DNA and Dumplings

Am I Irish? AncestryDNA says I am 31%, although I suspect some of that Western Europe may be a bit of Irish too.

Some of my known Irish ancestors from my paternal side are:

James McGowan born 1833. He immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 18, 1850 aboard the Barque Creole, and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died there March 18, 1889.

Bridget Conlon born May 18, 1837. Her parents were Michael and Ellen per her death certificate. On the 1900 census, she states she immigrated in 1855. She married James McGowan. After his death she moved to Birmingham, Alabama with her son Patrick.

Archibald McKenzie christened October 11, 1818 in Macroom, Cork, Ireland. He was the son of Murdock and Sarah McKenzie. He immigrated about 1863 and settled in Beaver Falls, Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Jane McKenzie born on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 1842, probably in Macroom, Cork. She was the daughter of Archibald McKenzie and Elizabeth Brown. She immigrated to New York June 23, 1864 on the Ship Marianne Nottebohm.

Daniel McNamara born March, 1841, possibly in Cork. He immigrated to New York December 28, 1863 aboard the ship Universe. He married Jane McKenzie and settled in Universal, Pennsylvania. Their daughter Lizzie married Patrick McGowan.

My maternal side also has Irish surnames, but they have all been in the US much longer than my paternal side. I have not been able to trace most of them back to Ireland yet. Some of those are:

William McCullough born 1793 in South Carolina.

Daniel Gibson born about 1680 in Augusta, Virginia.

Samuel Cargo born about 1745 in Augusta, Virginia.

James McDole or McDowell was born in Ireland about 1745 and died November 6, 1840 in Laurens, South Carolina.

I also have the Warnick surname on my maternal line. I haven't been able to determine for certain if it's an Irish or German line. Warnock is Irish, and Warnecke is German. Online trees have my Warnick line connected to Ireland, but I'm not entirely sure that's correct. There are some gaps in the paper trail. Oral history of this family line says they are German. Hopefully DNA will provide further clues....and then there are the chicken and dumplings. My mom's recipe handed down from the women in her family were the German style, made like fist sized simmered biscuits, and not the rolled out noodle style.. maybe there's a clue in that?

I'd love to hear the origins of dumplings in your family...which type and family origins.

Murder in the Family- James Joseph McGowan 1875-1940 #52Ancestors #41

Sometimes you come across something you never expected to find in your family tree. James Joseph McGowan was my grandfather's uncle. He was the son of James McGowan and Bridget Conlon. He was born February 15, 1875 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jacobum, {James} born 15 Feb 1875; baptized 18 Mar 1875; father: Jacobo [James] McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsor: Winifred Gowey.
James was baptized at St. John the Evangelist in Southside Pittsburgh. He was the seventh child of eight born to this family.

He is found in 1880 in Pittsburgh
1880 United States Census Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
James MC GOWAN Self M Male W 42 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Bridget MC GOWAN Wife M Female W 40 IRE Keeping Bdg House IRE IRE
Patrick MC GOWAN Son S Male W 19 PA Boilers Helper IRE IRE
Mary A. MC GOWAN Dau S Female W 16 PA At Home IRE IRE
Joseph MC GOWAN Son S Male W 13 PA Wks In Rg Mill IRE IRE
James MC GOWAN Son S Male W 5 PA IRE IRE
Thomas MC GOWAN Son S Male W 2 PA IRE IRE
James CONAWAY Other S Male W 40 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Edwd O'MALLEY Other S Male W 30 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
William RILEY Other S Male W 36 IRE Boiler IRE IRE


In 1900 James was living with his widowed mother and his brother in McKeesport:
1900  PENNSYLVANIA ALLEGHENY 5-WD MCKEESPORT

Series: T623 Roll: 1368 Page: 224
630 Jerome St,

MCGOWAN BRIDGET 57 F W IREL Jan 1843, Widowed. 5 children, 5 living, Immigration 1855, Years in US 45
McGowan, James, son, Feb 1875, 25, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill
McGowan, Thomas, Oct 1878, 21, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill


Sometime after the 1900 census, James married Clara Elizabeth Wordtt of McKeesport.
They had a daughter, Catherine, born October 31, 1915 in Monessen, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.

