Conflicting Clues

        Ever since I took the plunge into Irish waters over one month ago, there have been many false starts and conflicting clues along the way. Imagine looking for a John M. Reilly and wife Matilda (just Matilda, no maiden name), with little else to go on. It seemed to have been a fruitless swim in the Irish Sea, wading in these waters for over 10 years now and making no headway to speak of.

This latest go round has been different. The main reason for this is that I have had 12 years of on the job training, so to speak. I am more cognizant of little clues in records. In addition, more research tools and records are available now. And I have learned to think more critically about details. Details that seemed unimportant to me years ago all of a sudden took on new significance. One example of this is the middle initial “M” in two male descendants of John M. Reilly, which until this time I never considered a clue.

Map of Ireland, with County Cavan in green

I now know that my 2nd great-grandfather, John Mervyn Reilly, came from Mountnugent, also referred to as Mount Nugent.  It is a village in the parish of Kilbride, barony of Clonmahon, County CAVAN, on the shore of Lake Sheelin, province of ULSTER ! The family was Protestant denomination. 

    So now if any of my family ever wants to visit Ireland (hopefully with me), we now have at least one clear destination. Here are maps showing the location. 

The red pin above shows Mount Nugent

Mountnugent is toward the bottom right

In addition, 3rd great grandparents have also been identified. They are John Wesley Reilly and his wife Elizabeth Mervin (Mervyn).  Yes, this is apparently where the Mervyn name comes in.

How I got to this point is a story for another day. But briefly, thanks to the unique middle name (Mervyn),  a small DNA match (4th cousin) who has an extensive family tree that required years of research, along with much assistance from this tree owner, I was able to learn that my John M. Reilly had eight siblings, all born in Ireland, and all but one immigrated, along with their parents, to this country between 1851-1854. They did not all travel together though. Some came to New York City, settling in Brooklyn, and others came through Canada and settled in Detroit.  I am still in the early processes of building out their unique stories, which are both fascinating and heartbreaking.

Here is a recent shot of the village Mount Nugent, with Lake Sheelin in the distance!

Of course this is just the beginning. No one is more surprised than I am that this brick wall has come tumbling down. I have learned so very much already about this family, but there is so much more!