Leitrim-Roscommon

I have been researching some McGoverns from a small village outside of Ballinamore. Village of Keenheen, about 4 miles SE of Ballinamore. Using your 1901 census data and the EllisIsland.org website I was able to trace several of the McGoverns to America. Surprisingly many of them emigrated to Providence, Rhode Island.

I began to wonder if there might be a bigger tie between Ballinamore and Providence... more than some McGovern's from the small village of Keenheen. My wondering has been confirmed. For the past month I have emailed a McGovern from the Providence area. He stated that many people from Ballinamore emigrated to Providence, not just McGoverns.

I will share a bit of the Ellis Island data I found in another email.
Anyone else know about the Ballinamore, Providence connection?

Don McGovern
Researching McGoverns and Cullens from the Ballinamore area

My grandparents were from Leitrum and had connections to Ballinamore. Their last names were Teague or Tague and Duignan. My grandfathers family were known for bone setting, it is a skill that has been passed down thru the generations. My grandparents settled in Johnston, Rhode Island.

My grandmother's brother Francis Conlon was taken to the USA as a child after his mother died. The family lost track of him over the years except to know that he died still a child.

Recently a researcher posted some gravestone inscriptions from Providence Rhode Island on the Leitrim Rootsweb site (bear with me; I'm getting there!). Amongst these inscriptions was Francis Conlon aged 14. He was buried with his aunt and uncle James & Elizabeth McHugh.

After much digging and with the help of other researchers, I have established that he was indeed my great uncle. Elizabeth McHugh was Francis's mother's sister and thus my great, great aunt. Not only that but her father moved to Providence when his wife died and he died and is buried there.

Young Francis was from Cloone townland, the McHughs were from of Drumgowla, Francis senior was from Drumdiffer in Drumreilly parish and his wife Bridget McLaughlin was from KEENHEEN. (See! I knew I'd get there in the end.)

Seriously having trawled fairly extensively through the Ellis Island records it looks like a great number of people from South Leitrim went to Rhode Island and Providence in particular. Another favourite town was Newhaven Conn.

My grandparents were from Leitrum and had connections to Ballinamore. Their last names were Teague or Tague and Duignan. My grandfathers family were known for bone setting, it is a skill that has been passed down thru the generations. My grandparents settled in Johnston, Rhode Island.

So, Francie Teague was your grandfather? Pleased to meet you I'm your 2nd cousin .

Hello second cousin.....you must be aunt mary alice's grandson....am I correct? I think we might have met I have been to Ireland 7 times. My mother is Kathleen, Frank and Mary Ann's youngest daughter. E-mail me anytime at cmccarthy17@cox.net. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cara McCarthy
Providence, Rhode Island

I had sweeney relatives from Leitrim to woonsocket, rI

Many of my Roscommon ancestors, including my Mother (1907-2006), two of her sisters and one of her brothers, immigrated to Providence R.I. in the 1920's. They had many relatives in the area. It is my impression that there was a sizeable community of families with Roscommon roots living in and around Providence. Some of their Roscommon relations had come to Providence in the post-famine years. Many other relatives came between about 1890-1920. My Mother's Aunt had found work for her and for her sisters even before they arrived. In typical immigrant fashion, each new arrival was expected to send money home for the cost of the next relative's passage. There were many immigrants from other parts of Ireland, along with French Canadian and Italian immigrants as well, because the area was affluent and jobs were plentiful. Many went to work in factories and mills in the area or in Northern Rhode Island (Woonsocket) or nearby Massachusetts (Millville or Millis, for example.) Many Irish women became house maids, as they were preferred over other immigrants because they spoke English. In 1929, after the Great Depression started, it was almost impossible for Irish immigrants to get approval to come to the U.S. After 1929, my Mother's siblings in Roscommon immigrated to places like Manchester and Liverpool, where they also had colonies of Roscommon relations. I know from my Dad's family that many Irish from the North moved to Scoland during that period. By the time WWII was over, my Mother's youngest siblings could afford to stay in Ireland.