All Families and Individuals (to contribute information, please email Helen@HelensFamilyTrees.com)

Roger O'HARA [Parents] was born about 1800 in Co. Sligo, or Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He died before 25 Jan 1865 in Oxhill, Knockvicar, Co. Roscommon. Roger married Maria MURRAY.

Maria MURRAY died after 25 Jan 1865. She married Roger O'HARA.

Roger and Maria lived in the townland of Knockaduff where in 1834 they farmed 10 acres, which had risen to 17 by 1858.

They may have had another son, named Michael, as the New South Wales Assited Immigrant Passenger Lists show that a Michael O'Hara, aged 28 and from Cootehall, Co. Roscommon arrived aboard the Hornet in New South Wales, Australia on 25 January 1865. Michael was therefore born about 1836 which fits in with the births of the children of Maria and Roger. Or perhaps Michael was a son of Roger's brother William and his wife, Jane Boyde, who also had children around the same time that Michael was born.

They had the following children:

  F i Maria O'HARA was born about 1825 and died after 2 Apr 1911.
  M ii Patrick O'HARA.
  M iii
Michael O'HARA was born about 1836 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.

Michael emigrated to Australia aboard the Hornet, arriving there on 25 January 1865. According to the passenger list, he was a policeman.
  F iv Catherine O'HARA was born about 1837 and died after 2 Apr 1911.
  M v Roger O'HARA was born about 1839 and died after 2 Apr 1911.
  M vi
Andrew O'HARA was born about 10 Mar 1844 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 10 Mar 1844.

Sponsors at Andrew's baptism were Laurence O'Hara and Maria O'Hara.

We know Andrew emigrated to the United States because an 1880 census record has been located for him in the household of his sister Anne and her husband, John Ryan, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
  F vii Anne O'HARA was born about 17 May 1846.

Patrick O'HARA [Parents] was born 1808 in Co. Sligo, or Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He died 1886 and was buried in outside the O'Hara family plot in Ardcarne cemetery, Cootehall. Patrick married Honoria LAVIN.

Patrick farmed in the townland of Clegna (sometimes spelled Cleigna), Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He was known locally as "the Colonel". The story goes that when when he and his brother Laurence were young, they had a quarrel. To settle the matter their father arranged a boxing contest, which Patrick won. As a result of his success, people started calling him "the Colonel" and the nickname stuck.

Honoria LAVIN was born 1810. She died 1896 in probably Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was buried in outside the O'Hara family plot in Ardcarne cemetary, Cootehall. Honoria married Patrick O'HARA.

At the time of her death in 1896 Honoria was living in Corrageen (also spelled Carrageen and Carrigeen), Cootehall.

They had the following children:

  M i Michael O'HARA was born about 1841 and died about 1921.
  M ii
Patrick O'HARA was born about 31 May 1843 in probably Clegna, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 31 May 1843. He died 1921.

Sponsors at Patrick's baptism were Laurence O'Hara and Maria Lavin.

Patrick was parish priest at Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon and we know he was parish priest of Kilbride, Co. Roscommon from at least the time of the 1901 census to the time of his death in 1921.
  M iii Roger O'HARA was born about 12 Jan 1846.
  F iv Mary O'HARA was born about 14 May 1848.
  F v Anne O'HARA.
  F vi Bridget O'HARA was born about 1853.
  M vii
W. O'HARA died date unknown.

We know of W's existence from a short account in a local newspaper in May 1896 of the 'month's mind' mass for W's mother, Honoria O'Hara. W's address is given as 'Grove Road, Dublin'. Presumably his name was William.

Based on the above information, 1901 and 1911 census returns were located for an O'Hara family of 4 Grove Road, Rathmines in Dublin. It's a possibility the individuals listed may be W's children although W himself is not listed. He may have died between 1896 and 1901. In case there is a connection between W and this family, here are this family's details:

Ellen O'Hara, head of family, aged 26 (1901) and 36 (1911), landlady (1901), single, born Co. Dublin
John O'Hara, brother, 23 (1901) and 32 (1911), clerk (1901) and railway clerk (1911), single, born Co. Dublin
Pauline O'Hara, sister, 19 (1901) and 28 (1911), book keeper (1901) and drapery clerk (1911), single, born Co. Dublin
Annie O'Hara, sister, 17 (1901), draperess, single, born Co. Dublin
Maggie O'Hara, sister, 24 (1911), single, drapery clerk, born Co. Dublin

Denis MURPHY was born in possibly Knockvicar, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He married Anne O'HARA on 2 Oct 1879.

Anne O'HARA [Parents] married Denis MURPHY on 2 Oct 1879.

