large family there. Bernard was briefly with him, moving to New York City around 1861. Bernard was clearly in contact with the Finans in New York, since Robert Finan (Ellen’s son) was witness at Bernard’s wedding in 1866, and Bernard was a baptismal sponsor for Robert’s son James in 1869. Strangely, I have found no record of either the Melvins or the Finans serving in the Civil War. Neither have I found a record of Robert’s marriage to Catherine Feeney, probably in 1866.
I would be particularly interested in finding information about the Finan family generations earlier than Farrell and Ellen, to tie together several strands of the family. But I seem to have exhausted the standard sources in Ireland.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Melvin Kiernan
Melvin,
Thank you for the family chronology. It represents a large percentage of what I know about the Finans. One correction: The “History” states that James and Elizabeth (Larkin) had a son, Vincent, who died in 1898. Actually, Vincent was my grandfather who married Anna Carey and had a son who married and had four boys, a daughter who married and had two girls, and a second daughter, Jane Marie, my mother, who married Ralph G. Lohmann and had 12 children, nine of whom are still living. I married Mary (Graham) after I was commissioned in the Army (1969) and we have three children, a daughter and two boys, one of whom married Emily (Hazlett) who have given us a grandson, Maxwell Riley Lohmann.
In 2014, Mary and I hope to take a third trip to Ireland, to look around Sligo, as well as Leitrim, Roscommon, and Tipperary, where her relatives lived. I have Irish census data from 1901 and 1911 that lists Finans in Dunowla, 50 years after my ancestors left. These and your information about Easkey provide some starting places to look.
Thanks again,
–John Lohmann (from the state of New Hampshire)
I am from Pittsburgh..my grandfather was James Jeremiah Finan..he married a Mary trevenon..he lived in Johnstown,pa then moved to Pittsburgh..he worked in the coal mines in Johnstown..he had 5 sons…James…Edwin….Gerard….Paul and Donald(my father) do you know anything about other Pittsburgh Finans
Hi my father was Owen Finan, he came to Scotland with his parents, brothers and sister . My grandmother was Bridget Feeney Finan and I think my grandfather was called George. My father died in 1978 and he was 64yrs. My aunt Kathleen was a spinster and used to go to Ireland at least once a year. She was murdered when she was 84 in her house in Glasgow. Its so sad that I never found out more about the relatives in Ireland, and I am 62 now, but maybe one day I will go to Ireland and see if I can find out anything. thanks
do you have any idea were they came from in ireland. the most common part of ireland is sligo were the finan name is from. your dad was born in 1914 . so he would be not on census his father would be if you knew his name . the census for ireland for the year 1901 and 1911 is free on the national archives.ie
According to different sites and my knowledge, I’m pretty sure that the Finan surname is most common in Roscommon but of course also common in Sligo. Even if you look up Finan in the census in 1911 there are 152 people in Sligo while there are 221 in Roscommon.
Hi Cathy, I know it’s a bit late replying to your request for information but just found your notice today. I’m from Sligo in Ireland. My father, Jack, who died in February 2011 at the age of 94, mentioned the story of the murder of his relation, Katrhleen, in Glasgow (when I was younger and not very aware of the family connections) and that’s what made me realize our connection. My great grandfather, John, lived in Sligo and was a cattle dealer who used to export animals to Scotland. I know this from my father’s story of his trip to Glasgow with his grandad when he was about ten years old. I have a family photograph of my (and your) great-grandfather’s family including your grandfather (George) at about the age eight. Looking at it right now. I don’t know anything about George or his family. You seem to know he married a Bridget Feeney. This is coincidental as his father (our great – grandfather, John) was married to Katy Feeney. I hope this gets to you and looking forward to your reply.
Michael Finan
Hi Michael, in the last post I sent to you I said my dad mentioned someone called JoJo but in fact I think it may have been John Jo. I’m afraid I don’t know too much of my parents families, I know my mum and dad went to Ireland for a holiday and they were at a Wake don’t know who died though I wasn’t born then and I’m 64. Cathy
Hi Michael, can you send me your e-mail address again as I have mislaid it. We are coming over to Sligo I think in August and it would be good to get in touch. Thanks Cathy Brown
Thanks this is a great review on this site. My ancestor Thomas was 19 on arriving here May 2, 1845, he was accompanied by his twin sisters(spinsters age 23) Ellen and Susan. From the Ship Emblems arrival in NY manifest. That is all the family data I have. At that age is it likely he would have been on earlier tax roles?
My Name is Regina M Hayes Jenkins and my Grandmother on my Father’s side was Ellen V Finan (Nellie) she married John Burton Hayes in St Louis,Mo. in 1908 she was born in St.Louis,Mo. in 1880 to John Finan and Ann Higgins.I just started researching this side of my wonderful family and I am being helped by a Irish Genealogist and my daughter.He of course directed me here.
Hayes Genealogy >
Census/Directories >
Cemetery Transcriptions/Images >
Maps >
Pictures >
Books >
Clonakilty History >
Clonakilty Directories >
Links >
Griffiths Valuation of Ireland
If you would like to view all the records for a town land in one file click here
Surname First Name Townland Parish County
Following are the exact matches:
Finan Owen Ballymote Town of Ballymote Market Str. Emlaghfad Sligo
Finan Patrick Town of Sligo Holborn Street Cairy Sligo
Finan Michael Sligo Gallows Hill or Holbourn,Town Cairy Sligo
Finan Laurence Sligo Bridge Street,Town Cairy Sligo
Finan John Greyfield Kilfree Sligo
Finan Laurence Barnasrahy Killaspugbrone Sligo
Finan Daniel Carrownloughan Killoran Sligo
Finan Bryan Cabragh Killoran Sligo
Finan Michael Slieveroe or Siberia Killaspugbrone Sligo
Finan John Sligo Gallows Hill or Holbourn,Town Cairy Sligo
Finan Margaret Lugnamackan Ballysadare Sligo
Finan Mary Belra Achonry Sligo
Finan John Cloonarara Achonry Sligo
Finan Patrick Moat Kilbegnet Galway
Finan James Carrownacreevy Achonry Sligo
Finan Michael Carrownaleck Achonry Sligo
Finan Peter Corsallagh Achonry Sligo
Finan Ellen Lugnamackan Ballysadare Sligo
Finan James Ballyscannel Ahamlish Sligo
Finan James Agharrow Ahamlish Sligo
Finan John Deenodes Killoran Sligo
Finan Margaret Cappagh Killoran Sligo
Finan Peter Barnacoghil Templeboy Sligo
Finan Patrick Finlough Kilvarnet Sligo
Finan Miles Carrowntawy Kilvarnet Sligo
Finan Michael Farranmorgan Kilmoremoy Sligo
Finan Michael Town of Sligo Lower Quay Lane St. Johns Sligo
Finan Patrick Sligo Love Lane St. Johns Sligo
Finan Rev. Peter Irish Green,Newtownlimavady Drumachose Derry
Finan James Crumlin or Rockfield. Rathaspick Westmeath
Finan John Ballynacroghy or Gallowstown Kilbixy Westmeath
Finan Patrick Cloonbarry Kilmacteige Sligo
Finan Owen Knockahoney Kilmacteige Sligo
Finan James Dunowla Kilmacshalgan Sligo
Finan Patrick Cabragh Killoran Sligo
Finan Michael Town of Coolaney Killoran Sligo
Finan Michael Cappagh Killoran Sligo
Finan Michael Dunowla Kilmacshalgan Sligo
Finan Patrick Dunowla Kilmacshalgan Sligo
Finan John Knockahoney Kilmacteige Sligo
Finan Peter Farranmacfarrell Kilmacshalgan Sligo
Finan Peter Dunowla Kilmacshalgan Sligo
Finan Edward Corsallagh Achonry Sligo
Finan James Sessuegilroy Achonry Sligo
Finan John Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan John Breanabeg Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan James Cloonroughan Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan James Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan John, Jr. Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Michael Arm Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Patrick Beagh Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Charles Carrowntawa Achonry Sligo
Finan Michael Breanabeg Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan James Breanabeg Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Hugh Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan John Shankoagh Drumatemple Roscommon
Finan Patrick Corlis Baslick Roscommon
Finan Patrick Carrowbaun Baslick Roscommon
Finan John Cloonbard Baslick Roscommon
Finan Michael Dundermot Drumatemple Roscommon
Finan Patrick Shankoagh Drumatemple Roscommon
Finan Dominick Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan William Brackloon Kilcorkey Roscommon
Finan Michael Brackloon Kilcorkey Roscommon
Finan Patrick Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Michael Cloonfower Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Thomas Barnacawley Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Roger Breanamore Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Peter Trien Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Patrick Cloonsheever Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Thomas Breanamore Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Martin Lisnacroghy or Gallowstown Roscommon Roscommon
Finan Charles Carrownaleck Achonry Sligo
Finan Charles Carnyara Achonry Sligo
Finan Patrick Lisnacroghy or Gallowstown Roscommon Roscommon
Finan Pataick Parkeel Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Roger Barnacawley Tibohine Roscommon
Finan William Main Street Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Martin Cloonfinglas Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Thomas Creglahan Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan William Clooncoose North Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Sarah Creggaslin Kilkeevin Roscommon
Finan Dominick Ballyglass East Tibohine Roscommon
Finan Bridget Barnacawley Tibohine Roscommon
Finan John Breanamore Tibohine Roscommon
these were all the finans that payed a tax to the church between 1848 and 1864 in roscommon and sligo. there maybe a family member in the list. this was a tax payed to upkeep the protestant faith as it was the state religion of the time. sorry there is so many , but it may help you
I would like to know, but my grandmother couldn’t remember. Assume maybe southern Roscommon as Nancy was from Galway, and that they knew each other before she came over.
