Friday, 15 May 2020
Our DNA Matches to Coughlin=Ryan family with Keefe.
4 people from the USA with common ancestors are an interesting match on Ancestry to my Mum and to her cousin Sylvia (not all my family are on Ancestry), and myself. Their ancestry goes back to 2 families who inter-married about 4 generations ago - the Coughlin and Ryan families. Two Coughlin brothers married 2 Ryan sisters and we match descendants of both these marriages. So I don't know if the match is from the Coughlin or Ryan side. The Coughlins have a Keefe ancestor, but that could just be a coincidence, and Ryan does crop up a fair bit in our Irish matches.
So one of the following people must be the source of our DNA match, perhaps via their parents or granparents, and maybe the places they came from might give clues as to where our ancesotrs came from.
Catherine Keefe was born 1826 in USA but her father William Keefe was born 1795 in Kilworth, Cork, son of David Keefe (believed from Kilworth) and Catherine Cunningham. Her mother Mary Higgins was born Fermoy, Cork (very near Kilworth). All, including Catherine's grandfather David died in the USA.
Catherine married Bartholomew Coughlin b. 1825 Lisgoold, Cork as were all his siblings, last one b. 1835. His parents were Timothy Coughlin born about 1787 Cork, Cork (1 tree has him d. 1874 Skull, Ireland) and Mary Daly b. about 1800 Cork, Cork. Mary's parents may have been maurice Daly & Julia Mahoney.
2 of Catherine and Bartholomews sons married 2 Ryan sisters.
The Ryan sisters - Father John was b. abt 1836 in England (one tree says Co Durham), his parents John Ryan and Margaret were b. about 1810 in Ireland. The Ryans were believed to be in USA by 1842. John Ryan junior married Julia Fitzimmons who was born 1843 in USA, but her father Patrick Fitzsimmons was abt 1800 b Ireland, her mother b USA.
This is a definite match but the shared ancesor could be a long way back. The posible relationship between our family and theirs has a 60% chance of being one of the following. 6C 6C1R 5C 6C2R 4C1R 5C1R 7C Half 3C2R 4C2R 5C2R 7C1R 3C3R 4C3R 5C3R
Searching Irish newspapers shows a James keefe living in Kilworth in 1837 - Freeman's Journal 23 February 1837 (FMP) - listed, with many others in returns of "Justice Rent" Jan 1837. And Pat Keefe & Michael Keeffe listed for Justice Rent in Freeman's Journal 23 February 1837.
The Coughlin/Ryan/keefe families ended up in the Newry Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota area. I read up a lot about the Irish settling here and came across other Keefe / O'Keefe families who were there. Apparently the name Newry was chosen in 1858 at the home of William Bell, as Newry was early township pioneer Thomas Fitzsimmons' hometown in Ireland. Perhaps a relative of Julia Fitzsimmons.
Google searches finds information e.g. a rootsweb post from Jim Cannon Sun 6 May 2001
Looking for others who are researching KEEFE/O'KEEFE families who were located in Geneva and Newry Townships in Freeborn County. Many are interred at St. Mary's Cemetery in Newry Township. Most importantly is William Keefe, born 1795, Killworth Parish, County Cork, Ireland and died 2 Sept 1885, age 84. He was m. to Mary HIGGANS (HIGGENS), b. abt. 1795, Femay Parish, Ireland and died 2 Dec 1885, Newry, age 91. Other possible relations are David Keefe, b. 16 June 1815, d. 13 Dec 1905. He was m. to Elizabeth GARDNER, b. June 1821, d. 28 June 1873. She was the dau. of Richard Gardner and Mary LAWTON. Also, Michael Keefe, b. 1819, d. 1900. He m. Ellen Keefe, dau. of Michael Keefe and Muriel MULCAHY. Some of these families located in Blooming Prairie, Steele County.
Wednesday, 11 March 2020
New DNA match to my Mum, Anne and Chris R
Might be worth looking at these names and places where the DNA match has Ancestors:
John Mellon Born abt 1796 Tyrone, Northern Ireland, D:abt 1861 Canada.
