The First Generation

In Irish naming traditions the first son would be given the name of the father’s father; the second son, the name of the mothers father; the third son, the father’s name; the fourth son, the father’s oldest brothers name; the fifth son, the father’s second oldest brothers name or the mothers oldest brothers name.

Patrick, Michael and Thomas named their oldest son Michael, presumably after their father. Patrick’s second son was named John, presumably after his wife’s father; his third son was named Patrick, after himself, according to naming traditions, and his fourth son after his oldest brother – James, according to naming traditions as well. Therefore, Patrick’s brother James may be the oldest brother.

Michael would be the third son also because of naming traditions. Patrick, presumably, is older than Thomas because history indicates that Patrick’s first son was born about 1824 and Thomas was born about 1810-1813. It is not certain where George, the brother that went to Australia, falls into the line of things. It is also not certain where the five sisters fall – the four sisters that stayed in Ireland and Mary Farley that came to the United States.

Based on this information and some census data, we can construct the following hypothesis: Father – Michael, Mother – unknown, Paternal Grandfather – James, Maternal Grandfather – Patrick, and the children of this father, Michael:

1. James (born late 1790's to 1803, but before Patrick
2. Patrick (his 1st son born in 1824 so Patrick may have been born between late 1790's and 1804)
3. Mary Farley (born 1800 based on 1860 census - may have been 1st or 2nd born versus brothers)
4. Michael (born 1810 based on 1860 census)
5. Thomas (born 1810-1813, based on grave stone, 1860 census and 1870 census)
6. George (went to Australia - birth order unknown but after Thomas)
7. daughter (stayed in Ireland- birth order unknown, couls have even been the oldest)
8. daughter (stayed in Ireland- birth order unknown, couls have even been the oldest)
9. daughter (stayed in Ireland- birth order unknown, couls have even been the oldest)
10. daughter (stayed in Ireland- birth order unknown, couls have even been the oldest)

In order to establish an easy to compare hierarchy between and among the different branches of the family over time, this 2003 edition treats the parents of the ten children listed above as the first generation of the family. The ten children are the second generation and their children are the third generation, and so on. All herein but the very young have thier generation level indicated.