My great great grandfather was Thomas Finan, emmigrated to the US in May of 1945. Married Nancy Dwyer of Galway in 1849 when she came over. He quickly got Nancy pregnant Iand caught a ship for California and the gold rush. Stayed in Calif. 6 years and when he couldn’t convince Nancy to come out finally returned to Boston and produced 5 more children. Did well in Calif. selling to miners, would love to learn more of his Ireland origins, and other descendents.
do you know were in ireland he was from. as the name is popular in sligo
the name is common in roscommon
I am delighted to see that there is a site dedicated to the Finan (Fionnain) family from Ireland!
All I know is that my grandfather, James M. Finan, came from Port Ewen. NY and settled in Elizabeth, NJ and later became Fire Commissioner of Elizabeth cica ’20s or ’30s. In my entire life I have never met anyone with the name “Finan” and cannot believe that we have a family website!
I must assume that we are all related in some way and I hope that everyone finds what they are looking for!
Paul W. O’Finan, Esq.
fionnain@isp.com
you are welcome to the finan page. the Finan name is most common in sligo. the name is believed to be a norman name originally .there was a st finan from lindisfarne in england
so is it near chorley, so the two finan families may be related. do you have any details of their parents and when they were born
Yes it is in Lancashire .
Hi,My father was James John Finan from Chorley Lancashire England,his father Peter, Mother Mary
.I dont know if they originate from Ireland.Would like to find out more,Love the Coat of Arms
by any chance is Chorley near a place called St helens. the reason. i am asking is that i believe my grandfather had relatives who lived in this area in the 1930’s
Hello, Finans from county Monaghan checking in!!
Awesome info, thx so much, Tom & Laura! There must be some other Mitchell/Mulvihil-Finan cousins who have more of that branch info to share…anybody?
Hello Barbara,
For more info you might go to Ancestry.com and search the Public Member Trees
for Mitchell. If you do not subscribe, Ancestry is available for use at many public
libraries.
However, be skeptical. Sometimes people make guesses and post them, and then
someone else accepts that information as true and adds it in their tree. You can
end up with the same incorrect information in a number of family trees.
Good Luck,
Tom Voyles
Tom, thank you so very much for sharing your Finan/Carroll family information, & w/Laura in clarifying the townland/Parish historical divisions! You’ve been extremely helpful. Fortunately, Fianna blood/spirit continues to flow in Irish American veins; tracing my 1/4 Irish ancestry has been much more enlightening than what I’ve discovered thus far about my German, Norwegian, & Bohemian families. Being able to connect who all those ancestors were I heard so many fascinating family stories about as a child whenever the clan gathered around Grandma Bernice’s table, & now in turn sharing other’s stories & older histories with my mom, aunt, uncles, & cousins, is richly rewarding. Special blessings to all!
Hello Laura,
This morning I wrote a response to your comment,
but it became just too long to post here. This is
the condensed version….
You are correct that the TOWN of Castlerea is in the
Civil parish of Kilkeevin, and when researching Irish
GOVERNMENT records we would look in Kilkeevin
Civil Parish. Peter and Nancy did indeed live in
Kilkeevin Civil Parish, but they did not live in
Castlerea town.
Since Peter never appeared in any government
record, the use of the word Castlerea can only refer
to the Catholic Parish of Castlerea. Indeed, Peter
appears in the register for the baptisms of three of
his four children, and I assume that is where the
word Castlerea in posted family trees comes from.
That, and the habit of Irish immigrants to give their
Catholic parish when asked where in Ireland they
were from. (You can see this in many early U.S.
records, including ship passenger manifest pages
prior to the requirement for full addresses).
Unfortunately, Peter and Nancy’s last child,
Eleanor/Ellen/Nellie Finan was born during the
1819-1827 gap in the Castlerea Catholic Parish
baptismal register, so we have to rely on other
sources for her date of birth. In the 1900 U.S.
Census she, herself, said that she was born in
May, 1823. This may be the best that we can do.
The ruin of the old house of Peter Finan and
Anna/Nancy Shaunessey in Beagh Townland was
torn down in 1995 by the current landowner to make
room for a cattle pen. In addition, I was told that
some years back the “old Carroll house” in
Adragol Townland was torn down during the
widening of the N60 road south of Castlerea
Town. Presumably that house was the one where
John Carroll and Nellie Finan Carroll lived.
Cheers,
Tom Voyles
I’m sorry but Castlerea is in the Catholic Parish of Kilkeevin. I lived in Castlerea as a child and when we got the parish newsletter at mass, it was always Kilkeevin Parish with the areas of Trien, Castlerea and Cloonbonniffe underneath where there’s the churches in the parish. Those records are in the Castlerea Church baptismal register. On records it says ‘at the Roman Catholic Church of Castlerea in the Registrar’s District of Castlerea in the Union of Castlerea in the County of Roscommon.’ If a person lives in Cloonfower, they’d write their address as:
Cloonfower,
Castlerea,
Co. Roscommon.
In Ireland, the nearest town is always put after the address. Look up this website as it gives you the map with all the parishes in Roscommon:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/civilparish/index.cfm?fuseaction=GetMap&CityCounty=Roscommon
Hello Laura,
As for the name of the Catholic parish that encompasses
the Town of Castlerea and the surrounding area, it turns out
that we are both right. To learn what the Church itself calls
that parish I went to the website of the Diocese of Elphin
and clicked on its list of parishes.
http://www.elphindiocese.ie/diocese/parishes
Sure enough, it is listed as the Parish of Castlerea, but with
the word Kilkeevan in parentheses afterword. The note at
the beginning of the list says that the name in parentheses
is the historical name of the parish. So seems that either
name is accepted.