Patrick John Tobin b. 1798 cashel, Tipperary, son of John Tobin, d. 17 jan 1878 Neosho, Wisconsin. Married Johanna Phelan, B:1802 Tramore Parish, Waterford Ireland
John Tobin b 1827 Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland, son of Patrick Tobin, 1798 d. 1875 Iron Ridge, Dodge, Wisconsin, USA
John Tobin married Hannah Mahoney born 4 July 1837 Donogarvin, County Waterford, Ireland died 20 November 1924 • Wisconsin, USA
The lady with the DNA for family says: My Dad always said the Tobins were from County Cork however, my 2x & 3XG Grandpa's tombstones said 'Natives from Trammore County, Waterford, Ireland.
Sunday, 9 February 2020
A DNA match to 3 O'keefe cousins (Mum, Peter and Anne) with O'Keefe of Wexford in the matches tree
I think this match is worth pursuing as this person John M matches descendants of 3 of the children of our Joseph O'keefe and Mary nee Conroy.
Anne, Peter, and Mum are estimated to be 3rd cousin - distant cousins to JM.
[Anne's match is 23 cM Peter's is 19.4 cM and Mum's match is 14.6 cM.]
John M was born 1955, and his tree is on My Heritage and all 8 Great Grandparents are from County Wexford. Our John O'keefe would be the same generation as his Gt Gt grandparents. As all this famiyl seeme to come from Wexford, it seems unlikely the match is through our Sligo ancestors or through our shared N Yks ancestors. However, it is always possible that the match is through someone married into O'Keefe family e.g John O'Keefe's mother, rather than the O'keefe family itself.
JM's O'Keefe line comes from JM's Grandmother - Bridget O'Keefe b 1896 Wexford d. 1970 Dublin.
Gt GF Thomas O'keefe 1862-1940 = Mary Cullen 1862-1935 All events in County Wexford.
Gt Gt GF Thomas O'Keefe = Honora Doyle - No dates or places given in tree.
Gt Gt Gt GF Daniel O'keefe = Brigid Bolgar - No dates or places given in tree.
Found this fO'Keefe family in Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy, Wexford in 1901 & 1911. Also the Marriage of Thomas Kieffe & Mary Cullen in 1883, Registration quarter Jul - Sep, Registration district Enniscorthy, Volume 4, Page 258
Also Baptism of Thomas Keefe 03 Jul 1862, Parish Enniscorthy, Diocese Ferns, County Wexford - Thomas Keefe son of Daniel Keefe and Honnora Doyle.
Also - marriage of Dan Keefe of Enniscorthy, Parish Ferns, Diocese of Ferns, to Honor Doyle. Wit: Edward Bolgar, Mary hanwick?
I have messaged John and when i have time I will look at what sghared matches all 3 cousins have to John M.
Anne, Peter, and Mum are estimated to be 3rd cousin - distant cousins to JM.
[Anne's match is 23 cM Peter's is 19.4 cM and Mum's match is 14.6 cM.]
John M was born 1955, and his tree is on My Heritage and all 8 Great Grandparents are from County Wexford. Our John O'keefe would be the same generation as his Gt Gt grandparents. As all this famiyl seeme to come from Wexford, it seems unlikely the match is through our Sligo ancestors or through our shared N Yks ancestors. However, it is always possible that the match is through someone married into O'Keefe family e.g John O'Keefe's mother, rather than the O'keefe family itself.
JM's O'Keefe line comes from JM's Grandmother - Bridget O'Keefe b 1896 Wexford d. 1970 Dublin.
Gt GF Thomas O'keefe 1862-1940 = Mary Cullen 1862-1935 All events in County Wexford.
Gt Gt GF Thomas O'Keefe = Honora Doyle - No dates or places given in tree.
Gt Gt Gt GF Daniel O'keefe = Brigid Bolgar - No dates or places given in tree.
Found this fO'Keefe family in Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy, Wexford in 1901 & 1911. Also the Marriage of Thomas Kieffe & Mary Cullen in 1883, Registration quarter Jul - Sep, Registration district Enniscorthy, Volume 4, Page 258
Also Baptism of Thomas Keefe 03 Jul 1862, Parish Enniscorthy, Diocese Ferns, County Wexford - Thomas Keefe son of Daniel Keefe and Honnora Doyle.
Also - marriage of Dan Keefe of Enniscorthy, Parish Ferns, Diocese of Ferns, to Honor Doyle. Wit: Edward Bolgar, Mary hanwick?
I have messaged John and when i have time I will look at what sghared matches all 3 cousins have to John M.
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Wexford O'Keefe Descendants & their families
I've been in touch with Terry in Australia his wife Patsy's grandfather was Edward John O'Keefe. Patsy has just done a DNA test and should get her results in a few weeks.
