Allen Blog- Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney as Baptismal Sponsors in Summerhill Parish

Traditional Irish Baptismal Sponsors

For wedding witnesses,  first cousins or even close friends may have been chosen, but baptismal sponsors were most frequently chosen from a sibling or the spouse of a sibling.
Luckily for figuring out relationships, women's maiden names were used for these records even if they were married.

In January 1818, Margaret Sweeney, not yet married to Richard Allen, was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas McCann, the son of Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann of Umberstown. Pat Sweeney was the other baptismal sponsor. So it is likely that both Margaret Sweeney and Pat Sweeney were siblings of Mary Sweeney (McCann.)

Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann had been married in Dangan on March 27, 1815. Their wedding witnesses were
Thomas Reilly and Hugh Sweeney. So it is likely that Hugh Sweeney was a brother of Mary Sweeney.

          Source: Ancestry.com: Ireland, Select Catholic Marriage Registers 1775-1942, Meath, Summerhill 1812-1854, page 5 

In April, 1833, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor of Margaret Sweeney, daughter of Catherine "Kathy" Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimons of Dangan. So it is likely that Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) was also a sibling of Margaret Sweeney.

Source: Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers 1763-1917, Meath, Summerhill, 1812-1854 p 72

In January 1841, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Luke and John Sweeney, the twin sons of Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall/McCan. So again, it is likely that Patrick Sweeney was the brother of Richard's wife Margaret Sweeney.

Source: Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers 1763-1917, Meath, Summerhill, 1812-1854 p 109


Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall had been married on May 6, 1827. Peter Allen and Mary Young were their witnesses. (Peter Allen and Mary Young would also marry in March 1829!)

So- These records show that Margaret Sweeney's siblings likely included:

 Mary Sweeney (McCann) of Umberstown
Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) of Dangan
Patrick Sweeney of Umberstown
Hugh Sweeney

See next post- about these families, Margaret's presumed siblings. 
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Mysteries and Clues: Baptismal Sponsors

1-Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney were themselves baptismal sponsors.

In January 1818, Margaret was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas McCann, the son of Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann of Umberstown. Pat Sweeney was the other baptismal sponsor. So it is likely that both Margaret Sweeney and Pat Sweeney were siblings of Mary Sweeney (McCann.)

In April, 1833, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor of Margaret Sweeney, daughter of Catherine "Kathy" Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimons of Dangan. So it is likely that Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) was also a sibling of Margaret Sweeney.

In January 1841, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Luke and John Sweeney, the twin sons of Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall/McCan. So again, it is likely that Patrick Sweeney was the brother of Richard's wife Margaret Sweeney.

So- Margaret Sweeney's siblings likely included:
 Mary Sweeney (McCann) of Umberstown
Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) of Dangan
Patrick Sweeney of Umberstown

2-Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney were married in 1825. They then chose the sponsors for their own children. These included:

1-Sweeney Connections:
In June 1837, Pat Sweeney was a baptismal sponsor for Peter Allen.
In November 1841, Thomas McCan (husband of Mary Sweeney) was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas Allen.
 In May 1847, Ellen Sweeney was a baptismal sponsor for Catherine Allen.

So- we can likely add Ellen Sweeney to the list of Margaret's siblings, and confirm that Pat Sweeney and Mary Sweeney were likely siblings.

2-Allen Connections:
In February, 1829, Peter Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Richard Allen's first born son-Francis Allen.
So- we can likely assume that Peter Allen was Richard's brother.

So- here is a look at those most likely related families in Dangan and Umberstown.

Family of Peter Allen- Dangan
Peter, likely brother of Richard Allen, was born about 1800 in Summerhill Parish, County Meath.
On March 1, 1829, he married Mary Young. Their witnesses were Philip McKeon and Anne Allen (who themselves married a week later, on March 7, 1829.

In March, 1820, Philip McKeon (husband of Anne Allen) was a baptismal sponsor for their first child, Elizabeth.
In February 1834, Andrew Young (husband of Elizabeth "Bess" Allen) and Mary Sweeney, were baptismal sponsors for John Allen.
(Mary Young, wife of Peter Allen, was also a baptismal sponsor for Patrick Sweeney's son Thomas in February, 1825.)