Therefore, I will respect your wish to call it the Catholic
Parish of Kilkeevin, and I will continue to call it the Catholic
Parish of Castlerea. We are both correct…
Tom Voyles
Hello, Finan cousins XXXX-removed! I believe I am descended from Peter Finan & Nancy Shaughnessy’s daughter Nellie Finan & John Carroll of Castlerea; their daughter Mary Carroll b Dec. 1846-possibly in Adragol & husband James F. Mitchell/Mulvihill b 1845 in Castlerea are my great-great grandparents, buried at ZCBJ Cemetery, Wagner, SD 1923-1925; their 1st gen. Irish-American son Bernard Joseph Mitchell & wife Mary Ellen O’Connell also settled in Wagner, SD and are buried there, along w/my maternal grandparents Bernice Theresa Mitchell & John Barta. I was born in Wagner in 1957. I am working on my family tree and would appreciate any more info to fill in blanks for Nellie Finan & John Carroll & their parents/grands etc. Also would love to see any photos of our ancestors & family homelands in Castlerea/Roscommon, if anyone has to share. God bless us all!
I am Barbara Ellen Walters Wong (maternal Irish family surnames Mitchell/Mulvihill-O’Connell-Carroll-Finan-Shaughnessy is the lineage I believe to be correct). Despite his Chinese name, my husband David Grant Wong was born a Gill (f Clarence?), but we’re unable to trace his Irish ancestry due to closed adoption records back in the 60’s. So our ‘American” clan now extends w/a Chinese surname… bet Peter/Nancy et al didn’t see that one coming! LOL 🙂
Hello Barbara,
I think that I can help you….
I am descended from Nellie Finan’s older brother, Michael Finan, the oldest son
of Peter Finan and Anna/Nancy Shaunessey. I have researched the family
for 25 years now. By inference, Peter and Anna/Nancy would have been born
in the 1770’s, and I do not believe that records exist to go back any further
than that. Of course, we should never say never…
Where they were from in County Roscommon requires a little explanation.
Many people do not understand Irish land divisions. The word Castlerea
could refer to a number of different things, but most people use it to refer
to Castlerea Catholic Parish. There are some 1,200 Catholic Parishes in
Ireland and everyone lives in one, but they are not the person’s address.
You probably live in a Catholic parish yourself, but it is not your address.
In Ireland if a person lives outside of a town their address is their townland.
Ireland consists of 32 counties, divided by the government(s) into some
2,500 Civil Parishes, which are further divided into some 65,000 townlands.
Townlands average a few hundred acres each. They are the person’s
address.
Peter Finan and Anna/Nancy Shaunessey lived in the Townland of Beagh
(pronounced Behy), in Kilkeevin Civil Parish in County Roscommon. Beagh
Townland, within Kilveevin Civil Parish happen to be located in Castlerea
Catholic Parish. Incidentally, Nancy was her nickname. In the Castlerea
Catholic Parish Register she is listed as Anna Shaunessey, just as Nellie
was a nickname for Eleanor Finan, sometimes also listed as Ellen in Irish
records.
Eleanor/Nellie Finan married John Carroll, possibly at the old St. Joseph’s
Chapel in Castlerea Town, on August 12, 1843. Their witnesses were
Thomas Finan and Mary Finan. They lived on a 5 acre farm in the Townland
of Adragol, which is adjacent to Beagh Townland, both about three miles
south of the Town of Castlerea. Their farm was rented from a Miss McGrath.
The number of children that they had is unsettled. In various family trees
posted online on Ancestry.com and in other places you will find up to 12 children
attributed to them (sometimes children actually from other parts of Ireland).
I believe that many of those other Carrolls are cousins or other sorts of relatives
who also ended up in South Dakota in the nineteenth century. I have encountered
situations a number of times where friends and relatives from a single townland
in Ireland settled in the same place in the U.S. The first one over would send
money back for the next one to come and also provide an initial destination, etc.
The only source where I think that Nellie Finan Carroll actually talks to us is the Mitchell
family’s 1900 U.S. Census page. We can figure that both Nellie and her daughter,
Mary Mitchell, were present as that form was filled out on June 11, 1900 in Hayes
Township, Crawford County, Iowa. Both would have been well aware of how
many children that Nellie had. On that form Nellie stated that she had given birth
to four children. She also stated that only three of those four were still living as that
form was being filled out. (Susan Carroll had died in 1891).
I have examined the Castlerea Catholic Parish Register, and the only four
children of John Carroll and Eleanor/Nellie Finan Carroll that I recognize are:
1. Anna Carroll, baptised July 19, 1844. Her sponsors were Matthew Carroll
and Catherine Finan.
2. Mary Carroll, born between 1844 and 1851. For some reason her
baptism is not listed in the Castlerea Catholic Parish Register. My best guess
is from the U.S. Census. Censuses only asked for a person’s age, except for
the 1900 Census, which asked for a person’s month and year of birth. On that
census Mary said that she was born in December, 1847.
3. Susan Carroll, baptised February 17, 1851. Her sponsors were John Bierne
and Catherine McNamara.
4. John Carroll, born January 30, 1868 in Adragol Townland, Kilkeevin Civil Parish,
Co. Roscommon.
John Carroll, Sr. died February 18, 1875. He died of untreated bronchitis
that he had for six months and there was no medical attendant available.
His death registration says that he was 52 years old at death, making him
born in 1823. Presumably Nellie Finan Carroll came to the U.S. shortly
after 1875.
In your family these are the children of James Mitchell and Mary Carroll
that I am aware of:
1. John Mitchell b. 1869 in Whiteside County, Illinois
2. Bernard Joseph (“Beck”) b. 1871 in Whiteside County, Illinois
3. Ellen Nellie Mitchell b. 1874 in Whiteside County, Illinois
4. William Francis Mitchell b. 1876 (or 1873) in Whiteside County, Illinois
5. Anna Delvera Mitchell b. 1878 in Whiteside County, Illinois
6. Michael Edward Mitchell b. 1879 in Whiteside County, Illinois
(Between 1879 and 1884 the family moved from Illinois to Iowa)
7. Mary Mitchell b. May, 1884 in Iowa
8. Alice Mitchell b. July, 1887 in Iowa
9. James Mitchell b. ?, 1890 in Iowa
10. Lucy Mitchell b. May, 1896 in Iowa
I have more if you are interested.
Send me an email if you have any questions.
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Castlerea is in the parish of Kilkeevin. Castlerea could be the barony or union for the townland.
My g-grandmother was Catherine (Kate) Finan Callaghan, 1835-1883 from the Gurteen area of County Sligo. Possibly descended from John Finan in the townland of Greyfield. Kate married Corneilus Callaghan, (1835-1906) from the townland of Moydough in Gurteen Sligo. Both went to USA and settled in Elk Point, SD (Dakota Territory).
Hello and Thank you for this family history web site!
I am the son of Thomas Finan of Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon
i am a direct descendant of the finans from dromore west in county sligo. my grandfather was a patrick born in 1900/1901. i have got back to the 1830’s with my side of the family. i have exhausted my searching for a woman called margaret finan born in the same village in may 1870 and have her on the irish census of 1901 but cant find any trace of her after. i have tried the civil and church records. so maybe someone may find her abroad for me. her parents were a michael patrick finan and a anne jourdan. she had a son born out of wedlock called francis finan . he was born in 1894 and died in august 1918 and buried in france. trying to find a link between him and me
i think i have found the young frank or francis finan. there is a young male in the ballina workhouse age 8 whose initials are M.F this may be him as frank middle name on his service record is mark
Tom, that’s very interesting and yes indeed that is my family. Thank you very much for the post. I believe he came from County Mayo. Would that help? What type of other information would help you dig further back?
Hello Kevin,
My problem is that I cannot find a Joseph Finan born in
Ireland who fits our criteria, born in 1892 and came over
in 1912 (or 08).
