For what it's worth. I live in Randolph County, West Virginia (Virginia before 1863). John Nallen and Margaret Hopkins(?) Nallen, husband and wife, settled here from County Mayo perhaps in the 1840s, perhaps before or after. With them was their first child James Nallen (my great grandfather) who was born in 1846-1847 in Ireland. By a copy of the tax records for County Mayo I found records reflecting the Nallens leased land In County Mayo. I was then able to contact the Parish and the Monsenior who informed me the former Parish priest was James Nallen who at the time of my conversation 1998(?) was a professor at the local college in County Mayo. Father Nallen died several years ago (2013 I think). I then met met with the Father and Mon senior for lunch in County Mayo.
At that lunch Father Nallen asked me if I would like to see where "they" lived. With that we left Ballina (sp?) and drove towards Crossmolina, about half way we took a left and drove about 1/4 mile to a large Ascendancy mansion over looking the largest lake in County Mayo. The mansion is now, ironically, a Catholic School. The barnyard had a number of small brick one room windowless (windows were taxed) buildings."They" had lived in one of the buildings, I was told.. I was also told they never starved because they could fish. Following that experience I was invited to meet Michael, the priest's brother. We drove a short distance from the school to adjacent land and a modern house. As we approached the house a man and woman waited each with a shot glass of Irish whiskey which they held in out stretched hands as the man said "We have been waiting for you for 150 years". I nearly collapsed. Later I asked Michael and Bregge what were the small medals on their labels. They replied they were St.____ medals ,meaning they had never tasted and never would taste alcohol. Yet with the Irish hospitality the are known for they offered me a drink. Sadly Michael died in 2013.
I am told by them that 3 Nallen brothers were forced west by Cromwell and they came to County Mayo many years ago. All Nallens from County Mayo are from these 3 brothers, I am told. I am told in the centuries of oppression parish records were lost, burned, etc., priests did not want to ask the father's name when a child was born so the priest would make a guess and write it down. Of course records were forbidden so many births etc. were never recorded. The Irish name children after relatives so it is difficult to distinguish which one in meant, The original name was McAnallen, anglicized by the English to Nallen, I am told. The McAnallens have a global network and there is a large McAnallen gathering somewhere every 5 years. I was told that my great great grandparents, John and Margaret, walked the length of Ireland carrying my 1 year old great grandfather, James, to take a Coffin ship to the U.S. in Black '47 the worst year of the Famine. James, by the way, joined the U.S. Calvary in 1866 and fought in the Indian Wars, he was or became a mason and worked on the summer home, "Hallihurst" of U.S. Senator Stephen B. Elkins located here. James also built the family 3 story brick hotel he named "Delmonte" now being renovated, located across from the railroad station here. One of his sons, John Nallen had a town in West Va. named "Nallen" for him. He was very successful in the lumber business had cattle he named after the women he had known and in retirement had an alter in his home where Mass was said and visitors, like U.S. V.P. Barkley, were hosted. I don't know of a Thomas Nallen but I am fascinated by the Canadian connection.