By 1920, James and his family had followed other members of the McGowan family to Birmingham, Alabama.
1920  ALABAMA  JEFFERSON  BIRMINGHAM

Series: T625 Roll: 22 Page: 145
Surname GivenName Age Sex Race Birthplace

MCGOWAN JAMES J 42 M W PA , parents Ireland, Machinist-Crane Co
Claire, wife, 35, born PA, Father Germany, Mother Ireland
Catherine 4, born PA

They were still in Birmingham in 1930.

James J Mcgowan M 48 PA parents Ireland
spouse Clona E Mcgowan F 46 PA father Germany mother Ireland
child Catherine E Mcgowan F 14 PA parents PA

I was unable to find James in the 1940 census, so I searched for an obit in the Birmingham papers using the Obituary Index : Birmingham Area Newspapers. Two entries came up:

Name: McGowan, James J.

Newspaper: Birmingham NewsDate: May 12, 1940

Edition: Section: Announcements/Deaths Page: 10*

Notes: *Sports; Financial/Want-Ads section

Name: McGowan, James J.

Newspaper: Birmingham NewsDate: May 12, 1940

Edition: Section: Page: 1

Notes: article; murder

I couldn't wait to get to the library and check this out!

I found the obit as expected.

And then the murder:

What a sad end! I was unable to find if anyone was ever charged. The distance from Ensley to Brewton is almost 200 miles. It's also interesting that his trailer was still in Ensley, so I would think that he was not on a jaunt to the Brewton area. The article makes no mention of his car, which in 1940 you would have had to have to pull a trailer.

I wonder if I could get any more info from the sheriff's office?

Murder Creek near Brewton from http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Rivers%20and%20Streams.html

Bridget Conlon McGowan from Ireland to PA to AL #52Ancestors #12

Bridget was born somewhere in Ireland. She was the daughter of Michael Conlon and his wife Ellen. The last name has been found as Conlan, Conlen, Conlin and Conlon.

I have not been able to determine Bridget's entry into the US. Per two census records, she arrived in 1855. There are quite a few Bridget Conlons immigrating in the time period before 1860. I've not found any that are on the same ship with a Michael and Ellen, nor any alone in 1855. I have also not been able to be certain where Bridget was in the 1860 census.

Bridget married James McGowan about 1860 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Pittsburgh says that marriage records before 1877 are no longer in existence. They were probably married at St. John the Evangelist (South Side)


I was able to obtain the following births and baptisms from the Diocese:
St. John the Evangelist (South Side) Baptismal Records

Patrick, born 22 Mar 1861; baptized 31 Mar 1861; father: James McGown; mother: Bridget Conboy; sponsors: Albert Griffin, Anna Conlon

Mary, born 12 Feb 1864; baptized 28 Feb 1864; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridg. Conlon; sponsors: John McDowal, Mary Conlon

Sarah Helen, born 2 Mar 1866; baptized 18 Mar 1866; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conlin; sponsors: Thos. Nolan, Edelia McCann

Joseph, born 18 Mar 1867; baptized 31 Mar 1867; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conolan; sponsors: Edward McTiernan, Anna McCann

Ellen, born 19 Mar 1873; baptized 6 Apr 1873; father: Jacobo [James] McGowan; mother: Brigitta Connolly; sponsors: Hugo McFadden, Anna Murray

Jacobum, born 15 Feb 1875; baptized 18 Mar 1875; father: Jacobo McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsor: Winifred Gowey

Thomas, born 16 Oct 1877; baptized 21 Oct 1877; father: James McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsors: Arthur Holland, Mary McGlinn

The family was in the East Birmingham Borough of Pittsburgh in 1870:
James, age 36, Iron Pudler, value of real estate 1000, personal estate 100, born Ireland, father & mother of foreign birth, US Citizen.
Bridget, age 33, keeps house, born Ireland
Patrick, age 9, Born PA
Mary, age 6, born PA
Joseph, age 4, born PA
Michael, age 8/12, born PA, Sept
Townloe, Mike, age 23, laborer, born Ireland

The 1880 census:
James McGowan Self M Male W 42 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Bridget McGowan Wife M Female W 40 IRE Keeping Bdg House IRE IRE
Patrick McGowan Son S Male W 19 PA Boilers Helper IRE IRE
Mary A. McGowan Dau S Female W 16 PA At Home IRE IRE
Joseph McGowan Son S Male W 13 PA Wks In Rg Mill IRE IRE
James McGowan Son S Male W 5 PA IRE IRE
Thomas McGowan Son S Male W 2 PA IRE IRE
James Conaway boarder S Male W 40 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Edwd O'Malley boarder S Male W 30 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
William Riley boarder S Male W 36 IRE Boiler IRE IRE

