The Thomas Brennan and Bridget Cannon Family of Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland and the Migration Trail Followed by Some of their Descendents to Buffalo, New York, U.S.A
The Thomas Brennan and Bridget Cannon Family on which this page is based were found in the Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Microfilm, Databases from Ancestry.com including the Ancestry.com. Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911 and the Ireland Civil Registration Births Indexes 1864-1958, U.S. Census Records, Passenger Lists and Death Records generously contributed by C. Walsh a Genealogist researching this and the Redmond Walsh/Bridget Brennan line. Keep in Mind that Castlebar Roman Catholic Parish included Aglish, Breaghwy and Ballyhean Civil Parishes.
This page is a work in progress as I have only completed one of the three Castlebar films, which will likely yield many more clues on this family! It is clear that this family was from the Castlebar area as indicated by the Irish Civil Registration Birth Indexes, but several other Townlands were mentioned in connection with this family including a Townland in the microfilm baptismal records for Delia Catherine and Thomas that I had trouble deciphering- Cuselia or Durseler in the Castlebar film and the Townland of Pollnanaskin, Mayo that was noted in the ancestry.com birth record for Catherine. The Civil Registration Birth Index for Catherine indicated Castlebar. I believe that Pollnanaskin is likely Pollanaskan in Breaghwy Civil Parish, Castlebar Poor Law Union (that lies just southeast of Aglish Civil Parish).
A lot more work needs to be done to uncover this family's origin in Ireland, and is a joint effort by fellow Brennan/Walsh researcher Chuck Walsh and myself. This page was inspired by him and the Passenger List and Death record were his generous contributions! We both have ancestors that came from County Mayo, Ireland to America and would love to hear from others whose ancestors might have crossed paths with ours.
Keep in mind that the records I present in this compilation would have to be proven for accuracy with Government Records for the Civil Birth Registrations, Death records among other genealogical records. Please use this information with that caveat in mind so that nothing is assumed and no stones are left unturned to assure it's your family and the connection is accurate.
Regarding other Brennan/Cannon Families in the Castlebar area: Thus far I have uncovered one other Brennan/Cannon Family in the Castlebar area that may be related to Thomas Brennan/Bridget Cannon: Thomas Cannon and Bridget Brennan Cannon. According to the Ireland Births and Baptisms Database on Ancestry.com they had a son Thomas that was born in Mayo, Ireland on December 12, 1879 (Film 256041).
| Type of Record/ Church | Date | Husband/Father or other Brennan | Wife/Mother | Child/ Others | Misc. Info/ Townland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland Births/ Baptisms 1620-1911 Ancestry.com Database; FHL Film 255911 | July 20, 1874 | Brennan,Thomas (Father) | Cannon, Bridget | James | Mayo, Ireland |
| Ireland Births/Baptisms 1620-1911 Ancestry.com Database FHL Film 255956 | November 20, 1876 | Brennan, Thomas (Father) | Cannon, Bridget | Catherine | Pollnanaskin, Mayo, Ireland |
| Ireland Civil Reg. Births Index 1864-1958 Ancestry.com Database; Volume 19, Page 112; FHL Film 101053 | 1876 | Catherine | Castlebar | ||
| Ireland Births and Baptisms 1620-1911 Ancestry.com Database; FHL 256000 | January 24, 1878 Mayo, Ireland | Brennan, Thomas (Father) | Camion, Brennan, Bridget | Mary Anne Brennan | |
| Ireland Civil Reg. Births Index 1864-1958 Ancestry.com Database Castlebar Reg District Volume 4, Page 130, FHL Film 101055 | Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter Births 1878 Castlebar Reg District | Mary Anne Brennan | Castlebar Registration District | ||
| Ireland Births and Baptisms 1620-1911 Ancestry.com Database FHL film 256067 | October 28, 1880 | Brennan, Thomas (Father) | Cannon, Brennan, Bridget | Bridget Brennan | Polnanuskan, Portnashangan, Westmeath, Ireland (I think this is likely Pollanaskin, Mayo in Breaghway) |
| New York State Department of Health Death Certificate | March 16, 1880 | Brennan, James (son of Thomas Brennan/Bridget Cannon) | Birth according to death certificate provided by C Walsh | ||
| Castlebar LDS Microfilm 1279212 Item 1 | August 13, 1884 | Brennan, Thos (Father) | Cannon, Bt | Delia Catherine | Durseler? James Brennan was a sponsor for this baptism |
| Castlebar LDS Microfilm 1279212 Item 1 | October 22, 1886 | Brennan, Thos (Father) | Cannon, Bt | Thomas | Cuselia? James Brennan was a sponosr for this baptism |
| Manifest of Alien Immigrants aboard Saxonia that left Liverpool April 1902 (Probable passenger list) | Arrival New York April 14, 1902 | Brennan, James (son of Thomas Brennan/Bridget Cannon) | Journey to America | to join sister D. Brennan in Buffalo, NY | Journey to America- destination Buffalo, New York. According to C Walsh, the intent to naturalize lists the ship Majestic but we have been unable to find him on any Majestic ship lists. |
| 1910 US Federal Census 200th Division Street, Erie County, Buffalo, New York Dist 0024 ancestry.com database | 1910 | Welsh, James, Head, age 37, first marriage married 17 yrs; born in Ireland; naturalized 1886 Conductor Steam Railroad | Welsh, Johanna, Wife 34, first marriage, 7 kids, 2 living born in New York, parents born in Ireland | Welsh, James J, Son 14 born in New York | a Thomas Moran, Nephew age 27 born in Ireland, a helper at boiler? shop also lived with them. |
| Welsh, Genevieve, Daughter, 13 born in New York | |||||
| Welsh, Patrick, Brother 39 single born in Ireland Naturalized 1892 Inspector Railroad Car Shop | |||||
| Brennan, James, Cousin, age 29 single born in Ireland Papers filed 1902- Helper at Boiler? Shop | |||||
| US Declaration of Intention State of New York, Erie County US Dept of Labor Naturalization Service | August 19, 1918 | Brennan, James single, age 40 of 112 Peabody Street, Buffalo, New York | occupation: Boiler Maker, born Castlebar, Ireland March 16, 1878; emigrated Liverpool to NY on the Majestic April 16, 1902. (graciously provided by Chuck!) | ||
| 1920 US Census Ancestry.com Database 112 Peabody Street, Erie County, Buffalo, New York Ward 34 | 1920 | Brennan, James 38 yr old single, Boarder born in Ireland; employed as a Boiler Maker Contractor; living with the Laidig Family from Pennsylvania; | immigration yr 1903; Naturalized in 1906; both parents born in Ireland | ||
| New York State Department of Health Death Certificate #1353 | March 1, 1944 Edward J Meyer Memorial Hospital, Buffalo, New York | James Brennan age 63 (son of Thomas Brennan and Bridget Cannon of Ireland) | James was an Iron Worker- Ship Builder who died of Carcinoma of the Tongue. He was residing at 203 Eagle Street, Buffalo, Erie, New York at the time of his death. Info was provided by Mildred L Connors on 462 Grider Street | ||
| New York State Department of Health Death Certificate #1353 (Burial Note) | March 3, 1944 Holy Cross Cemetery | James Brennan (son of Thomas Brennan and Bridget Cannon) |