James Ryan
JAMES RYAN was born abt. 1808, and died August 25, 1883. He married (1) ABIGAIL POTTERTON abt. 1830, daughter of MARK POTTERTON and ELEANOR JONES. She was born abt. 1812, and died abt. 1847 in Newtownmoyaghy, Moyglare Parish, County Meath, Ireland. He married (2) ANNE KELLY January 3, 1849 in Moyglare Civil Parish, Kilcloon Catholic Parish, County Meath, Ireland.
While James was a Roman Catholic, his first wife descended from an English family and were Protestants. Despite this, most their children were baptized in the Catholic church. The two exceptions are Sarah Mary and Joseph Patrick, both of whom were sent to America after their mother died.
Additional information about the Pottertons can be found at http://www.potterton.ie, the website of Homan Potterton. Also, check out his book, “Potterton People & Places”, which can be found at http://www.choicepublishing.ie or http://www.bookwise.ie.
| Children of JAMES RYAN and ABIGAIL POTTERTON: (all born at Newtownmoyaghy, County Meath, Ireland) | |
|---|---|
| i. | SARAH MARY, b. November 23, 1834; d. January 19, 1925, Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. |
| Sent to America in 1850, accompanied by Mary Kelly (step-mother Anne's sister). | |
| ii. | MARK, bapt. May 8, 1836. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsors: Phillip & Margaret Byrne | |
| No records found other than baptism. | |
| iii. | JOSEPH PATRICK, b. April 21, 1836 or 1837. |
| Went to America in 1854. Was living adjacent to his sister, Sarah Mary (Ryan) Seymour in Minnesota in 1870. | |
| iv. | ABIGAIL, bapt. November 15, 1840; d. March 31, 1913, Kilcock, County Meath, Ireland. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsors: Patrick & Sarah Ryan | |
| Listed in the 1901 and 1911 censuses – living at Newton Moyaghy | |
| Spinster 64 years old; Sister Mary A. Ryan present at death. Registration District Dunshaughlin Registrar's District Dunboyne, County Meath; Cause of Death: Carcinoma of leg 5 years; asthma | |
| v. | JAMES, bapt. April 16, 1843. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsors: Ned Carty & Julia Carty | |
| Listed in the 1901 and 1911 censuses – living at Newton Moyaghy | |
| vi. | ELLEN, bapt. September 1, 1846. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsor: Anne Brady | |
| No records found other than baptism; In 1857, James & Anne had another daughter that they named “Ellen”, so I presume this Ellen died young. | |
| Children of JAMES RYAN and ANNE KELLY: | |
|---|---|
| vii. | WILLIAM, bapt. November 24, 1850. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsors: Mathew Carty & Mary Brennan | |
| No records found other than baptism; In 1861, another son was named “William”, so I presume he died young. | |
| viii. | MATTHEW, bapt. August 1, 1852, Kilcock, Ireland. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath, Ireland; Sponsors: James Cleary & Mary Gill | |
| No records found other than baptism. | |
| ix. | JOHN, bapt. July 10, 1853; m. Mary Anne Sheil; d. 1931 |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsors: Patrick Kelly & Catherine Behan | |
| Listed in the 1901 and 1911 censuses – living at Newton Moyaghy | |
| x. | MARY ANNE, bapt. July 1, 1855, Kildare, Ireland |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath, Ireland; Sponsors: Nicholas Fegan & Emelia Corcoran | |
| Listed in the 1901 census – living in Kilcock, County Kildare with Bridget Sheil (listed as “cousin”). | |
| Listed in the 1911 census – living in Kilcock, County Kildare with sister, Ellen M. and three members of the Sheil family (Robert, Bridget, and Mary Anne). | |
| xi. | ELLEN M., b. January 25, 1857. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Catholic Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath, Ireland; Sponsors: Thomas Mathews and Abby Ryan | |
| Listed in the 1911 census – living in Kilcock, County Kildare with sister, Mary Anne. | |
| xii. | WILLIAM, bapt. November 24, 1861. |
| Baptism: Kilcloon Parish, Moyglare Civil Parish, County Meath; Sponsor: Mary Anne Cowley | |
| Was an early member of the Gaelic Athletic Association (resigned 1887). | |
NOTE: A previous version of this web page contained a number of details that were incorrect or unverified. That version (including a link that asserted his father to be Edward Ryan) were removed on 1 Sep 2018.