From the census pages we can calculate that Joseph Finan was
born in Ireland in either 1892 or 1893. From the first quarter of 1888
to the end of 1895 I can find no Joseph Finan born in Ireland. The
following are the closest that I could find to a Joseph Finan:
!st quarter, 1890, Patrick Joseph Finan, born in Castlerea Registration District, Co. Roscommon
2nd quarter, 1892, Patrick Joseph Finan, born in Castlerea Registration District, Co. Roscommon
3rd quarter, 1893, Patrick Joseph Finan, born in Inishowen Registration District, Co. Donegal
1st quarter, 1895, James Joseph Finan, born in Sligo Registration District, Co. Sligo
I specialize in Co. Roscommon Finans, and here are the families of the two
Roscommon Finans above:
John Finan and Mary Dockery lived in Ballyglass East Townland in Tibohine Civil Parish.
Their children (the ones that I know of) were:
Mary Ellen Finan, born Feb. 4, 1887
Cecelia Finan, born Sept 30, 1888
Sarah Kate Finan, born March 13, 1890
Patrick Joseph Finan, born March 6, 1892 (Possibly your great-grandfather)
Dominick Finan, born Jan 28, 1893
Teresa Finan, born Dec. 8, 1893
Dominick Finan, born Jan. 28, 1895
James Finan, born Nov. 27, 1896
If this Patrick Joseph is yours, then I can tell you that I used to
email a lady in Cleveland years ago, and some of the above family
immigrated to Cleveland. She also said that some of them had
gone to Pennsylvania. Her name was Linda Kuhn and it has been
a decade or more since we lost contact.
If the 1890 birth of Patrick Joseph is yours, then here is his
family:
Patrick Finan and Bridget Tighe lived in Lisalway Townland in Baslick Civil Parish.
Their children (the ones that I know of) were:
Patrick Joseph Finan, born March 4, 1890 (Possibly your great-grandfather)
James Finan, born Oct, 1891
Michael Finan, born Aug. 6, 1895
Andrew Finan, born Feb. 12, 1899
As a side note, this Lisalway family was very active during the Irish War of
Independence 1919-1921.
So, there is the information that I have for you. What I need for
you to do is to look at all this and tell me if any of the siblings’ names
are familiar to you, or if there is anything else that would lead us to
choose one over the other. I think your first post said that there were
other family members in Pennsylvania. Do you have names, approximate
birth years, or where in PA they lived, or about when they would have
come over?
Tom Voyles
Hi, Tom. I track myself to Ballyglass, Loughglinn or Loughlynn’s James J. “Jim” Finan b. 27 Nov. 1896. Here’s two questions. Using a trial run of Ancestry-com, so not much time to check it more, but I found in two places on a Wright/Kyrke-Smith family tree posted there discrepancies with the material I’d compiled in 2004 from Dublin’s Lombard St + Land Valuation in person 2) checking a Finan site online years ago. Linda Kuhn [butchlk-@-gte-net as my e-mail for her in 2002] provided a snip of data to me about Finans in Cloongard t/l but it did not connect with the Ballyglass clan directly.
1) This Ancestry UK tree clashes with my notes as to the marriage of James J. “J.J.” Finan 27 Nov. 1896 to not Anne “Nan” Diviney as I have it, but to Anne Riley. His father John Finan m. Mary Dockery 18 Feb. 1886. John’s father Dominick (b. ca. 1807 as I have it; d. 10 Aug. 1867 at Ballyglass), on the A-UK site, is credited with having m. not Ellen Dockery ca. 1853 as I recorded it but as Dominic Finan to Catherine Stretch or Strech b. 4 Feb. 1831 and m. 24 Feb. 1848 in Castlerea. Her father was Thomas Stretch or Strech, b. Castlerea and m. to Mary Williams, also b. Castlerea.
2) I also note one more son of John Finan and Mary Dockery. B. Sept. 1898, John Christopher “Jack” Finan was a Clann na Talmhan member in the Seanad and then the 13th Dail. He d. 1984 in Rathgar, Dublin. A stub on Wikipedia of him can be found, but no real information. There is a story that John Finan, who d. 1898 before Jack was born, was sent to London on a Land League delegation where he was found “drowned in mysterious circumstances”. Anybody with more information about the Ballyglass Finans, please contact me, as I await clarification of these discrepancies and rumors.
Dr. Murphy,
Since my recent post, I have found something else among my records. I have the
registration of the birth of Mary Bernadette Finan on June 21, 1931. She was born
at 63 Lower Salthill, Galway Rural District. (the Galway and Roscommon Poor Law
Unions were called Rural Districts). I believe Salthill is a part of Galway City.
Mary’s parents were James Finan and Annie Diviney Finan. The occupation of the
father was Commercial Traveler. The birth was registered by Elizabeth Hoare.
You can probably discount Mary Riley as the wife of James. Email me if you would like the registration image.
I remember that you used to talk about your Galway Finans, but I was unaware
that you had tracked them back to Ballyglass East Townland. How were you able
to do that?
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Hi, Tom. I appreciate the verification, as this shows the Ancestry.com info is incorrect. As I mentioned in my earlier comment, my tracking was detective work at the PRO on Lombard Street in the early ’00s, after the Nat’l Library gave me a lead on parishes, and then I went to the Land Valuation Office to check their holdings to trace the occupation of the Ballyglass E. (Loughglynn) townland farm of the Finans.
Dear Tom, thanks for the verifications of Annie Diviney’s marriage to James J. Finan, as this corresponds to my own recording of their marriage 22 Sept. 1930 at Crossboyne Parish in East Co Mayo (just over the border from Co Galway west of Ballindine not far from Claremorris). Diviney (Deviny/Divany) family are from Scardaun West t/l (Scardane) also near Ballindine, Co Mayo.
I started at the PRO in Lombard St, Dublin (this over a decade ago, not using the Net) and worked through birth and marriage records backwards, later checking at the Land Valuation Office their books on Ballyglass, supplemented by Griffith’s, microfiche, the local history shelf at Castlebar library, and censuses. Your Ballyglass Finan data corroborate mine, and the only other new info my Ancestry.com search unearthed (discounting what seem errors for Anne “Riley” and also the “Stretch” family in Castlerea connecting to Dominic Finan by marriage to Catherine Stretch in 1831 Castlerea rather than as I have it Dominick Finan b. ca. 1807-died 10 Aug. 1867 B’glass of “heart disease” found dead in the fields, ca. 1850’s marriage to Ellen Dockery b. ca. 1819-d. 25 Apr. 1869 at B’glass) is a line back from Mary Dockery.
In my records, I fail to trace past before ca. 1850 any Finans in Ballyglass. None are listed in the Title Appointment book for 1825, and this land was part of the Dillon estate leaseholdings, which I estimate were under the control of John Madden and Co. and James Gilligan in 1796, 24 acres/12 roods/0 perches. Griffith’s has ca. 1856 John Gilligan holding 6 acres with 5 others, names Noone, Crawley and 3 Duignans. There was a “P.” Finan who was a Land League speaker in 1897 at Ballinadreen over the Mayo border, but I cannot find out more about him. Patrick + Bridget Duignan appear as witnesses for Honoria Finan’s baptism (see below).
I have Ellen Dockery marrying Dominick Finan probably Tibohine Parish ca. 1849-1850 or earlier, as first child Honoria b. 22 Dec. 1850 there. Listed (also Finen?) as farmer at B’glass East and had land in Cloonflower t/l, Kilkeevan parish. Land Valuation lists “bad situation” and this land as “bog” in 1886 for B’glass East. One reason perhaps John, also registered as a farmer, and the Land League connected? 1901 census lists it as better, as farmhouse where Mary lived with many children had 4 windows at front despite the taxes incurred, and 4 rooms with a permanent roof and cow outbuilding. This was later fixed up by son “Jack” and I believe it is still owned by a Dublin Finan; post-1984 the site has reverted to ruin. This replaced ca. 1851 a house that had fallen in the “Big Wind” of 1839. The only one to add to the list of children you show for Mary and John Finan is their last son, John Christopher {Thomas?} “Jack” Finan, b. (posthumously I believe after his father John’s death in London) in Sept. 1899-d. 1984 Rathgar, Dublin. He was a TD in the Seanad and then the 13th Dail for Clann na Talmhan in the late 1940s- early 1950s.
