Who am I? That is an excellent question!

If one would ask me, I would say that I am mostly Irish (Fallon/O’Fallon) & Italian (Gamino) with a little bit of German (Reinecke & Ebarra/Ibarra) and Spanish (Ebarra/Ibarra). I grew up in and still reside in the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana and have always been proud of both my Irish and Italian ancestry. Mom’s side (Fallon/O’Fallon) were all raised with a very, very strong Irish influence & pride in our heritage (both Irish & our family) yet we do not know any specific names, places or even what our ancestors accomplished to have this family pride. Decided to test my DNA mostly to discover the facts in this family mystery. Was very surprised to learn that I am only 3% Irish! Especially since I look like the poster child for the Irish: pale white skin with freckles, naturally red, curly hair with big blue eyes. So, the question of “Who am I?” is proving to be an even greater mystery than expected!

What can I prove?

My GGGrandparents, Michael Fallon and Mary Gronemeyer are my oldest confirmed ancestors. Several Michael Fallon’s in NOLA as early as 1840 & 1850 census but without more information it is difficult to confirm which is my GGGrandfather until the 1870 Census. Michael was born in Ireland probably btwn 1837-1841. The 1870 census says he was age 32 born 1837 but the 1880 census says he was 25 born 1855. If born in 1855 he would have been married at 13 and about 15 when my GGrandfather was born. Both 1870 & 1880 census state that both his parents were born in Ireland. According to Mary Gronemeyer’s Succession, Michael died well before her. Have many suspicions but have not confirmed Michael’s parents nor where he is buried. Although possibly a relative, he is NOT the Michael Fallon died in 1885, buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery and married to Mary Costello. Mary Gronemeyer and Michael Fallon were married in NOLA btwn August 1868 & July 1869. Mary Gronemeyer’s 1st husband, Gaspard Blaise was born in Germany and died on August 10, 1867 in NOLA, age 48 (grave unknown). They had 1 surviving child, Ernst Heinrich Blaise born in 1865 NOLA. Later generations would know him simply as ‘Brother’. Mary Gronemeyer was born in Prussia in 1840 and died in New Orleans February 28, 1882. Both 1870 & 1880 Census confirm that both parents were born in Prussia. Michael and Mary had a total of 5 children: Edward Fallon b. 1870/d. 1933 (my GGrandfather), William (Willie) Fallon b. 1872/d. 1879, TWINs: John Thomas Fallon b. 1875/d. 1875, Michael Fallon b. 1878/d. 1875 and Mary Jane Fallon b. 1876/d. 1957. All were born and died in NOLA although grave sites for most are unknown. Willie & the twins are confirmed by NOLA Archdiocese to be somewhere in St. Patrick Cemetery 1, 2 or 3. Edward ‘Cap’ Fallon and Ernst Blaise are buried in St. Roch #1 (same row even) and Mary Jane Fallon (married to James Hayden) is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

My GGrandparents were Edward Fallon (son of Michael Fallon & Mary Gronemeyer) and Josephine Alida Ebarra/Ibarra. They lived in the old St. Roch area of New Orleans. It is my understanding that the Fallon, Blaise and Lange families were instrumental in building Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School as well as the St. Roch Cemeteries. My Grandmother was their 2nd youngest out of 12 children: TWINS: Henry Edward Fallon b. 1892/d. 1956, Henriette Fallon b. 1892/d. 1892, Emma Maria Fallon b. 1893/d. 1982, Edna Alida (Gurdie) Fallon b. 1895/d. 1986, Leoda Elizabeth Fallon b.1896/d. 1980, Edward Fallon Jr b. 1898/1989, TWINs: Mary Josephine Fallon b. 1900/d. 1900, May Veronica Fallon b. 1900/d. 1984, Julia Fallon b. 1902/d. 1903, Ethel Dorothy Fallon b. 1904/d. 2001, Ruth Olga Fallon b. 1906/d. 1989 (my Grandmother) and Anna Esma Fallon b. 1908/d.1977. All are buried in St. Roch 1 & 2 except for Henry Edward Fallon Sr who is buried in Metairie Cemetery. Unknown where the Twins are buried. Children married into the following families: Gerhold, Eichhorn, Begault, Adams, Geraci, Rodriguez, Cantanzaro, Swan, Winck, Dudenhoff, Barbier, Guillot, Jeanfreau, Harris, Gettlefinger, Lanusse, Fagot, Koster, McGawley, Ganicheaux, Seruntine, Ducote, Smith, Roth, Merritt, Reinecke, Ello, George and Riordan families.

If you are a relative or even suspect that you may be, please get in touch. My email address is [email protected]. Would LOVE to hear from you!