So- Anne Allen and Elizabeth "Bess" Allen were likely sisters of Peter Allen.

Allens- Peter

Sweeneys- Patrick, Ellen

McCan's- Mary, Rose (married to Thomas Allen), Thomas (married to Mary Sweeney)

Ruley's- Pat, Catharine, Richard

Likely siblings of Margaret Sweeney- 

Patrick Sweeney

Ellen Sweeney

Mary Sweeney (wife of Thomas McCan)

Likely siblings of Richard Allen-

Peter Allen

Thomas Allen

John Allen

Baptismal sponsors for Peter Allen and Mary Young's (married 1829) children in Dangan include:

McKeon- Philip (husband of Anne Allen- married 1836)

Young- Andrew (husband of Elizabeth "Bess" Allen- married 1836)

Sweeney- Mary

Likely siblings of Peter Allen:

Anne Allen McKeon (married 1826)

Elizabeth "Bess" Allen Young (married 1836)

Baptismal sponsors for Thomas Allen and Rose McCann's children in Dangan include:

Allen- John

Sweeney- Catharine

Young- Elizabeth "Bess"

Baptismal sponsors for John Allen and Bridget Butler's (married 1822- Wit Wm Allen and Mary Reilly) children in Umberstown include:

Allen- Francis/Frank, Anne

McCann- Anne, Bryan, Thomas, Bridget

Likely siblings of John Allen:

Francis/Frank Allen

Anne Allen

Baptismal sponsors for James Allen and Jane Byrne's children in Dangan include:

McKoen- Philip, Ellen

Baptismal sponsors for Elizabeth "Bess" Allen and Andrew Young (married 1836) children include:

Allen- James, Mary, Peter


Baptismal sponsors for Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall's children

Patrick Sweeney was a neighbor of Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney.

The  church records show baptismal sponsors of his children include:

Richard Allen (husband of Margaret Sweeney)

Youngs- Andrew, John, Mary

Dorans- William, Catharine, 

Sweeney- Catharine and Anne plus the husband of Margaret Sweeney- Richard

Likely siblings of Patrick Sweeney- Margaret, Catharine, Anne

Baptismal sponsors for Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCan's (married 1815-Dangan- Wit Hugh Sweeney and Thos Reilly ) children- Umberstown (both were sponsors for the children of Richard Allen and Magaret Sweeney)

Sweeney- Hugh (wit at marriage)

Likely siblings of Mary Sweeney- Hugh

Baptismal sponsors for Catharine Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimmons (married 1819 Dangan)

Allen- Richard (husband of Margaret Sweeney)
Likely sibling of Catharine Sweeney- Margaret

Hugh's Story-Jerseyville-1863 Mortgage for Hugh Allen Farm

What happens when your landlord dies- John Allen and Pat Sweeney Part 2

 Why did the Leslie family give John Allen and his uncle, Patrick Sweeney, 35 year leases on their farms rather than the year to year leases afforded to the neighboring farms?

The clue comes in death certificates!

Documents show that Patrick Sweeney and his son, Hugh, were nurserymen. Since the Dangan estate had burned and was no longer inhabited in 1875, they must have been nurserymen for the nearby estate at Summerhill. 

Patrick Sweeney was elderly, about 76 years old. But his son, Hugh Sweeney, was 47 years old and still working as a nurseryman. Patrick's other sons likely assisted with the family nursery business- Michael and Luke were still living on the family farm in 1911.

In 1875 John Allen was 42 years old. His father, Richard Allen, had passed and the tenancy of the farm was left to him. His brothers Edward and Peter remained on the farm with him until about 1880.

Local workers were needed at Summerhill. The great house had suffered badly, and in 1851 Lord Langford even considered selling it to pay off his debts. But in 1870 an architect was brought in to repair it to its former grandeur. Outside of the mansion were extensive ornamental grounds.

Sources:

Summerhill historical and architectural information