Was there another Dockery-Finan marriage a generation later? Mary Dockery b. at Callow 18 Apr. 1860-d. 1941, married possibly at Breedogue Parish, 18 Feb. 1886 to John Finan b. B’glass East t/l, b. 1850?/3-. d. 1898 in London, in the odd circumstances I posted on previously after being sent over as a Land League delegate from Co Roscommon. But John’s birthdate of 27 May 1850 (via Ancestry.com) clashes with a b. date I had around 19 May 1853 at B’glass East John Finan, as well as the fact that the records reveal his sister Honoria’s birth in late Dec. 1850!
Mary D’s father Patrick Dockery b. at Ballinameen ca. 1823, living by 1880s at Callow, farmer, land at Cloonsheever t/l. Patrick m. ca. 1855 to Cecelia Forde b. 3 May 1824, Elphin. Cecelia’s father Michael Forde m. Mary Geraghty (para. acc. to Ancestry.com).
As to the Divineys whose Annie m. James J. Finan in 1930, I have less luck with firm data; the surname variation may be to blame, and/or possible traveller ancestry. Here’s what I compiled, in case anyone can add to it or correct it. Anne (Annie) Diviney was b. 8 June 1901 to Andrew “Deviny” b. ca. 1860 Ballindine + Margaret [O’?] Connell, for whom I can find no birth record for any Irish-born Connell female ca 1869 without an “O”. Married 15 July 1891. 1901/11 census has them farming at “Scardane” and at Carrowconor t/l as “Diviny” and all Irish-speaking. Andrew’s parents Thaddeus “Divany” b. 1807-d. 10 Sept. 1894, living at Scardaun West and Drummin t/l 1864-1890s if not through to 1911 farming. He married Bridget Mongan b. ca. 1807-d. after 1901, as she was living at 93 in 1901 census. Also at that time: Delia (8), Mary (6), Thady (4 years old in 1901, b. 1896-d. 1981) and Pat (2).
Bridget Mongan may have married in 1837. Possibly living at Esker t/l with sons and grandsons as a widow. Mongan is an East Mayo traveller surname.
Thaddeus “Divany” at Scardaun West t/l in 1797 Title Appointment Book. Griffith’s lists Thaddeus “Divany” at same in 1856 and also at Carrowconor and Drummin t/l with another (?) Thaddeus, an Andrew, and a Martin D.
Don’t mean to overwhelm the list, but as you’ve been kind, Tom, in sharing the information you have, I wanted to compile this in return. The rest of what I have for Finan siblings matches your material, as I reckon that’s where I obtained it….Far as I can tell, no Galway Finans from this Ballyglass branch remain, for emigration to Dublin, England, or America appears as for Divineys to be the rule the past century.
Hi Fionnchu,
I was looking up the name of the party my grandfather represented as a TD for my son and came across this site. I see you have my grandfather listed as the youngest son of John & Mary (nee Dockery). My grandfather was born in 1898 & if you look up the 1901 irish census, entering him as John Finan, -5 yrs at the time, from loughlynn, Co. Roscommon (Ballyglass East) you will see him listed age 2 at the time & the youngest of 8 children. His mother was head of household by this time as my great grandfather passed away when my grandfather was about 6 months old.
The official story was that he died from drowning in a lake although it has come to light over the years that he went to London to protest with the Land League shortly after my grandfather was born & was found dead in the Thames. Circumstances remain unclear as to what exactly led to this.
The family home in Roscommon remained in my family until just recently as it had been left to my grandad & he in turn bequeathed it. Up until he lost his life in a fire in his family home in Dublin, I have fond memories of him returning from one of his regular trips to check on the farm in Roscommon with pockets full of dairy milk chocolate bars ready to be given out to any grandchildren he might encounter upon arrival.
My grandad married late enough in life to a much younger & very beautiful Mary (nee Fitzmaurice, Co. Mayo). They went onto have 7 children & to date there are 20 of us grandchildren & 21 great grandchildren!
Hope this is of some help to you & ties up my grandfathers story to some ends.
My name is Kevin Finan. Grandfather was William Finan from Masontown, PA. Many of his brothers and sisters lived in Uniontown or Masontown too. Anyone familiar with them? I believe their father was from County Mayo, Ireland and came to the states in early 1900s.
Hello Kevin,
My name is Tom Voyles. I am a retiree who researches Finan families
of County Roscommon as a hobby. I found what I think is your Finan
family in the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses, but I haven’t been able to
place them in Ireland yet. You can tell me if the following is your
grandfather’s family…
1920:
The 1920 census was done in the family’s area on January 16 and 17, 1920.
The family lived at 35 Feathus (Feathers?) Avenue in South Union Township
in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The family owned the house, but it was
mortgaged.
The family consisted of:
Joseph Finan, Head, age 27, married, immigrated to the U.S. in 1912 (but an 8 is written above the 12).
He was naturalized in 1917. He was born in Ireland and both his parents were born in Ireland.
Joseph was a miner in a coal mine.
Cathryn Finan, wife, age 22, married, born in Pennsylvania, and both parents born in Pennsylvania.
Marie C. Finan, daughter, age 4 and 8/12, single, born Pa, father born Ireland, mother Pa.
Joseph P. Finan, son, age 2 and 4/12, single, born Pa, father born Ireland, mother Pa.
Betty J. Finan, daughter, age 3/12, single, born Pa, father born Ireland, mother born Pa.
1930:
The 1930 Census was done in the family’s area on (no date given) April, 1930.
The family lived in Gorman Township in Fayette County, Pa. The census taker
noted that there were no house numbers on (unreadable) Terrace where they lived.
They owned the house and it was valued at $6,000 in 1930. The family had a
radio, the latest in technology in 1930….
The family consisted of:
Joseph Finan, head, age 38, married at age 22, immigrated to U.S. in 1912, naturalized.
Works as a laborer in a coal mine.
Cathryn Finan, wife, age 32, married at 16.
Marie Finan, daughter, age 15, single.
Joseph Finan, son, age 13, single.
Elizabeth Finan, daughter, age 11, single. (Notice that she was Betty in 1920)
William Finan, son, age 6, single.
Kathleen Finan, daughter, age 5.
I have looked for Joseph Finan in the ship passenger lists, but there
are too many Joseph Finans arriving in 1912 and 1908. I need something
to set your Joseph apart from the others. Is there any family lore as
to where in Ireland the family came from>
I hope that this is the family of your grandfather, William Finan.
Feel free to email me.
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Kevin,
I am very familiar with this line and would be happy to share my information with you.
Due to the age of your post, I’ll be very brief and only list the very basic information for now.
Your line of Finan’s, who originated in Co. Roscommon:
(Kevin)
Joseph
William John Finan & Peggy Woolridge
Patrick Joseph Finan & Katherine Monahan
John Finan & Mary Dockery
Dominick Finan & Ellen/Eleanora Dockery
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance!
Linda
Someone prior to me commented on the Lavin’s and New Orleans Finans, I only knew of the Loughrea town in Galway. Hopefully your friend will respond
My g-grandmother was kate Finan from the Gurteen area of Sligo. I don’t have any other info on her family
LAVIN
On Sunday, June 24, 1877, at ½ past 11 o’clock PM Bridget Finan, wife of the late John Lavin, aged 49 years, native of County Roscommon, Parish Kilkieren, Ireland and resident of this city for the last 30 years.
The friends and acquaintances and those of her son Michael Lavin, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, Peter C Gaffney, # 11 Constance St at 10 AM Tuesday June 26, 1877.
