Week 2: Origins (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2024 Version)

The theme for Week 2 is "Origins." Genealogists often get the question, "Where is your family from?" With this week's theme, you could explore an immigrant ancestor, but you could also think about the origin of other aspects of your family. Who was the first person in your family to settle in a particular town? If you have a long line of people with the same occupation, talent, etc, who was the first person you know who did it? Check out all of the 2024 prompts here.

I know most of my family origins in general terms, such as Irish, English, German. However, I have actually been to the origins of my 2nd great grandfather, James Crinion. James was born on Feb 2, 1832 in Louth, Ireland. 

Many years ago, I started corresponding to a fellow Crinion, (lets call her M) actually she married a Crinion and she lives in Ireland. Anyway, she was working on the family and since this name is not common at all, we believe it was the same Crinion Clan. 

My father, two sisters and I took a trip to Ireland as part of a tour group. We decided to stay a few days later and meet up with M who lives on the original Crinion homestead with her husband and sons. Her brother-in-law actually lived in the big, original home, since he was the eldest and inherited it from his father. This land has been handed down in the family for generations. James’ father, Patrick and their direct ancestor were most likely brothers. Patrick being the 12th or 13th child and their direct ancestor being the eldest brother. Thus, we most likely share 4th great grandparents. 

We arranged to meet M at her home. Then she took us to a local hotel, named the Crinion Hotel. The current owner wasn’t a Crinion nor a descendant, however he claimed he had lots of documents on the Crinion Clan. He didn’t have them on him and sadly, I never did see anything. M then showed us where she thought Patrick, his wife and their children had lived. It was a small building, currently being used as a pole shed. It was hard to think, that Patrick, his wife and the four children I have found were living in this small building.

Lore has it that Patrick and his adult children left Ireland after Patrick’s wife, Ann died. I have never found any trace of Patrick in the United States. However, it appeared that the clan was a tight knit family. They first came to New York State, settling a short while in the Utica area, where many Irish Americans came. James younger sister, Margaret married her husband, Daniel Sullivan about 1861 somewhere in Livingston County, New York. Their first three children were born in Caledonia, Livingston, New York. By 1869, they moved to the Doylestown, Columbia County, Wisconsin area and had 6 more children.

James older sister, Mary, married Hugh Peter McMahon on Sep 2, 1855 at St Patrick’s Church, in Doylestown, Columbia County, Wisconsin. They had 6 children, all born in Columbia County.

James married Mary Ann McMahon, younger sister of his brother-in-law, Hugh Peter McMahon on Jan 7, 1857, most likely in Columbia County, Wisconsin. They had 10 children. Their first three had all died by 1864. 

James’ other younger sister, Anne married his other brother-in-law, Philip H McMahon about 1858, most likely in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Sadly, Anne died during child birth, having a daughter in Feb of 1860. The child survived and had six children of her own.

All these siblings and their spouses except Anne are buried in the St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Dolylestown, Columbia County, Wisconsin.  Anne along with James and Mary’s three oldest children are buried in the Saint Columbkille Catholic Cemetery located in Elba, Dodge County, Wisconsin.  The St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery was created later after a parishioner donated land next to the church for the cemetery. Thus, earlier burials occurred at the Saint Columbkille Catholic Cemetery.

M's husband and my father, both took the Y-DNA test through FamilyTreeDNA and they do show as relatives, and they have the same Y Haplogroup of G-M201. Thus, I am more confident than ever, that I did walk the land that my ancestors walked.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!