This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LadyMambo Surnames: DURKIN, WALDRON, TARPEY, SIMMONS, MOONEY Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.durkin/80.200/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My great-great grandfather, John Durkin, was b. abt. 1829, Kilgeever, County Mayo. A research firm provided the information about his place of birth being Kilgeever, Mayo, and that his parents were (more common names, of course) John Durkin and Mary Durkin. John Durkin (c. 1829-1888) married Mary Waldron, b. abt. 1827, Ballyhaunis, Mayo. I have never found their marriage certificate, but they were married before 1857, probably in New York City. Mary Waldron Durkin died 16 Dec 1857 in New York, a few days after giving birth to twin daughters: Mary and Anna. One twin, Mary, died, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery with her mother. The other twin, Anna Durkin, is my great grandmother who married Patrick Mooney. As far as I have been able to determine, John Durkin, age 30, emigrated to New York on the Ship John Bright, arriving on 22 Mar 1856. He was accompanied by Mary Durkin, age 20, whom I believe was probably his sister. The family story about John Durkin: He lived in New Orleans for a year, then went to New York; his sister, Mary Durkin, owned property on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans. The family story about the Waldons: Kate, Mary & Norah Waldron, sisters from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland, came to the United States together. I've never found a ship passenger record for them, but I believe it was sometime in 1840s...(!) Mary Waldon's sister, Norah, was married in Brooklyn on April 16, 1857 to John Wilson Simmons. They lived in California. Mary's parents and their children: Anthony Waldron and Honor Tarpey; children: Brigia, Edward (Ned), Margaret, Mark, Michael, Rose, Kate, Mary, and Norah. I have a lot of information about the Waldron family of Ballyhaunis, Mayo, but very little about the Durkin family. Any connections? Any help??? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.