James McCaffrey was born around 1813 and died in 1901. He lived in Meltagy, Ballywhollan, and married Mary McNally from Carrickmacross in 1847. It is interesting to note that between 1845-52, Ireland suffered a period of starvation, disease and emigration that became known as the Great Famine.
Why James and Mary decided to marry in 1847, the worst year of the famine is not known. This year became known as Black 47. During the famine, roughly one million people died and more than one million migrated causing the country’s population to fall by 20–25%.
Children
Bridget
Felix
Mary Ann
Children’s’ birth certificates
There is no evidence of Brigid’s birth. Based on her marriage certificate, she was born around 1855. Records for Mary Ann and Felix are below.
Felix McCaffrey’s birth entry
Notes
There are few Irish parish records available prior to 1855. Any information in these notes sections is derived from several sources. Often it is a process of deduction. Sometimes, especially in rural Catholic families, Irish naming conventions were applied.
Marriage certificate entries are used to determine one’s parents and often the attendant witness is a brother or sister to the bride and groom. Birth entries are useful also in determining parents’ names, the family townland and the mother’s maiden name.
It is highly probable that Owen McCaffrey Snr is James’ father (hence the James Oin). His father Owen held land in Ballywhollan, in 1825.
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/tyrone/tithe-applotment-books/parish-of-clogher.php
It is possible that Owen Snr’s brother is Bryan McCaffrey (Briney)
It is probable that James’ brothers are Owen Jnr and Patrick.
It is also probable that his sisters are: Margaret McCaffrey (witness at James and Mary’s wedding, and witness at Felix’s birth). It is possible that Catherine is a sister too.
Cousins: Bryan and Felix (Philemy)
Children
Brigid (no evidence of birth) m. Daniel Gormley
Felix (Owen and Margaret McCaffrey are sponsors) m. Bridget Sherry
Mary Anne (Ann Hackett is sponsor) m. Pat Edward McElroy