John J. RICE was born abt. 1831 in Louth, Ireland..probably in the Ballymascanlan area. He may have connections to the area of Crossmaglen, in southern Armagh County, Ireland also. He was a shoemaker/bootmaker by trade. He married Sarah HAGAN, b. abt. 1835, in Ravensdale, Ballymascanlan Civil Parish/Lordship Catholic Parish of Louth by 1853. John and Sarah immigrated to Hopkinton, Massachusettes in 1853. There they had a daughter Mary Ann RICE b. 1856 (married Ambrose William "William" GRANT; died Chicago, IL 1942). John and Sarah returned to Louth, Ireland by 1858 for the birth of their son Barney RICE in 1858. Sponsors for Barney's baptism were a Barney and Ann RICE. A family letter states Mary HAGAN RICE wanted to go back to her family in Ireland for the birth of their second child. Mary RICE died in childbirth and it is unknown whether Barney lived or not, and if he did if he ever left Ireland or was raised by family there. John J. RICE then married Mary Ann BREEN/BRIEN in Lordship Parish in 1861. Witnesses were Terance BREEN and Ann RICE. Two children were born in Ireland..Michael b. 1861. Baptismal sponsors were Terence BREEN and Mary RICE. And Margaret (nee DOOLEY) b. 1863. Baptismal sponsors were John McDONALD and Mary McBRIDE). The family immigrated to Milwaukee, WI abt. 1866 where they had 8 more children: Elizabeth b. 1867 (nee RODEN), Catharine b. 1869, Bridget Jane "Jenny" b. 1872 (nee NELLINS), Agnes Mary b. 1874 (nee BOOTH), John Joseph b. 1876 (married M. ENGELN), James Patrick b. 1879 (married C. MURTAUGH), Sarah Martha b. 1880 (nee LARKIN) and Florence Rose b. 1884. I'm looking for connections to ANY lines in this family. The records in this area of Ireland do not go back far enough for me to find the parents or any siblings of John RICE so I'm trying to find another route to find his family. Possible names that may be related to John J. RICE are Thomas or Daniel RICE. Trying to break down a brick wall, Sally in Wisconsin