New Orleans Times Picayune 6/26/1877 p 4 c 5
The town in Galway is probably Loughrea, my wife has a cousin that lives there. Nice village, I have been there 3 or 4 times
thanks for the reply. The Kilkierren was spelled that way in the New Orleans newspaper obit.I was very confused! I think it must be Kilkeevan.
Please tell me about the James and Gertrude Finnans. I do know that my Finnan family arrived as so many did from 1845 to 1860. Originally I thought that John Lavin was also from Roscommon, but I found his Civil War records. My mother had previously written Loughrey, Galway and it matched! He died in 1863 during a battle in Virginia.
Any other thoughts? I want to visit Ireland and I am trying to find the areas to visit..
What did you find in Ireland? My tree includes John Lavin (d. Battle of Mine Run, VA) and Bridget Finan.
Hello Patrick
I haven’t made my trip yet.. I am sure we are related through the Gaffney line. My grandmother was Jane, daughter of Peter and Mary Ann Lavin.
I am still hoping to find info on John, and was happy to find his Civil War records.
Please share any info. I have been working on the Gaffney Lavin family for some time. Jane
Hi Jane, I can send you PDFs of genealogical charts that include my father’s great-grandparents John Lavin and Bridget Finan, My father’s paternal grandmother was Mary Ann Lavin, so I guess your grandmother Jane was my grandfather Peter Gaffney’s sister? I don’t have much on Bridget Finan, other than her father James and mother Jane Gill. I can dig through my files if this is of interest. Pat
Hello. So glad to find a cousin ! Yes, Jane was Peter’s sister. She and Bridget , the oldest, lived with my parents all my life. I did not know the name of Bridget Finan Lavins parents!
I have photos you might like and I would love to see all your info???I will rejoin the group to get your email..Thanks! Jane
hello I am very interested in all info you have. However I am not getting any email from the site..Any ideas… ?
Hello. have my account back up…love to hear from you..
LAVIN
On Sunday, June 24, 1877, at ½ past 11 o’clock PM Bridget Finan, wife of the late John Lavin, aged 49 years, native of County Roscommon, Parish Kilkieren, Ireland and resident of this city for the last 30 years.
The friends and acquaintances and those of her son Michael Lavin, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, Peter C Gaffney, # 11 Constance St at 10 AM Tuesday June 26, 1877.
New Orleans Times Picayune 6/26/1877 p 4 c 5
Hi Jane,
I have my family information in Family Tree Maker. It looks like I have John LAVIN and his wife Bridget FINAN as my father’s great-grandparents; I have only brief information on them, and nothing on their ancestors. Have you been able to find out more?
Hi Patrick,
My name is Ron Cambias. My grandmother was Catherine Gaffney (who married Gus Cambias). Her grandmother was Bridget Lavin. Bridget Lavin (maiden name Finan) married John Lavin on February 19, 1849 at St. Joseph Church in New Orleans. John Lavin’s parents were Michael Lavin and Bridget Christi. Bridget Finan’s parents were James Finan and Jane Gill. I am pretty sure Bridget Finan was from a little town called Cloonfower in County Roscommon. I would love any information you might have on the Gaffneys and/or Lavin/Finans. I don’t know if you know where in County Cavan the Gaffneys were from and what Peter C. Gaffney’s date of birth was. I think it might have been August 11, 1846 but am not sure if this is correct. Would appreciate any information or photos you might be able to share. Thanks!
Ron
Hi Ron,
It sounds like your grandparents were my uncle A.G. and aunt Kate Cambias. Back in the 1950s I spent summers in Louisiana after my family moved to Arizona, and have fond memories of hanging out with my cousin Eddie. The older brothers were not around as much at that time. My father Peter Gaffney used to keep up with Ron and Terry et al. as I recall.
I’m not at my desktop right now but I can send whatever information I do have. Might be easiest if you send me your e-mail address.
BTW, our son Conor Gaffney has been working for the city of N.O. for the last few years, but hasn’t had the opportunity to meet all the distant relatives, especially on the Gaffney side. Unfortunately he’ll be leaving in a few weeks to start law school in New York, so we’ll have fewer excuses to journey down to LA.
Looking forward to hearing from you, and sharing information – best wishes,
Patrick Gaffney 30952 Edgewater Drive Lewes, DE 19958 (302) 645-1151
Patrick,
When you get a chance, send me your e-mail address and I will be happy to send you any information I have on the Gaffney/Lavin side of the family.
Ron
Hello- My great grandmother was Bridget Finan, born 1826, from the parish of Kilkieren in Roscommon. She was married to John Lavin, who I believe was from Laughrey Galway. I have no information on her parents, nor his, so I was intrigued by posts mentioning land belonging to the Lavins. I was told they did not know each other prior to coming to New Orleans about 1847. Can anyone give me information? Thanks!
Hello Jane,
My name is Tom Voyles and I research Co. Roscommon Finans. I can find no Kilkeiran parish in Co.
Roscommon, either Civil or Catholic. The majority of 19th century Co. Roscommon Finans lived in Kilkeevan Civil Parish, most of which lies in the Catholic Parish of Castlerea. If your Bridget Finan was Roscommon, then we will not find her in the Castlerea Parish baptismal register because there is a gap from 1819 to 1827. I might mention that there is a Kilkerrin Civil Parish in Galway and also a Catholic Parish called Kilkerrin and Clonberne. I am aware of the 19th century New Orleans Finan family of James and Gertrude. If that one is yours, I can help you.
i was watching the irish news and it was a cattle sale in castlerea and there were two finan men interviewed . it may be stil on the rte iplayer
I watched the RTE 9 PM Thursday news, but did not see anything about the Castlerea Cattle Mart. My searches came up empty also. I do have a cousin, Richard Finan, who used to be active in that mart, and his brother, Michael, operates the farm supply store in Castlerea. There are also several other
Finans in the area who are involved in the cattle business.
Tom Voyles
Hello Tom,
It was on the Six One News on the 24 September. It wasn’t shown on the nine o’clock news. I believe from memory that Richard Finan was shown at the mart. Here’s the link: http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10201669/
Maria
Castlerea mart is shown at 21:58. J J Finan and Richard Finan are included.
Hello Maria,
Thank you so much. I just watched the RTE SIX ONE News. I saw my cousin Richard (Dick) Finan being interviewed, and I think that one of the men in the
stands (who was not interviewed) was my cousin Michael Finan. I do not know JJ Finan, and I will phone the family over there and ask just who he is. THANK YOU
for alerting me to this telecast !!!
Tom Voyles
Hi Jane.
I am Ron Cambias. My grandmother was Catherine Cambias (maiden name Gaffney). Her grandmother was Bridget Lavin who married Peter Gaffney. Bridget was most likely from a little town called Cloonfower in County Roscommon. The name of the parish was Kilkeevan (church parish of Castlerea). She married John Lavin on February 19, 1849 at St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans. The parish register showed where each of them marked their name with an “X” as they did not read or write. Her parents were James Finan and Jane Gill. John Lavin’s parents were listed in their marriage register as Michael Lavin and Bridget Christi. I would love any information you might have of the Gaffneys or Lavin/Finans, including dates, places, photos, etc. Thanks for any help you can give!
Ron
hi melinda thank you for your reply, stalybridge is in manchester england, wow ohio its amazing how far spread us finans are lol, i have only just started with the finan history i know that we too came from Ireland its amazing as i have always wanted to visit there, hope you are well melinda take care and hopefully chat soon x jo
hello im joanne finan, my dad is michael finan whose dad was george finan we live in stalybridge, cheshire and im so interested in our family history, i know that my grandad came from a big family so if anyone has any information im all ears thanks jo x
Hi Joanne, Glad to see you here! Although I have no idea where Stalybridge, Cheshire is, I’m in Ohio, America. My fiance is a Finan. I’m also very interested in family history. My Irish line is “Tharpe” amongst others, but I have quite a bit in my fiance’s Finan tree. Hope to chat sometime…
Melinda
by any chance did you finan family come from st helen’s or had you family in st helen’s as this is not to fare away from you
Are there any Sligo Finan’s on this list? Anyone connected to the Finan’s that came from the Gurteen area of Sligo. There was a Father James Finan in one of the neighboring parishes a few years back. Not sure if he is still there.