James died in 1889. Bridget is listed as the widow of James in the 1889/90 city directory

Title: J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities. 1889/1890
Author: Diffenbacher, J. F.
Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories
pg 760

McGowan, Bridget, wid Jas, 140 S Twenty-fifth
McGowan, Jos, helper, 140 S Twenty-fifth

In 1900, Bridget was living in McKeesport, Pennsylvania:
630 Jerome St. (Jerome St was demolished as part of the Jerome St Bridge construction in McKeesport)

Picture by Leepaxton at en.wikipedia

MCGOWAN BRIDGET 57 F W IREL Jan 1843, Widowed. 5 children, 5 living, Immigration 1855, Years in US 45
McGowan, James, son, Feb 1875, 25, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill
McGowan, Thomas, Oct 1878, 21, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill

In 1910, Bridget was living with her daughter and son-in-law in McKeesport.
1408 Jenny Lind St (now an empty lot)

Ridge, Michael, 44, 1st marriage, married 13 years, Born England, parents England, Immigration 1891, Gas Producer, Tube Works
Mary A, wife, 44, 3 children, 3 living, Born PA, parents Ireland
Katherine, daughter, 11, PA
Maria, daughter, 8, PA
Ellen, daughter, 4, PA
MCGOWAIN BRIDGET 69 F W IREL Mother-in-law, widowed, 10 children, 4 living, parents Ireland, Immigration 1855

By 1920, Bridget had moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and was living with her son Patrick:
Nineteenth Street
McGowen P H 55 M W PA
Tom 27? Salesman Barber Supply
Dan 24 Carpenter Steel Plant
Alice 21 Operator Phone Co
Joe 20 Labor ? Co
Frank 13, ? boy, ? Co
pg 249
John 11
Bridget, Mother, 85 born Ireland

Bridget died January 30, 1920 of Bright's disease (kidney disease). She was buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery. UAB purchased the property where the cemetery was located, and all graves were moved. I have not been able to locate Bridget's final resting place.

My Irish Roots Planted in PA and AL

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, I am paying homage to my Irish immigrant ancestors, James McGowan, Bridget Conlon McGowan, Daniel McNamara and Jane McKenzie McNamara.
James was born in Ireland in a yet to be determined location about 1833. Bridget was born May 18, 1837 in Ireland, location also unknown.

The name McGowan in Ireland and Scotland, is of Celtic origins, originally Mac an Ghabhan, and is translated as the "Son of the Smith". James certainly followed this tradition, as he was an iron worker.

I was able to find James arrival to the United States on the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild website http://www.immigrantships.net/1800/creole18500718.html. James arrived at the Port of Philadelphia aboard the Barque Creole. Captain John Watt's manifest was signed "this 18th day of July 1850".  All the passengers except two were from Ireland. James was the only McGowan on board. He states his age as 18, and occupation as laborer.  For all the passengers, the United States was the country of which it was their intention to become inhabitants. The journey from Ireland would have taken about a month on the Creole, a sailing ship. Sailing from Londonderry would usually indicate that the passengers were from northern Ireland.

The Creole was "...a well-known ship on both sides of the Atlantic--easily identified in port with the unusual figurehead of a Creole Indian in full head-dress and war-livery."

The Great Famine migration began in 1847, but it's effects were still being felt in 1850. The United States was the land of opportunity for these immigrants.

James settled in Pittsburgh. In June, 1860 he is found in the household of Constantine Galegar, age 33, Master Iron Worker.
June, 1860 PA Census ALLEGHENY > MONONGAHELA BORO
Household of Constantine Galegar or Galegor, age 33, Ireland, Master Iron Worker (1827)
Mary, age 34, Ireland (1826) (maiden name Stinson)
Charles, 7, PA (1853)
Christophr, 5, PA (1855)
Constantine, 4, PA (1856)
Mary A, 2, PA (1858)

James McGowan, Age 28, Journeyman Iron work, born Ireland (1832)

James is age 28, and occupation Journeyman Iron work. It is interesting that James was living with the Gallaghers, as there were several on board the Creole on the voyage to the Unites States:

Pat Gallagher        30  labourer                    2 barrels, 1 trunk
Jno. Gallagher        8  child
Dan. Gallagher       6  child
Ann Gallagher       28  spinster

This may suggest a possible relationship to them, but so far unknown.

