Martin Frances O'Meara

Big thanks to Sharon Eller for obtaining this information from the Limerick Regional Archives by the The Granary, Michael Street Limerick Director Dr. S.C. O'Mahony  and Research Assistant Mary Pyne.

A baptismal record was located in the Roman Catholic parish of Bruff, County Limerick. Martin was born in Bruff in 1858 and was the son of James O'Meara and Margaret Hartigan. He was baptized on the 12th of December 1858 and his godparents were Patrick O'Mara (*We found that the surname was variously spelt O'Mara and O'Meara, the O'Mara spelling being used slightly more often. This does not indicate the spelling used by the family but is rather the preference of whatever priest wrote the records) and Sarah McCarthy.

The marriage record of James O'Meara and Margaret Hartigan was found in the Roman Catholic parish of Manister, County Limerick, which is a neighboring parish of Bruff. they were married on the 24th of January 1855. The witnesses to the marriage were Timothy O'Mara and Cornelius Hartigan.  James and Margaret had the following issue who were all baptized in the Roman Catholic parish of Bruff:

Date/Name/Godparents
Born May 21 1857    Patrick O'Meara (Godparents) Stephen Gleason & Catherine Hartigan
Born December 12 1858 Martin O'Meara (Godparents) Patrick O'Mara & Sarah McCarthy
Born December 15 1859 Timothy O'Meara (Godparents) Peter & Mary McCarthy
Born March 30 1861 Richard O'Meara (Godparents) Martin McCarthy & Mary Anne O'Mara
Born January 31 1863 Bridget O'Meara (Godparents) John McCarthy & Johanna Hartigan
Born September 18 1864 John O'Meara (Godparents) Timothy Downes & Margaret Gleeson
Born November 1 1867 James O'Meara (Godparents) Richard McCarthy & Ellen Gleeson
Born September 23 1868 Anne O"Meara (Godparents) Patrick & Mary Anne O'Meara

* Possible elder sister Mary We also found the baptismal record of Mary O'Mara daughter of James O'Mara and Ellen Hartigan who was baptized in Bruff on the 14th of December 1855. The godparents were John Hartigan and Margaret O'Mara. We cannot find a record of any other children born to this couple nor can we find a marriage record of such a couple. It is possible that an error was made in recording the mother's name as Ellen on the original record (particularly as the godmother was Margaret O'Mara) and that in fact Mary O'Mara was the eldest child of James O'Mara and Margaret Hartigan.

James O'Meara (Martin's Father) was the son of Patrick O'Meara and Mary Connell and was baptized April 25 1825 in the Roman Catholic parish of Bruff, County Limerick.  The Godparents were William and Margaret Gleeson. 

This information comes from my Mother (Hazel Thompson Jackson)
Martin Frances O'Meara died in Selma Alabama July 1906 buried at Bassett Creek Church Cemetery He worked for the Gulf Ship Island Railroad in Alabama. Wife's name Sarah Rebecca Bell Ross

(Brother) Richard L. O'Meara Died August 18th 1925 married Annie Brennan (born March 14, 1865). Patrolman in the Chicago Police Department (October 8th 1893)  previous occupation laborer. Retired in 1917.