Recently, J P Cooper sent me an email with questions about the Currans, but the email he/she furnished is not working or incorrect. Please contact me again with correct information, Thanks, Rita Hill
|
Been working on our family history and came across some newspaper articles on James Curran. It is interesting to see who gets in the paper and who doesn't as I search through articles.             It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Bernard O'Neill, my brother who passed away on November 28 2017 in Manteca, CA. Memorial Mass on Monday, December 11 at 11 a.m. at St, Anthony’s Church, Manteca, CA. As a tribule to my brother, Barney, I am posting pictures of him over the years. He had a full and happy life. We will meet again.                        It been a few months since I posted. I've been busy researching our genealogy. Through DNA testing we have discovered another branch of the family that is a bit of a mystery. When these people came up as 2nd and 3rd cousins, we got in touch and couldn't figure out how we were so closely related. Their great grandmother, Merriam Seale had two brothers, Richard and Robert. The brothers were in business with our family members on my great grandmother's side, the Patrick Curran family. They owned a Livery Stable in Berkeley. Both brothers married Curran girls, Sarah Curran Lynch, who was a widow, married Richard and Mary "Mollie" Curran married Robert. So we thought maybe that was the connection. All the family of Merriam knew was that she had a baby boy born on March 4, 1890 and she said the father was named Brooks. A year later she married William George Champness and he adopted the baby and they named him, Edward. We were not able to find any marriage certificate of a Brooks and Seale, but we did find a birth certificate of a Frank Brooks born on the same date, March 4, 1890. Since the mother is listed as Mary Sieli, we wonder if this is her. Name:Frank Brooks Gender:Male Birth Date:4 Mar 1890 Birth Place:Oakland, Alameda, California Father: Frank Brooks Mother: Mary Sieli FHL Film Number:1571595 Since my family is not related to any Brooks family, or the Seale's, except through marriage, we were at an im·passe until the Champness family did a Y DNA test of two of the male siblings. Y DNA tests father, to father to father, etc. connection. To our surprise the tests showed that O'Neill was the result. Through Family Tree DNA a link to O'Neill Clan website shows this O'Neill line is 1B ONeill Variety, R-DF27 Haplogroup RM269. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/oneill?iframe=yresults One of my great uncles or great grandfather must be the father of Edward. Merriam was 21 at the time of the birth. The only eligible male O'Neill's, were my great grandfather, Patrick who was 45 years old or his oldest son, James who was 17. The Curran's had a big ranch in Berkeley in the hills and we have pictures of people frolicking and having fun at their property. I imagine that there were many festivities at that ranch and lots of family intermingling during those days. The O'Neill line that they are related to is the O'Neill of the Fews. The search for more is continuing. 
            It's been a busy in July 2017 and very hot. Took care of my daughter's dog, Joli for a week which gave me a break from my regular routine. Had visits from 4 of my children, too. It has been hot as blazes lately and when I go out for any length of time, I come home exhausted and dripping. Thank God for air conditioning and fans. I have decided I will write more family history or a bio to past down with all the details I can remember. I will print them out and put in a binder like I did the other family books. I have made one the O'Neill Curran's and the Moloney (Maloney) Murray's, One exciting thing that has happened with DNA testing is bringing to light who exactly was my ex husband's father. We knew very little but the stories we heard match with the fellow we found. Unfortunately, he died a year after his son's birth, but there is a surviving sister that my ex and daughter got to meet. Thankfully, it was a happy reunion. Below are pics showing the family resemblance.   After all the rain and snow, we are finally having some nice weather. Thanks to CSAA and our roofer, RM Roofing Co. we have a brand new roof. No more leaks. We have also updated our front yard with new rock. We be putting outdoor decorations up soon. Went shopping yesterday and found some darling things to put in the yard to add interest and make me happy. Click picture to access video of announcement.  Results of recent DNA testing of my son and daughter have connected us with their dad's relatives. The family history was a mystery for a long time as he was adopted by his step dad and not much information about his birth father was available. After 79 years, we are learning the truth and he even has a half sister still living that he never knew about or met. The family is wanting to connect. Never give up hope if you have been searching. Modern technology will only improve and results will happen.
We had some horrific wind storms in February and lots of snow in our mountains. Now there are flood warnings for when the snow melts and weather predictions of more rain and snow. We are in process of getting a new roof and it is almost finished. It is a good feeling to know that we will be protected in the future. Had some leaks and lots of shingles were blown away. I've been working on genealogy more lately and keep discovering new information about family. DNA tests help connect people to their lineage. I've taken the test and two of my children. My brother's test is in process, so maybe we will get more clues about where my great grandfather came from in Ireland. In March I was blessed to have many birthday celebrations with friends and family. Starting with my Red Hat group at Chili's in Carson City. Then a few friends took me to lunch at the Overland. A week later two other friends treated me to lunch at JT's Basque Restaurant. A couple from church treated me to lunch at Katie's. Ron took me to see "The Shack" and then we went to dinner at Louie's Chinese Restaurant. On April 1st my daughter and her husband treated me to dinner at Julio's. Lucky me, I got to enjoy most of the good restaurants in our area for my birthday celebrations. Besides all the good food and fun, I received many birthday greetings and presents. I am so thankful to my friends and family for all their thoughts and wishes. |
Archives
December 2019
|
||||||
RSS Feed
