My family is searching for any further information available on Michael Hynes (O'Hynes) who married Anne Burke (O'Bourke). Anne Burke's father owned a fair-sized sheep farm in Queenstown, (now Cobh), County Cork, Ireland. Michael Hynes worked for Anne's father as a hired hand herding the sheep. Anne's father was a prosperous business man in Queenstown. Anne's mother was killed in a horse-riding accident when Anne was about 3 years old. Anne was sent to "the convent" for schooling, but lived on the farm the remainder of the time. At some point she and Michael fell in love and were married. This was apparently not a very popular union. Ann and Michael began their family on the Burke lands, and Ann resorted to taking sheep from her father's herd from time to time to feed the children. Mr. Burke is reported to have known about what was going on with his sheep, but chose not to say or do anything about it. It was said that Michael would rather play his violin than work. He evidently was quite musical and played very well.

In 1844, Michael Hynes and his brother Dennis immigrated to Canada. Michael left his wife and the children to follow him later. Anne and her children travelled 1st class on the boat, which was very unusual for Irish immigrants in those days. It is thought that Anne and the children came over sometime between the years 1842 and 1846. Michael Hynes and his family settled in Shannonvale (now Dundee), New Brunswick, Canada near Eel River Crossing. Michael and Anne Hynes children were:
William Hynes who married Mary Brennan,
Fenton Hynes who married Roseann McGovern and later Therese Fitzgerald,
Mary Hynes who married Isaac Arsenault,
Anne Hynes,
Michael Hynes,
James Hynes,
Samuel Hynes,
Joseph Hynes,
Elizabeth Hynes who married Michael Callaghan,
and Charles Hynes who married Elisabeth Connors.

We have Michael and Anne's history from Shannonvale on along with their descendants. We are specifically looking for any information such as birth certificates, a marriage certificate or death certificates for Anne's parents-he mother was an O'Niel. A cousin believes that the family may have lived in Mountrath (Southwest of Dublin) for a while before leaving for Canada.

According to the Genealogical Dictionary of the Arsenault Family Mary Hynes, daughter of Michael Hynes and Anne Burke was born October 15, 1842 in County Cork, Ireland.


Kim A. Emerson-Santa
Greater Emerson and Frederick Family Tree

My gg-grandmother Jane Hines (Hynes) was born around 1845 in French Canada or possibly Ireland. She came to New York at age 5 with an aunt. A brother John and sister Mary followed her to the US but her parents did not come to NY until her death in 1879 on Christmas day at age 35. she had lots of children with husband George Chace in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. That's all I have on her. I was hoping that some of this might sound familiar to you.. Perhaps she was Dennis Hyne's daughter. Let me know what you think. Thanks. Dennis Doyle

Kim. I wonder if by chance your Anne Burke could be the sister of Julia O'Neil, you mentioned in your query that Her (Anne's) Mothers name was O'Neil. My Great Great Grandfather was MICHAEL HYNES B 1831 Ireland married to JULIA O'NEIL B 1830 Ireland. I am looking for thier Parents And where in Ireland they were born ect: I guess this is my brick wall. Thanks in advance for any help you may have. Sally.

Dear Sally,

Anne Burke was born in Queenstown, now Cobh, County Cork, Ireland in 1811 or 1812. She married Michael Hynes, who was born 1804 also in Queenstown. Anne Burke's (surname originally O'Bourke) parents were Mr. O'Bourke and Mary O'Neil. The O'Bourkes were Landed Irish Gentry in Cork County, Ireland. Your Julia O'Neil who was born in 1830 would have been too old to be Anne's sister and Anne's surname was O'Bourke. There are a multitude of Michael Hynes in Ireland during this time period. Where in Ireland was Julia O'Neil born? There is a possibility that Julia was related to Mary O'Neil's family but it would be hard to connect the two families without further genealogical information.