Terry says: "Edward came to Australia from Ireland in the early 1900's and enlisted in the Australian army. Just before that he married and on his marriage certificate he said he was born in The Faythe in Wexford. I found an O'Keefe family living at The Faythe but unfortunately I can't find any reference to an Edward O'Keefe."
I have found his military records (Australia WW1) which confirms he was from Wexford. I can currently only find one possible family for him in Wexford, very near Faythe. "Will post update when I know more.
Synott, Sinnot family - there is a a book about them and apparently they appear in Burke's Irish families. They have Alice May [not Mary] Synott / Sinnott in their tree marrying Richard OK and they have a sister for Richard called Teresa Judith who marries the wealthy Edmund Barry of Dublin, where they then live. Teresa gives her birthplace as Westmeath (1901 census Dublin, where she dies 1909), and of course we don't know where Richard and his siblings were born. However, I'm not quite sure this is the same family, some of whom end up at Rathmoylen. This is not helped by the fact there is a baptism for an Alice Maria Synott the same year of birth 1827 with different parents!
The baptism I prefer is Alicia Sinnott, Baptism Age 0 Baptised 15 Nov 1827 at Wexford, Wexford, Ireland, Diocese Ferns, Father James Sinnott, Mother Bess Neil. preferred becasue some of this family end up in Faythe, Wexford.
The Edmund Barry family have no baptism for Alice May Synott, just a date of birth - 3 sep 1827 d. 23 July 1885 dau of Piere Sinnot = Ellen browne. This is according to the sinnott genealogy site, and their info sourced from Burke's Irish Family Records (1976), pages 1092-1096 (Synnott).
So maybe there are 2 Alices. Confusion reigns!
Terry says: "Edward came to Australia from Ireland in the early 1900's and enlisted in the Australian army. Just before that he married and on his marriage certificate he said he was born in The Faythe in Wexford. I found an O'Keefe family living at The Faythe but unfortunately I can't find any reference to an Edward O'Keefe."
I have found his military records (Australia WW1) which confirms he was from Wexford. I can currently only find one possible family for him in Wexford, very near Faythe. "Will post update when I know more.
Synott, Sinnot family - there is a a book about them and apparently they appear in Burke's Irish families. They have Alice May [not Mary] Synott / Sinnott in their tree marrying Richard OK and they have a sister for Richard called Teresa Judith who marries the wealthy Edmund Barry of Dublin, where they then live. Teresa gives her birthplace as Westmeath (1901 census Dublin, where she dies 1909), and of course we don't know where Richard and his siblings were born. However, I'm not quite sure this is the same family, some of whom end up at Rathmoylen. This is not helped by the fact there is a baptism for an Alice Maria Synott the same year of birth 1827 with different parents!
The baptism I prefer is Alicia Sinnott, Baptism Age 0 Baptised 15 Nov 1827 at Wexford, Wexford, Ireland, Diocese Ferns, Father James Sinnott, Mother Bess Neil. preferred becasue some of this family end up in Faythe, Wexford.
The Edmund Barry family have no baptism for Alice May Synott, just a date of birth - 3 sep 1827 d. 23 July 1885 dau of Piere Sinnot = Ellen browne. This is according to the sinnott genealogy site, and their info sourced from Burke's Irish Family Records (1976), pages 1092-1096 (Synnott).
So maybe there are 2 Alices. Confusion reigns!
Sunday, 19 January 2020
Autosomal DNA matches to our O'Keefes
Nothing positive to date. However, the name callahan / Callaghan does crop up quite a bit.
I discounted John bap. 1828 Cork, son of Richard O'keefe and Ellen Callaghan, as our ancestor because he turns up in the army, consistently givng date and place of birth as St Finbarre's, Cork (see below). However, the family names and places would fit our family. So thought I'd post info here. No descendats found or wherabouts of the family after the last baptism.
