Leitrim-Roscommon

Ellen Lavin b abt 1838 was the daughter of Thomas Lavin and Nora O'Donald according to Ellen's death certificate. However, her mother's name could have also been Elenora Or Honra McDonnell or O'Donnell. Ellen Lavin married Martin Rogers (no birth but died around 1871) and lived in the Frenchpark, Roscommon area. Ellen Lavin Rogers also had brothers, Patrick Lavin and John Lavin Martin Rogers and Ellen Lavin had 4 sons, Thomas b. 26 Aug, 2864, John b 9 Nov 1865, Patrick b. 16 Jan 1868 and Martin b. 16 Jan 1870, all of whom immigrated to the US beginning in 1875 (Ellen and her son Martin) and followed by the others around 1881. I'm trying to find out where "Frenchpark, Roscommon" would be located. My mother, (daughter of 1870 Martin Rogers) always remembered her father coming from a town with a little "unforgetable" name which she can't remember!!! so I'm wondering if "frenchpark is a district, instead of a townland. I would love any help or suggestions for tracing Martin Rogers (Ellen Lavin's husband) parentage, as well as finding the correct spelling for Nora O'Donald. I believe the name was giving at the time of Ellen Lavin Rogers death by her son who may very well have mispelled it.

Frenchpark is both a town and a civil registration district in County Roscommon. I have ancestors, for example, who came out of a townland called Cloonfad but records will often only refer to the Frenchpark registration district. I have a link to a marriage between a McDonnell and a Rogers, both of whom came out of Lisdrumneil townland. There are many Lavins in the same area. I suggest you search Griffiths on this site using the surnames you are looking for and see if that helps you narrow things down a bit.

Jackie

There is no Martin Rogers/Rodgers listed in Griffiths Valuation.

Jackie told about Registration Districts. There are 149 townlands in Frenchpark Registrar’s District. The area includes parts of a number of Civil and Catholic parishes.

If you look at LDS film numbers 101163 and 101203 for Pat and Martin you will find the townland of birth and the occupation of the father. The records are filmed copies of the actual registers.

Extracted from the LDS British Isles Vital Records CD.

RODGERS, Pat Birth. Gender: Male
Birth Date: 16 Jan 1868 Birthplace: Frenchpark, Ros, Ire
Recorded in: Roscommon, Ireland
Collection: Civil Registration
Father: Martin RODGERS
Mother: Ellen LAVIN
Source: FHL Film 101163 Dates: 1868 – 1869

ROGERS, Martin Birth: Gender: Male
Birth Date: 16 Jan 1870 Birthplace: 190, Frenchpark, Ros, Ire
Recorded in: Roscommon, Ireland
Collection: Civil Registration
Father: Martin ROGERS
Mother: Ellen LAVEN
Source: FHL Film 101203 Dates: 1870 – 1871

The following may be of interest:
ROGERS, Martinum Christening. Gender: Male
Christening Date: 9 Nov 1850 Recorded in: Loughglynn, Roscommon, Ireland
Collection: Roman Catholic
Father: Hugonis ROGERS
Mother: Rosae FREEMAN
Source: FHL Film 989753 Dates: 1849 - 1863

ROGERS, Martinum Christening Gender: Male
Christening Date: 3 Nov 1833 Recorded in: Laughlin, Roscommon, Ireland
Collection: Roman Catholic
Father: Johannis ROGERS
Mother: Mariae MORRISROE
Source: FHL Film 989753 Dates: 1829 – 1835

Maybe Ed Gaffney might check the IGI for you.

John

John Hunter comes through once again! One little thing--Nora is often the nickname for Honora, a common first name in the area (probably all of Ireland as well).

P.S. to John if you read this: I understand that Frenchpark Barony was formed (one source said 1846, but I'm not sure this fits) out of parts of Boyle Barony (including Tibohin parish) and the old Costello Barony or parish (Mayo). Do you think that the earlier marriage/birth ecords that are available for Boyle Barony could apply to surnames I'm tracking in Frenchpark's Tibohine parish? Sharkett/Sharkey is one of the families I'm tracking and there are quite a few old Boyle registrations for that name.

There is a Rogers and a Lavin family listed in the Griffith Valuation for the Townland of Slieveroe, Frenchpark. Maybe there is some connection
M. Walsh

Wow! Thank you all so much for all the leads. You have given me much to pursue, and the births of the sons certainly match what I have in my family records. I do not know how I can connect the later people to my family but it seems logical that there must be one. When I checked the IGI the family of Martin and Ellen appear, but it just says Frenchpark, Roscommon. How do I find out the name of the townland? There are many Lavins that settled in Litchfield, Connecticut in addition to my family. If any one is interested in Lavins on this side of the ocean, I would be more than happy to track them down. For example here's a family I found in the Connecticut Census of 1870
Lavin, Bartley Head 40 1840 Ireland
Maggie Wife 40 1840 Ireland
Thomas Son 12 1868 CT
Michael Son 11 1869 CT
Julia Daughter 9 1871 CT
John Son 6 1874 CT
Mary Daughter 4 1876 CT