Mary Beirne, b. abt. 1814 and James Elwood, b. 1808 married and lived in Canbo, Roscommon. Canbo is in the present day RC Parish of Croghan, which is close to Boyle. Mary and James had eight children, the first two were christened in RC Croghan, John Elwood, b. May 1837 and Catherine Elwood, b. May 1839. Many people from this area, including Mary and James, immigrated to the area around Lockport/Buffalo, New York. Their daughter Bridget was born in Lockport in July 1841. By 1860 Mary and James farmed around Tama, Harrison Co., Iowa. Descendants of James Elwood and Mary Beirne 1 James Elwood 1808 - 1903 .. +Mary Beirne 1814 - bef. 1903 ......... 2 John Elwood 1837 - 1917 ............. +Rose Anne Mulligan ......... 2 Catherine Elwood 1839 - ......... 2 Bridget Elwood 1841 - 1912 ............. +Francis Aldrich ......... 2 Mary Jane Elwood 1843 - 1923 ............. +Mahlon C. Baker ......... 2 James M. Elwood 1847 - 1923 ............. +Anna Jackson ......... 2 Thomas Elwood 1851 - 1923 ......... 2 Helen Elwood 1853 - 1937 ............. +Patrick Plunkett 1847 - 1911 ......... 2 Agnes Elwood 1859 - 1883 ............. +Matthew McDermott 1856 - Any connections? Thank you, Denise Plunkett

Hello Denise, A connection between our Beirne and Elwood families seems promising. Beirne/Byrne and the many other spellings of the families were very numerous in the area, but the Elwoods were fewer. The Christian names of your family and ours are all the same, but I will try not to get excited because there were so few to choose from in those days. My Byrnes lived near to Boyle on the road to Tulsk. Your James Elwood b. 1808 and John, the father of my John Elwood b.1845 could have been brothers. Have you seen any Church Records for the Elwoods? Do you know the name of the townland where your Elwoods lived? I have collected details of several Elwood families, but have not yet been able to sort them out into relations. I will search through them again and see if lightning strikes. Fingers crossed! Therese.