Children of Richard Keefe & Ellen nee Callaghan, all bap St Finbarre's (South) Cork
Richard O'Keefe 1818 sponsors: Mary Callaghan (no image seen)
Mary O'keefe 1820 sponsors: John Murphy and Mary Keefe
Ellen Keeffe 1823 Apr 14, sponsors: James & Mary Lane, William Samuels? & Ellen Keefe [wrongly trascribed as dau of Michael on Ancestry]
James O' keefe 1825 sponsors Daniel Barrett and Mary Bourke
[Bap same day as James:
Mary dau of Dan Keefe & Mary ...? (short surname) Sponsors: Michael Keefe and Anastsia WIlliams
John 1828 Apr 1, sponsors Daniel Allen, Ellen Donague, William Samuel, John Keeffe
Mary O' Keefe 1831 - image on ancestry unreadable for sponsors - might be better at irish archives
Military Information which fits John b. 1828:
1851 census Preston, sussex, UK - Relationship: Private age 22, b. St fennebars, Cork.
I discounted John bap. 1828 Cork, son of Richard O'keefe and Ellen Callaghan, as our ancestor because he turns up in the army, consistently givng date and place of birth as St Finbarre's, Cork (see below). However, the family names and places would fit our family. So thought I'd post info here. No descendats found or wherabouts of the family after the last baptism.
Children of Richard Keefe & Ellen nee Callaghan, all bap St Finbarre's (South) Cork
Richard O'Keefe 1818 sponsors: Mary Callaghan (no image seen)
Mary O'keefe 1820 sponsors: John Murphy and Mary Keefe
Ellen Keeffe 1823 Apr 14, sponsors: James & Mary Lane, William Samuels? & Ellen Keefe [wrongly trascribed as dau of Michael on Ancestry]
James O' keefe 1825 sponsors Daniel Barrett and Mary Bourke
[Bap same day as James:
Mary dau of Dan Keefe & Mary ...? (short surname) Sponsors: Michael Keefe and Anastsia WIlliams
John 1828 Apr 1, sponsors Daniel Allen, Ellen Donague, William Samuel, John Keeffe
Mary O' Keefe 1831 - image on ancestry unreadable for sponsors - might be better at irish archives
Military Information which fits John b. 1828:
1851 census Preston, sussex, UK - Relationship: Private age 22, b. St fennebars, Cork.
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925: John M?? O'Keefe, Pension Examination Age: 42, (so b. abt 1829) St. Finnbar, Cork. Shoe maker. Reg: 8th Fencibles Irish. Rank: Private, Reg No: 1036. Total Service 23 yrs 2 in Turkey & Crimea, 6 in India. So joined abt 1849.
Non-Matches to Our O'Keefe / Keefe YDNA
Peter O'Keefe's YDNA has no matches, other than ancient ones. This means the O'Keefe's he does not match in the O'Keefe DNA Project on family Tree DNA, should in theory not be related to us.
So this is a list for elimination purposes.
Update - I have now got the names of the grandparents of the Wexford YDNA tester below, but haven;t been able to identify or connect him to the Wexford families we know of.
So this is a list for elimination purposes.
Update - I have now got the names of the grandparents of the Wexford YDNA tester below, but haven;t been able to identify or connect him to the Wexford families we know of.
| all born ireland unless otherwise stated | |
| John O'Keeffe, Glenlara, Newmarket, Co Cork | |
| Denis Keeffe b1815, Anglesboro, Limerick, Ireland | |
| Thomas O'Keefe b.1822 Doneraile, Co Cork, IRE | |
| Michael Keith ((John)1766-1823 | Mass, USA |
| William McCarty, b about 1750 | scotland |
| John O'Keeffe b1801 Fethard, Co Tipperary | |
| John O'Keeffe b.1801 Cahir, Co Tipp, IRE | |
| Arthur O'Keefe | |
| Patrick O'Keeffe b 1920-1987, Rathcormack, Co Cork | |
| Timothy O'Keefe, Buttevant, Co Cork | |
| Patrick O’Keefe b. c1825 Co Cork | |
| Michael O'Keefe, Indiana, U.S. | |
| John O'Keeffe 1830 Castletownroche, Ireland | u/k |
| John Keeffe c.1840, Fermoy, Co Cork | |
| Denis O Keeffe b1845 Cloyne, Co Cork | |
| Patrick O'Keeffe | |
| Cornelius O'Keeffe, b. 1801 and d. 1871 | |
| James O'Keeffe b.1780 IRL | |
| Dennis' O'Keeffe (1806-1880), Steuben Co., NY | |
| John Keefe, b. abt. 1800, d. ? | |
| Donald Harold Keefe, b 1891 MA, d 1964 CO. | u/k |