Other marriages:
MCDERMOTT, Matthew

Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Laurence O'Hara and Brigid O'Hara.

Matthew MCDERMOTT [Parents] was born in probably Riverstown, Co. Sligo. He died before Oct 1879. Matthew married Anne O'HARA on 9 Feb 1874.

Ann and Matthew were cousins (type unknown), presumably through the Lavins.

One of Ann and Matthew's descendants is Jim Kilcoyne who lives in Scituate, Massachussets but it's not known exactly how Jim is related.

Anne O'HARA [Parents] married Matthew MCDERMOTT on 9 Feb 1874.

Other marriages:
MURPHY, Denis

Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Edward Cogan and Brigid O'Hara.


They had the following children:

  F i
Catherine (Katie) MCDERMOTT was born about 1878 in Co. Sligo.

We know of Katie's existence from the 1901 census where she is listed as a member of the household of her uncle Fr. Patrick O'Hara in Kilbride, Co. Roscommon. She is also listed with her uncle in the 1911 census. Her parents may have had other children besides Katie.

Patrick MULLANY was born in Kilmactrany, Co. Sligo. He married Eleanor (Ellen) O'HARA on 13 Jan 1867.

Eleanor (Ellen) O'HARA [Parents] was born about 23 Apr 1849 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 23 Apr 1849. She married Patrick MULLANY on 13 Jan 1867.

Sponsors at Ellen's baptism were Edward Walpole and Mary Anne O'Hara. Ellen's name on her baptismal certificate is Helena.

According to her marriage certificate, Ellen's residence prior to her marriage was Cleigna in Cootehall.

Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Michael O'Hara and Maria O'Hara.

They had the following children:

  F i Mary Jane MULLANY was born about 1868 and died 29 Oct 1940/1941.

Roger (Rossy) O'HARA [Parents] was born about 17 Feb 1844 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 17 Feb 1844. He died after 1919 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. Roger married Elizabeth (Lizzie) LAVIN on 29 Jun 1868 in Kilmore Chapel, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon.

Sponsors at Rossy's baptism were Roger O'Hara and Maria Moran.

Rossy, aged 57, is listed in the 1901 census with his wife, Elizabeth and their 19-year-old son Patrick in the townland of Cloongreaghan in Cootehall. He is listed again in the 1911 census with Elizabeth, Patrick and a 16-year-old niece named Maggie McLoughlin. According to the 1911 census, Roger and Elizabeth had been married for 43 years and had six children born alive, all six of whom were still alive at the time of the census. This does not tie in with information I received from a family source who told me they had seven children (no names were known).

Elizabeth (Lizzie) LAVIN [Parents] was born 1846 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. She died 15 Nov 1919 in Glooria, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. Elizabeth married Roger (Rossy) O'HARA on 29 Jun 1868 in Kilmore Chapel, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon.

Lizzie was a sister of Patrick Lavin of Ardgallagher, Kilmore who married Rossy's niece Jane O'Hara.

They had the following children:

  F i
Anne O'HARA was born about 8 Feb 1872 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 8 Feb 1872.

Sponsors at Anne's baptism were William O'Hara and Brigid Stapleton.

Anne married a Chris Bury or a T. Christie. We know this from her mother's obituary in The Roscommon Herald of 29 November 1919 in which the list of chief mourners included "...Mrs. John McGrath (Elphin), Mrs. Chris Bury and Mrs. Patrick Flynn, Cootehall (daughters): Mr. John McGrath, Mr. T. Christie and Mr. Patrick Flynn (sons-in-law)....Austin McGrath and Gerald Flynn (grandsons), Eileen Flynn (granddaughter)" and we know that Anne's sisters Ellen and Elizabeth were married to John McGrath and Patrick Flynn respectively. It's possible Chris Bury and T. Christie are the same person (assuming a typographical error in the obituary) but if not, then Anne had another sister whose name we don't know.

I had thought that Anne had a sister named Mary as her brother William in Philadelphia used to mention a sister named Mary to his family. However, according to the 1911 census, Anne's parents, Rossy and Lizzie O'Hara, had six children born alive, all six of whom were alive at the time of the census. Including Mary would bring the number of children to seven, so there is clearly an error in the information shown here on the family of Rossy and Lizzie. Corrections would be most welcome.
  M ii William J. O'HARA was born about 9 Jul 1873 and died 26 Nov 1931.
  F iii Ellen O'HARA was born about 1877 and died date unknown.
  F iv Elizabeth O'HARA was born about 21 Jan 1878.
  M v
Patrick O'HARA was born about 1881 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.
  M vi
Joseph O'HARA was born 21 Oct 1883 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He died 30 Apr 1912 in Philadelphia and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Philadelphia.

