Forum:Roark/Rourke Family origins in Co Letrim

My ancestor, John Roark, was born in Co Leitrim on 1 July 1824. He married Mary nee Rourke on 1 Sept 1850 in Co Leitrim. John Roark was a blacksmith by trade. John's parents were James and Rose Roark and Mary's parents were Michael Rourke and Catherine nee Gaffney whose origins may have been Carrigallen, Co Leitrim. Francis (Frank) E. Roark, their first born son (1851), was my paternal GGF. John Roark emigrated to Lowell, MA (USA) and arrived on the Ship "Maine" in Jan 1851. His wife and child emigrated from IRE in 1853.

John Roark served in the Union Army (1861-1865) and was medically discharged in LA due to illness and disease. He died of "consumption" on March 6, 1876 (age 51 yrs).

He received an "Invalid' Veteran's pension and later his wife received a Widow's pension until her death in 1901.

Many of the fellow soldiers in John Roark's Union Regiment (30th Mass Vol INF) who served with him in the Gulf & Vicksburg (1st Advance) Campaigns were native born Irishmen (CPL Michael Barrett; PVT Jeremiah Shea; 1st SGT John E. Quinn (later served as 1st LT, Co G,3rd LA Active Guards); PVT Hugh Tully; PVT Kearon Hogan; Edward Cruden, Thomas McKenna, Bernard O'Neill, and Dexter Lymonds). Also, two USA emigrants (John Riley (emigrated in Dec 1852) and Patrick Currin (probably Curran) (emigrated May 1858) stated in 1877 that they were from the same location as John Roark's family in Co Leitrim.

The three sisters of Mary (nee Rourke) Roark incl. Ann Rourke (b. 1845) married a "Joseph Gilfillan" from Carrigallen in Co Letrim. Margaret Rourke and Rose Rourke, the other sisters, and one brother, Thomas Rourke, were also born in Co Leitrim.

I hold a "Widow's Statement" (18 April 1877) signed (by mark) by Mary (nee Rourke) Roark that she was married on 1 Sept 1850 in "Latinone", Co Leitrim IRE (UK). She may have meant "Liatroim"?

I am most appreciative of identifying the Townland, Viilage, and/or RC Parish origins for my ancestors John and Mary Roark and their son Francis.

John Roark

Burke, VA

USA

Net: jer2@cox.net