| Daniel O'Keeffe b. 1816 Co Cork IRE d. 1889 UK | |
| James Patrick O'Keefe b. 1830 Ireland d. Wisconsin | |
| Jonathan Keef b. 1824 | u/k |
| Elijah Keef, b. 1890 and d. 1919 | u/k |
| Thomas Keef Sr., b. 1770 and d. 1835 | u/k |
| Keefe 1802 Cahill 1800 | |
| John Keeffe, Lmerick, about 1840 | |
| O'Keeffe, Co Wexford | |
| Michael O'Keefe, b.1841 d. 1929 | |
| William O'Keeffe b1833 Glanmire | |
| William O'Keeffe b1833, Glanmire, Cork, Ireland | |
| William O'Keeffe, b. 1803, Cloyne, Co Cork | |
| John O'Kieffe, b. c1831 | |
| Daniel O'Keeffe b.c. 1788 | |
| Patrick O'Keefe b. 1824 Co Cork, Ireland, d. NY | |
| JAMES ARMSTRONG? | usa |
| Daniel G O'Keeffe, b @1800 Cork, d 1886 Forks, PA | |
| John J. O'Keeffe, b.1880 BallinvuskigEast,Cork | |
| Daniel Keefe, b. 1829 | u/k |
| Morris O'Keefe 1831-1876, Mitchelstown, Co Cork | |
| Eliud Keith b 1784 d 1845 | scotland |
| Cornelius Keith, b. 1690 | uk |
| Patrick Keefe, b. 1834 and d. 1916 | |
| Richard Creed 1730 - 1788 | uk |
| Thomas Parkinson 1780 - 1840 | uk |
| Joseph Alexander Buote, b. 1921 and d. 1978 | canada |
| Michael O'Keefe b. 1838 and d. 1903 | |
| William Keefe | uk |
| James Michael Keefe b.1857, Canada d. Iowa, US | |
| John Keeffe, c.1800-c.1860 | |
| William T. Keefe | |
| Richard O'Keefe, b: 1786, d: 1875, USA |
Thursday, 16 January 2020
Adoptions [Karen's contributions in blue]
Well I have decided to adopt the Iffernock Keefe family, in County Meath. For the time being anyway.
County Meath has the most Richard Keeffe millers. So that gets my vote. What is apparent trying to piece together the various families, is that there are missing records everywhere. It has been hard to pad out the families.
The Iffernock Keefe's are gradually building into a clearer picture.
There was a patriarch name of John who seems to have been born around about 1781..
Yes, 1780 ish d. 1843 age 64 buried Rathmolyen, wife Mary b. c. 1781 bur 1837 Age 56 Rathmoylen.
Their children - Richard 1810-1872, Judith 1811 -1825, Michael Thomas 1825-1850, Richard 1826-1878.
they very likely connected to to Patrick b. 1837 Trim, bur 1916 Rome (where he was visiting for Xmas) according to info about him - Rev Dean O'Keefe - on Internet as priest at Yass Australia, who erects memorial in Rathmoylen churchyard, same headstone ref no as John, Mary and their children, but born too late to be son of Mary. He returns to home in Ireland 1906 & never returns. Is this him in corbalis townland, Rathmoylen 1901 - Patrick Keeffe age 74 , farmer living with 2 servants.
I doubt it. He was a Franciscan priest and would have maybe been in a Abbey of some sort. As a Catholic Priest there is not retirement, no truce - that he was in Rome when he died indicates he was still faithfull. I am not sure of his full name. Patrick but maybe John Patrick or something like that. He had the name John Corbalis when he first became a Franciscan. He was a senior Franciscan it says in the article. Richard 1826 to 1872 was one that married Alicia Synott. He must have been the grandson of John and Mary I think?
There are references to John Keefe of Knock Mills in trade directories - oats and meal I think it says. And then to a Richard Keefe and these records are from around 1843 and are in the newspapers of the time. But death records don't seem to match up with this date. However, we have a marriage. To Alicia Maria Synnott of Wexford in 1846. Alicia died in Summerhill in Wexford in 1885 according to an announcement in the newspapers, widow of the late Richard Keefe etc.
Have found the 1846 marriage in Rathmines, though Alice is "of Wexford". Oddly there is a baptism of John Keeffe 31 May 1844 in Trim Son of Richard and Alice nee Synott, wit John Flood and Mary Allen. Yes I saw that too. Also a son of Richard by not Alice in 1870 who seems to have died soon afterwards. There were two Richards at that time in Trim one was a miller and one was a tailor.