My G-grandmother was Catherin (Kate) Finan that came from Greyfield in the Gurteen area of Sligo.
That is all I know of my Finan’s
Why is the time messages are posted done for the time it is in Pakistan? I hope to go to Roscommon library sometime to see can I find any records or pictures on Honor or Hugh. I would love to have pictures so much as my mum’s side doesn’t have any really past her mum and dad.
h
Can you get in contact with the person who created this site.
When I search ‘patrick finan celia crawley marriage feb 12 1867,’ this is the first website that appears. Under the website it says ‘4 Nov 2005 – Patrick FINAN (____ – 1923) … Family 1 : Celia CRAWLEY. MARRIAGE: 12 Feb 1867 [272] [273]. +Catherine FINAN; +Susan FINAN · Mary …’ All these people are in my family tree but I can’t find it anywhere on the site. Please help! This was before I put up my message that I found this so it must be somewhere but I cannot find it.
Your search is returning that because my old site (also called FinanClan.net) contained a pedigree chart of my family tree. Your search must have hit upon some cached version of that old site. The tree is not yet on this site because I could not figure out how to import a GEDCOM file into wordpress (I am still working on it).
I will email you with some further information on Patrick Finan and Celia Crawley. Their decedents are still in Ireland today, in a townland called Cloonfower, which is just outside of Castlerea in County Roscommon. I was fortunate to visit this family back in 2000. They still live on the same property that Patrick and Celia did back in the late 19th century!
Hello, thank you so much for replying to my comment. I live just outside Castlerea on the road towards Cloonfower. Thank you so much. I actually know Maizie and Dominic Lavin. My grandmother was her husband’s cousin.
Hello, thank you so much for replying to my comment. I live just outside Castlerea on the road towards Cloonfower. Thank you so much. I actually know Maizie and Dominic Lavin. My grandmother was her husband’s cousin. Do you have information on Hugh Finan and Honora Helbert with marriage, birth and death dates? Thank you for the information you’ve given me.
That is great…I probably drove by your place during my visit. I am guessing that you also
know Pat Byrne? If not, you should track him down (he lives near Maizie and Dominic). Pat knows
just about everything there is to know about the Cloonfower Finans. He is also related, but off
the top of my head I can’t quite recall the connection.
Tim
I do know Pat. I knew we were related but just like you don’t know the connection. Do you have the information on Honora Helbert and Hugh Finan? There’s no rush to reply so take your time. I’m also curious to know how you’re related to Hugh Finan. Was it one of Patrick (son) or Hugh’s (father) brothers?
I found a website that might help you upload a gedcom. It may not work as I have not tried it.
Here’s a website about it: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-rootspersona-new-genealogy-plugin
Here’s a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WJWXnUKbbk
You could also use print screen button and upload the image like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/familyhistoryresearch/7954723322/in/photostream
I used my friends Flickr for the image. That’s not me but you can leave messages there if you want to contact me my friend will tell me about it.
Hello Tim,
I was just curious about that pdf file you sent me. I was looking at Patrick Finan and Celia Crawley and their daughter Ellie and her son Peter’s family. I was wondering if the names you had for Peter’s family were correct. My mum says that his wife was Georgina Gibbs (she thinks that was her surname) and they had no children. Maybe I wasn’t following the pdf correctly but my mum is certain Peter’s wife was Georgina. Please reply and thank you for reading my comments.
Hi Maria,
I am pretty sure that I got all of my Cloonfower Finan information directly from either Pat Burne or John Ryan (do you also know John?). When I get some time, I will go back and review all of my notes and videos (I interviewed both Pat and John and recorded it). I certainly could have gotten things wrong. I’d love to get a look at all of your information, if you wouldn’t mind sending it to me!
Tim
Hello Tim,
First of all, I do know John but I wasn’t aware that he had any connections to Finans or maybe he doesn’t but I assume he is since he knows about Finans. I’ll tell you the information I have and start from the top. There is Hugh Finan b. c1780 and died Aug 26, 1867. According to you his wife was Honora Helbert b. c1798 and died 1872 and married her on Aug 26, 1819 (am I related to the Helberts who currently live in Cloonchambers?). They had four children that I know of. John Finan b. 1830, Hugh Finan b.1834, Patrick Finan b. c1836, Thomas Finan b. 1837. Patrick Finan married Celia Crawley b. 1846 d. 1929 and her father was Michael. They married on Feb 12, 1867. They had 10 children that I know of. Anne Finan b. Jan 22, 1868, Brigid Finan b. Aug 20, 1869, Mary Connella (nee Finan) b. May 1, 1871 and married Michael Connella, Honor Finan b. Mar 24, 1873, Catherine Lavin (nee Finan) b. Feb 13, 1875 (and you know her family), Patrick Finan b. Jun 18, 1877, Thomas Finan b. 1878, Eleanor Finan b. 1882 (you know her family but I think Peter married Georgina Gibbs, had no family and was last of siblings to die), Celia Greene (Finan) b. Aug 22, 1885 who married Daniel Greene who are my great grandparents and had 3 children, Susan Finan b. 1889 (you know her family and she has a daughter named Honor b. c1927 d. May 1, 1993). That’s basically everything I know. I’d love to hear what you know and how you’re connected to my family.
Maria
Hi Tim,
Just out of curiosity, are you a subscriber of ancestry.com. There is a member who has a family tree which includes Patrick Finan, Celia Crawley, Hugh Finan and Honora Helbert and his name is Kevin O’Neill from Cambridge. He may have some information of interest but I can’t contact him as I’m not a paying customer. I’d love to know how you’re connected to Patrick Finan. Who’s you’re great grandparents?
Maria
I was just looking at the info you had for Patrick Finan. You have it that he died in 1923. According to the census, Celia Crawley was a widow in 1911 and Patrick was still alive in 1901 so he must have died between 1901 and 1911.
Was James Finan who was married to Letitia a brother of Hugh and I’m curious as to how you found this out? I really would love to hear how we’re connected.
Hello Maria,
My name is Tom Voyles. I have been doing Co. Roscommon
Finan genealogy research for almost 25 years and maybe I can
help you a little. I am descended from the Finans in the Ballintober
area down below Castlerea.
From your postings I assume that you live either in Ballindrimly
or in Brenabeg, on the road from Cloonalis House out toward
Cloonfower. The Ballindrimly and Brenabeg Finans were mixed
in with those in Cloonfower who were mixed in with those across
the road in Brenamore. Maggie Doherty told me that years ago,
before her death. It is reasonable to assume that all these Finans
link onto the same family tree, and I have been working on that
problem for a number of years.
In this post I will stick to Hugh in Cloonfower. Griffith’s was done
in Co. Roscommon in 1857 and 1858. At that time I think that
there were seven Finan houses in Cloonfower Townland. The
three landholdings of Hugh Finan were the furthest along the road
from you. He had 66 acres, which were on both sides of the road,
and included the land where Michael and Marie Brennan now
live (or used to).
John Finan had 13 acres that started at the zed crossing,
where the Lavins are, and stretched northwest from that
intersection.
Diagonal across the zed crossing and the Lavins was a 69 acre
holding shared by Michael and Dominick Finan.
Out in back of Hugh’s holdings was the 23 acre holding of James
Finan, and next to his was a 66 acre holding shared by Patrick
Finan and John Finan, Junior.
I have not yet established the relationships between these seven
Finans. We can assume that John, Jr. is the son of John, but that
is where I am stuck. Patrick and John Jr. sharing a holding
probably means that they are related also, but how?
