Thursday, March 17, 2011

Only One Irish Ancestor

Copy of the Miniature by midgefrazel
Copy of the Miniature a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

My only Irish ancestor was Ann Borodell, born to English parents in Cork, Ireland. This photo is a photograph of a COPY of an original portrait of of this person. But, despite mention in several books and in a newspaper article by historian Grace Denison Wheeler (I have a copy), this miniature is not an actual portrait because it is NOT old enough. The Denison Homestead had it authenticated and it was deemed not ancient enough to be her. But, we like to think she looked like this. That's OK with me.

Legends have a way of being repeated and certainly it would have been "the luck of the Irish" to have a portrait (even painted from memory or description) of a lady who died in 1712.

3 comments:

CarmenMJ said...

Midge...I can only verify one Irish Ancestor...John Lyons b. abt 1790 in Ireland - not sure when he immigrated, but he married Mary French. His son, John Nathan Lyons m. Mary Elizabeth Reed and their daughter, Nancy Ann Marie Lyons was my great great grandmother. I am pretty sure my Bailey's come from Ireland as well...but since I can't locate the family much past 1860 - then I am out of luck verifying that!

Anna K. said...

Hello distant cousin, Midge! :) Ann is my 9th great Aunt....her sister Margaret Borodell Shepard/Shepherd is my direct ancestor (8th great grandmother). Margaret is mentioned as sister to Ann in several documents and in some historical books that mention the Borodell siblings and the connection to the Denison family. Also note to Carmen Johnson: Lyons is a name in my tree too. I've not been able to take it back beyond late 1700s in NJ.-- my ancestor James Lyons b. NJ but m. In PA to a Catherine Barton (she was b. PA) most of their children b. Bucks Co PA. He moved from NJ to Bucks Co PA then later the family moved to Ohio (eventually settling in Miami Co. OH but w/ connections to Hamilton Co. OH.) I haven't been able to discover where my Lyons or Barton ancestors came from prior to coming to USA. In general, Lyons could be Irish, English or even German in origin. Lucky for you, you know your Lyons family was Irish. Barton is considered to be more often then not having U.K. roots. Borodell, Shepard/Shepherd and Lyons are on my paternal side. Coincidentally, French is a surname in my tree as well but on my maternal side. My French ancestors came from England to Colonial MA, then NH and later in the 1800s some lines moved to Broome Co. NY. Where were your Lyons and French ancestors living? Good luck climbing those branches of your family tree. :)

Unknown said...

She's my 11th great grandma and I would like to note that she was in an article for ripleys believe it or not. You can google it if you wanna see what she looks like. That is pretty close.