Then some children. One was John Patrick Keefe who has put a memorial in the Rathmolyon churchyard to his parents and siblings. He was the Very Reverend Dean Patrick Keefe O.S. F. Coulburn Australia. I'm not so sure now that this character is part of the immediate family but is certainly some relation.
There was also a William Joseph. He married Mathilda Fogarty and they lived in Wexford at a place called Faythe. He is described as a Maltster of a Merchant. He lost his son William Henry in the First World War and a stained glass window to William Henry's memory was installed in a church in Bride's Street. Another Joseph might have been in Trim where Iffernock Mill was situated and he might be referenced as a Water Bailiff in the Court Records for 1880. Another courts records is for a Joseph who was pinching fish from the river. Then there was Peter Joseph. Joseph seems to be the best name for everybody. But I can't get a handle on him at all. There were two daughters. Catherine born in 1865 I cannot trace but Mary Ellen might present at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in 1911 Census for Dublin and she was a teacher.
Yes, a possible son Richard b.c. 1850 in Wexford married to Maria Sinnott (poss cousin?) with children living in Wexford 1901 & 1911.
Then a Thomas J (poss Joseph) O'Keefe b.c. 1854 who dies 1893 Wexford, son of the late Richard O'Keefe of Rock Mills Trim.
Then Mary Ellen Teresa, b.c. 1855 Meath, married 1883 Trim to John Crean (day of the late Richrad no'Keefe Esq of Nock Mills), and living in Wexford 1901 (Townparks) & 1911 (Summerhill) with family.
Then William Joseph b.c. 1858 married matilda Fogarty lives Faythe Wexford 1901 & 1911, leaves will d. 1924 (descendant has tree on Ancestry).
And Catherine who married Joseph Delaney in 1891 Trim "youngest dau of the late Richard of Nock Mills, Trim".
Yes I found them last night. Thomas Joseph marriage Nannie Cullen dr of the late Garret Cullen of Tara Hall County Meath esquire in 1882. and niece of the late Cardinal Cullen. Annoyingly this Nannie Cullen O'Keeffe disappears. There are various mentions of Garrett Cullen and his family on the internet - some suggestion that Nannie was his grand daughter not his daughter which is backed by the newspaper announcement of her marriage where she is described as the niece of Cardinal Cullen. These internet references suggests Thomas J. and Nannie has two sons and a daughter, Catherine who died in Kildare but I cannot find any trace of them, not births, deaths etc.
Another son of John of 1780 ish was Michael Keefe Nursery and Seedsman. He had a market garden in Dublin - perhaps it was Swift's Vinery? Who knows. It was on Long Lane. He won prizes for his flowers. He did not marry. His brother I think was Christopher who was a florist but inherited the nursery and lived eventually at Rock Lodge which was the home of the Disney family but I don't think he lived there long or may be he just lived in the gatehouse or on the estate.
Another child of John Keefe was Teresa Keefe who married in 1849 to Sir John Edmond Barry - a corn merchant of Waterford. She was born about 1830 and they lived in Dublin.
So there you are. A wealthy family. Lots of names that resonate, teachers, education, links to the Catholic Church, joining religious orders etc. and mission work. Corn mills in Meath, and in Wexford and links to Waterford. No good systematic births, death and marriages. It's a bit piece meal with general Google searches throwing up the odd link to check up. They even do a bit of salmon poaching, I mean fishing, just like the Barkers. It's a patchwork. But if John was born in about 1836/7 he might have been the nephew of Richard Keefe of Knock Mill. He is not his son. Nor probably is he the son of John of 1780 and his wife Mary. Some other relative perhaps. But perhaps there was a Richard Keefe brother of John Keefe of 1780ish.
So if our John (O') Keefe/Keeffe was connected to this family then he would have some status. The birth date given in the 1861 Census is the least likely to be accurate. So he was about 24 years old, a young teacher and on sort of Mission. Nice Catholic teacher with good credentials. And perhaps he also had some kind of private income. He would not have been well paid at the Catholic School in Egton Bridge. And he was "out of employ" in 1871. Certainly if his father was a miller he would know about trade and commerce, book keeping and trading. That sort of thing.
I was pleased to just find that in Wexford Mssrs. O'Keefe Bros were donating to the Church of the Assumption October Collection. William Joseph O'Keeffe was part of this company. Their offices were in Faythe down by the harbour. In their offices too, a collection was made - Captain Green of the "Excellent" donated 2/6d and his crew gave 5 s. Captain Storey of "Spray" gave 5 s. and his crew gave 2/6d. So we have shipping in our family too. That's useful for family legends.