Here is what I have for the family of Hugh Finan:
23 Feb, 1819 Hugh Finan and Honora Helbert married
Witnesses: Patrick Helbert and John Finan
I have a continuous stream of Finan baptisms in Castlerea Catholic
Parish from 1830-37, but I only found two baptisms for Hugh and Honora:
21 March, 1830 John Finan born, Sponsors: John Finan and Mary Flanagan
29 March, 1837 John Finan born, Sponsors: Michael Finan and Catherine Flanagan
I assume that the 1830 John died young and that is why they named
the 1837 birth John. I believe that the 1837 John emigrated to St. Louis,
Missouri about 1870. There are Finan descendents there today
researching this family.
I knew Pake Lavin and Mazie. If I remember correctly, Pake’s
parents were Patrick Finan and Celia Crawley. (I gave him a copy
of his mother’s birth registration). Celia had spent 18 years in
Rhode Island in the U.S. She went back to Ireland about 1910
and married there. I haven’t been to Ireland for a long time, and I wrote
a letter to Mazie last Christmas at Aras Mhaither Phol in Castlerea.
The sad news is that I am told she has lost some of her faculties….
Lordy, I just went on Ancestry to check Kevin O’neill’s tree. I found out
that I am the source of some of his information. Why don’t I remember?
Must be old-timer’s disease…
Tom Voyles
The Villages, Florida
ntvoyles@netzero.net
Tim: I am sorry, but I hadn’t checked your website recently due to my
health problems this past year. I need to check it more frequently.
N.T.V.
There are still Finan families in the County Sligo area. My g-grandmother was Kate Finan Callaghan married to Corneilus Callaghan back in the 1860’s. They were both from the Gurteen area of Sligo but married in Concinnati, OH and then moved to South dakota for free land
Presently, there is a local priest near Gurteen by the name of Father Finan.
Has anyone made contact with Finans who still live in Ireland ?
Hi! My maiden name is Mary Elizabeth Finan. Went to Ireland in 2009 with siblings and had a wonderful time meeting John J. and Bridie Finan at John J. Finan’s Hardware and Pub in Charlestown. We have no idea if they are related, but they were very welcoming and gracious to us. Our grandfather was John J. Finan, born to Michael Finan who came to the US via England and settled in the Chicago area.
i am descendant of finans from dromore west in sligo. there were 3 finan families in dromore west in the late 19th century and one in templeboy . this is the next parish, there is only one in dromore west . the others have died out or they emigrated
Hello Mary,
I can help you if your Michael Finan died in Chicago on Jan. 5, 1938. Do you know, or can you
find out, if that was your g-grandfather’s death date?
Tom Voyles
ntvoyles@netzero.net
I think my Great-great Grandfather was born in Ireland in 1898, his name was Alfred Finan and he moved to Wales
Hi great website!!!
My great grandmother was called Celia Finan and my great great grandfather was called Patrick Finan.
Hi Maria,
Glad you commented! When was your gg-grandfather Patrick Finan born? I have a Patrick Finan born abt. 1858, son of James Finan born abt. 1831.
Good luck to you,
~Melinda
Patrick was born around 1836 and was married to a Celia Crawley on Feb 12, 1867. Their children were Celia, Susan, Eleanor, Anne, Bridget, Mary, Honor, Catherine, Patrick and Thomas. Patrick may have been a brother of James as they were born around the same time.
Patrick’s dad was named Hugh according their marriage certificate.
I think Patrick’s mum was called Honor Hilbert. I think Hugh and Honor married on Feb 23, 1819. Patrick died in 1923. This information is correct but these maybe his brothers and they mightn’t be. They are Thomas, Philip Hyde and Michael. Thomas was born March 29, 1837. The brothers’ information is probably not correct.
celia finan and patrick finan are quite common in my family tree, originating from cloonfower,, all i know is it was on the crossroads where my grandparents lived and the lavins i believe now own the land, but unsure
Yes Lavins do own the land now but they were related to the Finans. I think the woman that lives there her husband’s mum was a Finan.
I was just randomly looking through sites and found this. My great grandmother and great great grandfather all lived in Cloonfower, Castlerea. My grandmother also lived there but she was a Greene and moved to another area of Castlerea. I wonder if there’s a connection hmm.
Hi Im Patrick Finan from Brenamore
Hiya am catherine Finan from Rochdale
Hello there Catherine,
Good to meet you!!
~Melinda Tharpe Finan
My g-grandmother was Kate Finan who was from the Gurteen area of County Sligo. She left gurteen around 1865 and went to Cincinnati, OH where she married Neil Callaghan who was also from the Gurteen area of Sligo. They eventually moved to Elk Point, SD where they were giving free land to anyone that would settle there
Hello, I’m a genealogy hobbyist working on a Finan tree. I’ve traced the line back to James Finan b. 1831 in county Roscommon, second wife Mary Hession, and possibly his father Peter. Would love to see more activity here…. more Finans to fraternize with. Our Finans settled in Cambria Co., Pennsylvania after arriving in the states in 1882.
Happy hunting,
~Melinda
Hi Melinda,
I am directly descended from this James Finan, however, i believe that he came from Sligo, rather than Roscommon. The marriage certificate from the the marriage of James Finan and Mary Hession shows James’ father as Peter. James’s eldest son, also named Peter, gives his birthplace as Sligo in census records.If your Finan’s settled in Cambria, then i guess that you must be descended from James’s second son, Daniel Finan.
Regards,
Norman Finan.
Hi there Norman,
Yes, I’ve traced my husband’s heritage back to Daniel, but I don’t believe his mother is Mary Hession (Eshion). Mary would only have been 10 yrs old at his birth in 1855, and 13 at his brother Patrick’s birth. I believe Mary to be Thomas’ mother, born one year after their marriage in 1867 (the age gap between the boys in the 1871 England census furthers my suspicion that Mary is James’ second wife). I was wondering if you had info on James’ first wife, Daniel and Patrick’s mother. I have nothing on her at all.
I also have descrepancy regarding the counties of origin, Roscommon or Sligo, but have not found documentation to nail that down yet. I was unaware of a son named Peter fathered by James. I’ll have to look into that and see what I find. A son named after James’ father Peter would add to the verification of the marriage record.
Any idea who Peter the elder married, James’ mother? I’ve yet to find any info on Peter other than the one marriage record.
Sadly, I don’t have access to Ancestry.com World anymore, only the U.S. documents. I had to downgrade due to funds. If you’re able and willing to share any U.K. documents, I’d be greatly appreciative.
I’ll continue to dig dilegently, and hope you’re dong well.
Sincerely,
Melinda Tharpe Finan
Hello Melinda
I may be able to provide a little info.
It seems James 1st marriage was in Ireland. His 2nd was to Mary in the UK (1842-1902).
James’s first 3 children at least must have been to his first wife;
Peter 1852
Daniel 1855 (went to USA)
Patrick 1957
Thomas 1968
Mary 1874
James 1872
Margaret 1874
Ellen 1876
Michael 1878.
Peter (my g.g.father) his children;
Walter born 1871 in Selby UK
John 15/08/1872
Mary Ellen 1874 died at 10 weeks old
Ann 25/05/1875
Walter’s 2nd son Albert born 1917 was my father.
David Finan (born 1946)
Hi, do you know of any Finans who moved to Wales and/or England? My great-great grandfather was Alfred J Finan and he moved to Llanelli, Wales, U.K and he was born, I think in Ireland, in 1898…..
Shane, the were Finan’s who lived in the st Helens area of England in the 1920’/1930’s from sligo. there were also Finan’s who lived in Keighley in Yorkshire . i found the Yorkshire in the cwgc.org website. they were killed in both world wars
i am looking for info on a margaret finan who died in 1921 in orange county. she came to america in 1894
Was she born in 1874 daughter of James Finan 1831- 1880 and Mary Finan 1842 -1902 in the UK