Shortly after the census was taken, James married Bridget Conlin or Conlon, daughter of Michael and Ellen. Bridget was also born in Ireland, and immigrated to the US in 1855 per the 1900 census. Their first child, my great-grandfather Patrick Henry, was born March 22, 1861. Patrick was baptized March 31, 1861 at St. John the Evangelist (South Side).  Sponsors were Albert Griffin and Anna Conlon.
Other children followed quickly:

Mary, born 12 Feb 1864; baptized 28 Feb 1864; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridg. Conlon; sponsors: John McDowal, Mary Conlon. Mary married Edward O'Malley September 12, 1880. She married Michael Ridge Nov 29, 1897.

Sarah Helen, born 2 Mar 1866; baptized 18 Mar 1866; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conlin; sponsors: Thos. Nolan, Edelia McCann. Sarah died before the 1870 census was taken.

Joseph, born 18 Mar 1867; baptized 31 Mar 1867; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conolan; sponsors: Edward McTiernan, Anna McCann. Joseph married Mary Ann McDonnell about 1888.

Ellen, born 19 Mar 1873; baptized 6 Apr 1873; father: Jacobo [James] McGowan; mother: Brigitta Connolly; sponsors: Hugo McFadden, Anna Murray. Ellen died before the 1880 census.

Jacobum, (James) born 15 Feb 1875; baptized 18 Mar 1875; father: Jacobo McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsor: Winifred Gowey. James married Clara Elizabeth Wordtt, probably in PA.

Thomas, born 16 Oct 1877; baptized 21 Oct 1877; father: James McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsors: Arthur Holland, Mary McGlinn

In the 1870 Pennsylvania census, the family was living in the East Birmingham Borough of Pittsburgh. 

James, age 36, Iron Pudler, value of real estate 1000, personal estate 100, born Ireland, father & mother of foreign birth, US Citizen.
Bridget, age 33, keeps house, born Ireland.
Patrick, age 9, Born PA
Mary, age 6, born PA
Joseph, age 4, born PA
Michael, age 8/12, born PA, Sept (Michael died Jan 7, 1873 of measles)
Townloe, Mike, age 23, laborer, born Ireland

Between 1855 and 1922 an alien woman became a citizen automatically if she married a native-born or naturalized citizen.

Puddling is the process of stirring pig iron with iron bars, exposing it to the air so that thecarbon in the pig iron is oxidized and burns off. This process creates steel.^[5] As practiced in the early and mid-19th century, puddling required great strength as well as skill.^[1] Because chemical testing of the molten iron had not yet been developed, puddlers relied on their long experience with steelmaking to determine whether too much or too little carbon had been oxidized.^[1][5] Puddling was also an extremely dangerous trade, as some steel processes required the molten metal to boil and bubble as the puddler stirred in scrap iron and puddlers were required to physically remove slag and drain pure steel out of furnaces for additional processing.^{[1][5] -Wikipedia}

An iron puddler makes iron bars in a furnace

In the 1880 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania census:

James MC GOWAN  42 born Ireland, Occupation Boiler, Parents born Ireland Bridget MC GOWAN Wife 40, born Ireland, Keeping Boarding House, Parents born Ireland    Patrick MC GOWAN Son 19 born Pennsylvania, Boilers Helper, Parents born Ireland Mary A. MC GOWAN Dau 16 born Pennsylvania, At Home, Parents born Ireland Joseph MC GOWAN Son 13 born Pennsylvania, Works In Rolling Mill, Parents born Ireland James MC GOWAN Son 5 born Pennsylvania, Parents born Ireland Thomas MC GOWAN Son 2 born Pennsylvania, Parents born Ireland James CONAWAY Boarder 40 born Ireland, Boiler Parents born Ireland Edwd O'MALLEY Boarder 30 born Ireland, Boiler Parents born Ireland William RILEY Boarder 36 born Ireland, Boiler Parents born Ireland

Edwd OMalley above married Mary later in 1880.