Rathmolyon Graveyard
Well I have decided to adopt the Iffernock Keefe family, in County Meath. For the time being anyway.
County Meath has the most Richard Keeffe millers. So that gets my vote. What is apparent trying to piece together the various families, is that there are missing records everywhere. It has been hard to pad out the families.
The Iffernock Keefe's are gradually building into a clearer picture.
There was a patriarch name of John who seems to have been born around about 1781..
Yes, 1780 ish d. 1843 age 64 buried Rathmolyen, wife Mary b. c. 1781 bur 1837 Age 56 Rathmoylen.
Their children - Richard 1810-1872, Judith 1811 -1825, Michael Thomas 1825-1850, Richard 1826-1878.
they very likely connected to to Patrick b. 1837 Trim, bur 1916 Rome (where he was visiting for Xmas) according to info about him - Rev Dean O'Keefe - on Internet as priest at Yass Australia, who erects memorial in Rathmoylen churchyard, same headstone ref no as John, Mary and their children, but born too late to be son of Mary. He returns to home in Ireland 1906 & never returns. Is this him in corbalis townland, Rathmoylen 1901 - Patrick Keeffe age 74 , farmer living with 2 servants.
I doubt it. He was a Franciscan priest and would have maybe been in a Abbey of some sort. As a Catholic Priest there is not retirement, no truce - that he was in Rome when he died indicates he was still faithfull. I am not sure of his full name. Patrick but maybe John Patrick or something like that. He had the name John Corbalis when he first became a Franciscan. He was a senior Franciscan it says in the article. Richard 1826 to 1872 was one that married Alicia Synott. He must have been the grandson of John and Mary I think?
There are references to John Keefe of Knock Mills in trade directories - oats and meal I think it says. And then to a Richard Keefe and these records are from around 1843 and are in the newspapers of the time. But death records don't seem to match up with this date. However, we have a marriage. To Alicia Maria Synnott of Wexford in 1846. Alicia died in Summerhill in Wexford in 1885 according to an announcement in the newspapers, widow of the late Richard Keefe etc.
Have found the 1846 marriage in Rathmines, though Alice is "of Wexford". Oddly there is a baptism of John Keeffe 31 May 1844 in Trim Son of Richard and Alice nee Synott, wit John Flood and Mary Allen. Yes I saw that too. Also a son of Richard by not Alice in 1870 who seems to have died soon afterwards. There were two Richards at that time in Trim one was a miller and one was a tailor.
Then some children. One was John Patrick Keefe who has put a memorial in the Rathmolyon churchyard to his parents and siblings. He was the Very Reverend Dean Patrick Keefe O.S. F. Coulburn Australia. I'm not so sure now that this character is part of the immediate family but is certainly some relation.
There was also a William Joseph. He married Mathilda Fogarty and they lived in Wexford at a place called Faythe. He is described as a Maltster of a Merchant. He lost his son William Henry in the First World War and a stained glass window to William Henry's memory was installed in a church in Bride's Street. Another Joseph might have been in Trim where Iffernock Mill was situated and he might be referenced as a Water Bailiff in the Court Records for 1880. Another courts records is for a Joseph who was pinching fish from the river. Then there was Peter Joseph. Joseph seems to be the best name for everybody. But I can't get a handle on him at all. There were two daughters. Catherine born in 1865 I cannot trace but Mary Ellen might present at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in 1911 Census for Dublin and she was a teacher.
Yes, a possible son Richard b.c. 1850 in Wexford married to Maria Sinnott (poss cousin?) with children living in Wexford 1901 & 1911.
Then a Thomas J (poss Joseph) O'Keefe b.c. 1854 who dies 1893 Wexford, son of the late Richard O'Keefe of Rock Mills Trim.
Then Mary Ellen Teresa, b.c. 1855 Meath, married 1883 Trim to John Crean (day of the late Richrad no'Keefe Esq of Nock Mills), and living in Wexford 1901 (Townparks) & 1911 (Summerhill) with family.
Then William Joseph b.c. 1858 married matilda Fogarty lives Faythe Wexford 1901 & 1911, leaves will d. 1924 (descendant has tree on Ancestry).
And Catherine who married Joseph Delaney in 1891 Trim "youngest dau of the late Richard of Nock Mills, Trim".