A Joseph O'Hara, son of Roger and Elizabeth O'Hara from Cootehall, Co. Roscommon emigrated to the United States in 1911 aged about 23. Although a family source has provided us with a birth year of 1883 for our Joseph (which would have made him about 28 years of age in 1911), it seems very likely this is our Joseph above, especially in light of the fact that the Joseph who emigrated had a brother named William as did ours.

Assuming it was our Joseph who emigrated, here are his immigration details:

Joseph, accompanied by an Annie O'Hara (relationship to Joseph unknown) who was aged about 60, arrived in Philadelphia on 28 March 1911 and were met by a Hubert O'Hara (relationship to Joseph and Annie unknown).

Luke LAVIN was born about 1800. He married Brigid STAPLETON on 11 Aug 1839 in Dangan Chapel, Kilmore.

Brigid STAPLETON was born in Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. She married Luke LAVIN on 11 Aug 1839 in Dangan Chapel, Kilmore.

They had the following children:

  F i
Ann LAVIN was born 1840 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon.
  M ii Patrick LAVIN was born 13 Mar 1843 and died 1912.
  F iii Elizabeth (Lizzie) LAVIN was born 1846 and died 15 Nov 1919.

Patrick LAVIN [Parents] was born 13 Mar 1843 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. He died 1912 in Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. Patrick married Jane O'HARA on 14 Jun 1869 in Cootehall Church.

Jane O'HARA [Parents] was born about 14 Jun 1848 in Cloongreahen, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 14 Jun 1848. She died 1922 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. Jane married Patrick LAVIN on 14 Jun 1869 in Cootehall Church.

Sponsors at Jane's baptism were William O'Hara and Brigid Mulloy.

More detail on the descendants of Jane and her husband, Patrick Lavin, is available in "Ancestral Quest, Tracing my Ancestors in Ireland", a book published in 2008 by Patrick Lavin, a grandson of Patrick and Jane. The book also contains information on the Sligo origins of Jane's O'Hara ancestors who settled in Cootehall about 1800.

They had the following children:

  M i Mary LAVIN was born 13 Jul 1870.
  M ii Luke LAVIN was born 18 Feb 1872 and died 10 Apr 1955.
  M iii Laurence LAVIN was born 12 Sep 1873 and died about 1940.
  F iv
Brigid Catherine (Delia) LAVIN was born 26 Dec 1875 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. She died 1959 in Scramogue, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon and was buried in Scramogue, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.

Delia, who never married, lived in Paris for many years, working as a music teacher. She eventually returned to Ireland.
  F v
Ann Jane LAVIN was born 12 Jan 1878 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. She died about 1940 in Albany, New York and was buried in Rochester, New York.

Ann became a nun. Her name in religion was Sr.Francis Paula and she served in Kenya and in Rochester, New York.
  F vi
Elizabeth LAVIN was born 31 Dec 1879 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. She died 2 Jan 1958 in Scramogue, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon and was buried in Scramogue, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.

Like her older sister Delia, Elizabeth lived in Paris for many years before returning to Ireland.
  F vii Emily Margaret LAVIN was born 19 Dec 1881 and died 2 Jan 1966.
  M viii Charles John LAVIN was born 25 Dec 1883 and died 1947.
  M ix Joseph Richard LAVIN was born 1 Jan 1886 and died Nov 1964.
  F x Agnes LAVIN was born about 1888 and died Aug 1969.
  M xi Francis Xavier LAVIN was born May 1890 and died 1 Apr 1935.
  M xii
Kieran Patrick (Fr. Damian) LAVIN was born 3 May 1892 in Ardgallagher, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. He died 21 Oct 1918 in Mount Argus, Dublin.

Kieran became a priest, taking the name Fr. Damian. Following his ordination he went to England where he did missionary work. He was only 26 years of age when he died from complications resulting from diabetes.

Laurence O'HARA [Parents] was born 1821 in Glooria, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He died 1904 in Cloongreahen, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. Laurence married Catherine MULLOY on 16 Feb 1846 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.

Laurence was renowned locally for his great strength.

Catherine MULLOY was born 1821 in probably Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. She died 1904 in Cootehall, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Catherine married Laurence O'HARA on 16 Feb 1846 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.

At the time of the untimely death of their daughter Maria in 1894 Maria and Laurence were living in Donald's Hill in Cootehall.

Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Michael Brother (was 'Brother' a surname or does it signify that Michael was a brother of Laurence?) and Catherine Mulloy.