Apparently James became ill around 1881:

Title: J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities. 1881/1882
Author: Diffenbacher, J. F.
Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories
pg 557
McGowan, Jas, invalid, 2707 Wrights ay, s s (South Side)
McGowan, Patk, helper, 2707 Wrights ay, s s

Patrick married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Cecilia McNamara, daughter of Daniel and Jane McKenzie McNamara September 28, 1888. Her parents were both born in Ireland.

James passed away in Pittsburgh at the age of 56.

Or 51 per his obit

Bridget is listed as the widow of James in the next few years in the  J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities:
 1889/1890
McGowan, Bridget, wid Jas, 140 S Twenty-fifth
McGowan, Jos, helper, 140 S Twenty-fifth
McGowan, Patk, pud, 2518 Larkins ay
McGowan, Thos, furnace man Newton, n Brownsville av

1890/1891
McGowen, Bridget, wid Jas, 2412 Carey ay
McGowan, Jas J, lab, Salt Works, B & O RR
McGowan, Patk H, pud, 2928 Harcums ay

 1891/1892
McGowan, Bridget, wid Jas, 2412 Carey ay
McGowan, Jas, Leckey av, n Mclure av, ( I'm not sure which James Jr. is this family)
McGowan, Jas, 8 Eden ay
McGowan, Jos, lab, 2412 Carey ay
McGowan, Patk H, pud, 2514 Larkins ay
McGowan, Thos, lab, Fifth av, n Robinson

1892/1893
McGowen, Bridget, wid Jas, 2412 Carey ay
McGowan, Jas, lab, Howard ext, ab Spring, A
McGowan, Jas, mach, Neville,. n Forward av
McGowan, Thos, lab, Robinson, n Fifth av
McGowen, Jos, helper, 2510 Carey ay
Patrick not found, has already moved to Birmingham, AL

I think this may be Bridget in 1900:

1900  >  PENNSYLVANIA  >  ALLEGHENY  >  5-WD MCKEESPORT
 Series: T623  Roll: 1368  Page: 224
630 Jerome St,

MCGOWAN  BRIDGET  57  F  W  IREL  Jan 1843, Widowed. 5 children, 5 living, Immigration 1855, Years in US 45
McGowan, James, son, Feb 1875, 25, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill
McGowan, Thomas, Oct 1878, 21, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill

Patrick has already blazed the trail to Birmingham. He moved to AL about 1896 based on birthplaces of children:

1900 Jefferson County AL, 9th ward

Patrick H, Head, age 39, b Mar 1861, in PA, says father born PA, mother Ireland, occupation Puddler Rolling Mill, can read & write, rents home
Lizzie, wife, age 35, B June 1864 in PA, 6 children, 5 liviing. Father & mother born Ireland, can read & write
Thomas J,  b March? 1891 in PA, age 9
Ella, b May 1893 in PA, age 7 (+Jen Baldwin great-grandmother)
Dannie, son, b Dec 1895 in PA, age 4
Alice, b March 1898 in AL, age 2
Joseph, b Feb 1900 in AL, age 4/12
Gus Myrlen (boarder)
Joseph Schoclere? (boarder)

Lizzie's father Daniel died in February 1904, and her mother Jane McKenzie McNamara died November 30, 1922.

Lizzie McNamara McGowan died in 1919.

By 1920, Bridget had moved to Birmingham, and is living with Patrick.

1920  >  ALABAMA  >  JEFFERSON  >  BIRMINGHAM
Series: T625  Roll: 22  Page: 248-249

MCGOWAN  P H  55  M  W  PA  AL
TOM 27?  SALESMAN-BARBER SUPPLY PA. Tom married Ora Barfield.
DAN 24  CARPENTER? -STEEL PLANT PA Dan married Ruby Wells November 13, 1920.
ALICE 21 OPERATOR-PHONE CO  AL Alice married Lyman Stribling September 20, 1920.
JOE 20 LABOR ? CO  AL Joe never married.
FRANK 13,  ? BOY, ? CO AL Frank married Ethelyne Blanche Oliver October 12, 1937.
JOHN 11 AL (My grandfather) John Married Georgia Mildred Fratoddi October 7, 1931.
BRIDGET, MOTHER, 85, BORN IRELAND

Bridget died in 1921

Patrick died in 1924.

I have as yet been unable to locate the graves of those buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery. The location is now part of the UAB campus in Birmingham, site of the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. It is possible they were re-interred in Elmwood Cemetery.

If you are connected to any of this family, I would love to hear from you!