Hello Deirdra! I'm so excited! I'd about given up finding my late dad's family. He'd been orphaned young and knew very little outside the immediate family. I recently found an old letter my dad's older sister had written years ago, which finally opened a door. This is what I have: My great-grandfather was Bartholomew Hanney, born around 1840, who married Mary Scanlon. Their 8 children were Mary (my grandmother), Margaret, Patrick, John, all of whom immigrated to New Hampshire, USA, in late 1890's, Delia and Annie, both immigrated to New York City during the same time period, Bartholomew, who remained on the farm in Sligo and is listed on both 1901 and 1911 Irish census, and Sarah, who still lived in Ireland in 1910 per my grandmother's obituary, but I don't know anymore about her. My auntie's letter said that Sarah and Bartholomew were twins. If I understand you correctly, this is the Bart who is cousin to your grandfather Bartholomew. I did see a John Hanney and wife Bridget with a son Bartley in the 1901 census and wondered if they were related! In addition, in the 1901 census along with my great-grandmother and 4 children (in their 20's) is listed ANOTHER bartley hanney listed just as "a relative." I don't know yet who he is.

For some reason, the ones who immigrated to New Hampshire changed the spelling of their name to "Heeney" and it wasn't till I got my grandparents' marriage certificate from New Hampshire that I found she'd spelled her name as Mary "Hanney", which then the given names in my aunt's letter started to add up. My dad and auntie had always said their mother was from Sligo, but there weren't any Heeney's in Sligo!!!!!!

I'm so glad to get your information and hope you will have good luck on your trip to New York! Myself I would absolutely love to visit Ireland someday! Right now I'm in Minnesota, which is a long ways away!

Thanks again for replying. We are like--third cousins!?!

Best wishes, Mary Miller (marigold64@hotmail.com)