Hi. I'm your distant cousin, Elizabeth Joyce Clingman (everyone calls me Betty). Do you go by Patrick or John? (Both names are very common among our Joyce ancestors.) Since you're my cousin, I really should know what you like to be called.

My grandfather, Martin William Joyce, was the youngest brother of Bridget Joyce Cavanagh. My father was the son of Martin William Joyce, thus my maiden name was Joyce.

Matthew Joyce and Mary Farrell (Matthew's second wife) had two children at the time they left Ireland, Bridget and John. The next child, Mary Jane, was born in Rochester, NY (I have a copy of her baptismal record from Rochester). The other three children, Anna, James and Martin William, were born in Kewanee, IL. John was baptized in County Carlow on June 1, 1850, and Mary Jane was baptized in Rochester on July 28, 1853, so we know the family arrived in the U.S. sometime between 1850 and 1853. Matthew Joyce became a naturalized citizen Oct. 5, 1857 in Kewanee, IL, so he must have been in the U.S. for 5 years by that time. That puts the date of immigration at 1852 or earlier. I have not been able to find a ship's record, but I'm still looking.

By the way, I think we can forget about the "Cloonan" name listed in the subject of this message. I have since learned that Patrick Joyce's wife's name was Anne "Nancy" CLOVEN (sometimes spelled Clovin). She was baptized Apr. 25, 1785, in Ballycoppigan, County Carlow and was the daughter of James Cloven and Ann Macasey. Anne "Nancy" Cloven married Patrick Joyce Nov. 22, 1804 in Ballyine, County Carlow. Matthew Joyce was their second child. I feel sure this was not Patrick's first marriage as he was 48 years old at the time. Patrick Joyce (1756-1845) is the earliest Joyce ancestor I have been able to document. He is buried in St. Patrick's Church cemetery in Ballymurphy, County Carlow.

I am happy to share any additional Joyce information I have. Let me know what you need.