They had the following children:

  F i Maria O'HARA was born about 28 Dec 1846 and died Aug 1894.
  F ii Jane O'HARA was born about 14 Jun 1848 and died 1922.
  M iii Patrick O'HARA was born about 19 Mar 1849 and died 1928.
  M iv
William O'HARA was born about 26 Dec 1854 in Cloongreahen, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 26 Dec 1854.

Sponsors at William's baptism were William O'Hara and Honora Mulloy.
  M v
John O'HARA was born about 15 Sep 1855 in Cloongreahen, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was christened 15 Sep 1855.

Sponsors at John's baptism were Robert O'Hara and Joanna O'Hara.
  M vi Charles O'HARA was born about 26 Sep 1857.
  M vii Laurence O'HARA was born about 20 Dec 1859 and died after Oct 1903.
  M viii Joseph O'HARA was born about 14 Mar 1862.

William MAXWELL died before 31 Mar 1901. He married Maria O'HARA on 26 Jan 1852.

Maxwell researchers may be interested in information received from Ellen Brewin in Illinois on her Maxwell ancestors. Ellen's great-great-grandmother was Catherine Maxwell who was born around 1823 but her parents' names are unknown. Catherine married a Michael Coleman in 1841 in Boyle, Co. Roscommon. She died around 1888 and is buried, along with Michael, in Estersnow Cemetery, not far from Boyle. Their descendants who emigrated went mainly to Taunton and Leominster, both in Massachusetts. Ellen wonders if her ancestors were connected to the Maxwell family who are mentioned in David Thomson's book, 'Woodbrook', an account of the author's time as tutor in the 1930s to the Kirkwood children of the Woodbrook estate, located between Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon. Mr. Thomson states that Michael Maxwell's family lived "on the other side of Drumharlow and the Boyle River". If anyone has any information on Ellen's Maxwell ancestors, could you please contact me at Helen@HelensFamilyTrees.com and I will pass it on.   

Maria O'HARA [Parents] was born about 1825 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. She died after 2 Apr 1911 in probably Brackloon, Tumna, Co. Roscommon. Maria married William MAXWELL on 26 Jan 1852.

Maria is listed in the 1901 census as a 75-year-old widow living in Brackloon in the parish of Tumna, Co. Roscommon. Also listed with her is her 10-year-old granddaughter Mary, whose surname could be Kermoy or Kennedy or Keveney. Maria is listed alone at the same address in the 1911 census.

Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were James Maxwell and Catherine O'Hara.

They had the following children:

  M i
Thomas MAXWELL was born about 11 Dec 1853 and was christened 11 Dec 1853.

Sponsors at Thomas's baptism were Patrick O'Hara and Mary Anne O'Hara.

We know Thomas emigrated to the United States because an 1880 census record has been located for him (and his brother Patrick) in the household of his aunt Anne (née O'Hara) and her husband, John Ryan, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
  M ii
Patrick MAXWELL was born about 4 Feb 1855 and was christened 4 Feb 1855.

Sponsors at Patrick's baptism were Michael O'Hara and Anne Murry.

We know Patrick emigrated to the United States because an 1880 census record has been located for him (and his brother Thomas) in the household of his aunt Anne (née O'Hara) and her husband, John Ryan, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
  M iii
Roger MAXWELL was born about 16 Mar 1857 and was christened 16 Mar 1857.

Sponsors at James's baptism were Roger O'Hara and Margaret O'Hara.
  M iv
Michael MAXWELL was born about 1 May 1859 and was christened 1 May 1859.

Sponsors at Michael's baptism were James Maxwell and Elizabeth Shanley.
  F v
Anne MAXWELL was born about 27 May 1861 and was christened 27 May 1861.

Sponsors at Anne's baptism were Thomas Maxwell and Elizabeth Frivar.
  F vi
Maria MAXWELL was born about 15 Aug 1863 and was christened 15 Aug 1863.

Sponsors at Maria's baptism were Laurence O'Hara and Anne O'Hara.
  M vii
William MAXWELL was born about 20 Aug 1865 and was christened 20 Aug 1865.

Sponsors at William's baptism were William O'Hara and Maria Maxwell.
  M viii
Laurence MAXWELL was born about 8 May 1868 and was christened 8 May 1868.

Sponsors at Laurence's baptism were Eugene Morahan and Anne O'Hara.
  F ix
Catherine MAXWELL was born 24 May 1870 in Brackloon, Tumna, Co. Roscommon and was christened 25 May 1870 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.

Sponsors at Catherine's baptism were Thomas McDermott and Catherine O'Hara,

Home First Previous Next Last

Surname List | Name Index