Who am I? That is an excellent question!

If one would ask me, I would say that I am mostly Irish (Fallon/O’Fallon) & Italian (Gamino) with a little bit of German (Reinecke & Ebarra/Ibarra) and Spanish (Ebarra/Ibarra). I grew up in and still reside in the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana and have always been proud of both my Irish and Italian ancestry. Mom’s side (Fallon/O’Fallon) were all raised with a very, very strong Irish influence & pride in our heritage (both Irish & our family) yet we do not know any specific names, places or even what our ancestors accomplished to have this family pride. Decided to test my DNA mostly to discover the facts in this family mystery. Was very surprised to learn that I am only 3% Irish! Especially since I look like the poster child for the Irish: pale white skin with freckles, naturally red, curly hair with big blue eyes. So, the question of “Who am I?” is proving to be an even greater mystery than expected!

What can I prove?

My GGGrandparents, Michael Fallon and Mary Gronemeyer are my oldest confirmed ancestors. Several Michael Fallon’s in NOLA as early as 1840 & 1850 census but without more information it is difficult to confirm which is my GGGrandfather until the 1870 Census. Michael was born in Ireland probably btwn 1837-1841. The 1870 census says he was age 32 born 1837 but the 1880 census says he was 25 born 1855. If born in 1855 he would have been married at 13 and about 15 when my GGrandfather was born. Both 1870 & 1880 census state that both his parents were born in Ireland. According to Mary Gronemeyer’s Succession, Michael died well before her. Have many suspicions but have not confirmed Michael’s parents nor where he is buried. Although possibly a relative, he is NOT the Michael Fallon died in 1885, buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery and married to Mary Costello. Mary Gronemeyer and Michael Fallon were married in NOLA btwn August 1868 & July 1869. Mary Gronemeyer’s 1st husband, Gaspard Blaise was born in Germany and died on August 10, 1867 in NOLA, age 48 (grave unknown). They had 1 surviving child, Ernst Heinrich Blaise born in 1865 NOLA. Later generations would know him simply as ‘Brother’. Mary Gronemeyer was born in Prussia in 1840 and died in New Orleans February 28, 1882. Both 1870 & 1880 Census confirm that both parents were born in Prussia. Michael and Mary had a total of 5 children: Edward Fallon b. 1870/d. 1933 (my GGrandfather), William (Willie) Fallon b. 1872/d. 1879, TWINs: John Thomas Fallon b. 1875/d. 1875, Michael Fallon b. 1878/d. 1875 and Mary Jane Fallon b. 1876/d. 1957. All were born and died in NOLA although grave sites for most are unknown. Willie & the twins are confirmed by NOLA Archdiocese to be somewhere in St. Patrick Cemetery 1, 2 or 3. Edward ‘Cap’ Fallon and Ernst Blaise are buried in St. Roch #1 (same row even) and Mary Jane Fallon (married to James Hayden) is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

My GGrandparents were Edward Fallon (son of Michael Fallon & Mary Gronemeyer) and Josephine Alida Ebarra/Ibarra. They lived in the old St. Roch area of New Orleans. It is my understanding that the Fallon, Blaise and Lange families were instrumental in building Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School as well as the St. Roch Cemeteries. My Grandmother was their 2nd youngest out of 12 children: TWINS: Henry Edward Fallon b. 1892/d. 1956, Henriette Fallon b. 1892/d. 1892, Emma Maria Fallon b. 1893/d. 1982, Edna Alida (Gurdie) Fallon b. 1895/d. 1986, Leoda Elizabeth Fallon b.1896/d. 1980, Edward Fallon Jr b. 1898/1989, TWINs: Mary Josephine Fallon b. 1900/d. 1900, May Veronica Fallon b. 1900/d. 1984, Julia Fallon b. 1902/d. 1903, Ethel Dorothy Fallon b. 1904/d. 2001, Ruth Olga Fallon b. 1906/d. 1989 (my Grandmother) and Anna Esma Fallon b. 1908/d.1977. All are buried in St. Roch 1 & 2 except for Henry Edward Fallon Sr who is buried in Metairie Cemetery. Unknown where the Twins are buried. Children married into the following families: Gerhold, Eichhorn, Begault, Adams, Geraci, Rodriguez, Cantanzaro, Swan, Winck, Dudenhoff, Barbier, Guillot, Jeanfreau, Harris, Gettlefinger, Lanusse, Fagot, Koster, McGawley, Ganicheaux, Seruntine, Ducote, Smith, Roth, Merritt, Reinecke, Ello, George and Riordan families.

If you are a relative or even suspect that you may be, please get in touch. My email address is [email protected]. Would LOVE to hear from you!