Yes I found them last night. Thomas Joseph marriage Nannie Cullen dr of the late Garret Cullen of Tara Hall County Meath esquire in 1882. and niece of the late Cardinal Cullen. Annoyingly this Nannie Cullen O'Keeffe disappears. There are various mentions of Garrett Cullen and his family on the internet - some suggestion that Nannie was his grand daughter not his daughter which is backed by the newspaper announcement of her marriage where she is described as the niece of Cardinal Cullen. These internet references suggests Thomas J. and Nannie has two sons and a daughter, Catherine who died in Kildare but I cannot find any trace of them, not births, deaths etc.
Another son of John of 1780 ish was Michael Keefe Nursery and Seedsman. He had a market garden in Dublin - perhaps it was Swift's Vinery? Who knows. It was on Long Lane. He won prizes for his flowers. He did not marry. His brother I think was Christopher who was a florist but inherited the nursery and lived eventually at Rock Lodge which was the home of the Disney family but I don't think he lived there long or may be he just lived in the gatehouse or on the estate.
Another child of John Keefe was Teresa Keefe who married in 1849 to Sir John Edmond Barry - a corn merchant of Waterford. She was born about 1830 and they lived in Dublin.
So there you are. A wealthy family. Lots of names that resonate, teachers, education, links to the Catholic Church, joining religious orders etc. and mission work. Corn mills in Meath, and in Wexford and links to Waterford. No good systematic births, death and marriages. It's a bit piece meal with general Google searches throwing up the odd link to check up. They even do a bit of salmon poaching, I mean fishing, just like the Barkers. It's a patchwork. But if John was born in about 1836/7 he might have been the nephew of Richard Keefe of Knock Mill. He is not his son. Nor probably is he the son of John of 1780 and his wife Mary. Some other relative perhaps. But perhaps there was a Richard Keefe brother of John Keefe of 1780ish.
So if our John (O') Keefe/Keeffe was connected to this family then he would have some status. The birth date given in the 1861 Census is the least likely to be accurate. So he was about 24 years old, a young teacher and on sort of Mission. Nice Catholic teacher with good credentials. And perhaps he also had some kind of private income. He would not have been well paid at the Catholic School in Egton Bridge. And he was "out of employ" in 1871. Certainly if his father was a miller he would know about trade and commerce, book keeping and trading. That sort of thing.
I was pleased to just find that in Wexford Mssrs. O'Keefe Bros were donating to the Church of the Assumption October Collection. William Joseph O'Keeffe was part of this company. Their offices were in Faythe down by the harbour. In their offices too, a collection was made - Captain Green of the "Excellent" donated 2/6d and his crew gave 5 s. Captain Storey of "Spray" gave 5 s. and his crew gave 2/6d. So we have shipping in our family too. That's useful for family legends.
Rathmolyon Graveyard
Erected by Richard Keefe
of Knock Mills in memory of
his mother Mary Keefe who dept
this life 20th August 1837 aged 56 years
of his father John Keefe who dept this
life 8th May 1843 aged 64 years
and of his sister Judith Keefe who dept.
this life in 1825 Mi Thomas Keefe who
departed this life 23rd of January 1850
aged 35 years
requiescat in pace
As a tribute of sincere devotion to his parents brothers and sisters whose relics sleep here This monumnet is erected by the Very Rev Dean O'Keefe O. S. F. Coulburn Australia 1885http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Memories-of-Yass-Mission-New.pdf
Tuesday, 14 January 2020
Circumstantial evidence.
Knock Mills.
There are some mills associated with O'Keefe.
Rathronan - here a Richard Keeffe died about 1850. I believe his wife was called Ellen although I don't remember why. This family is connected to the Yelverton mob and were having a bit of a do over this Will. I kind of discount this mill now.
Rathangan Kildare - this was pre 1800 and the family were petitioning the Duke of Wellington after soldiers stationed at the mill took all the stock or something. But I can't find any descendants although there are Keefe's around. Daniel I think.
Barllyartella. This was a Patrick I think - around about 1850 he was having an angry match with someone in the press, then immigrated. I think he was in debt. Etc. Loss of wife and children in a shipwreck on the way to Australia.
Ballyquane - Sherlock and Helen Keeffe marriage. I have googled around it. It ends up in the Landed Estate Courts. It does not seem to get anywhere.
St Dominic's Mill in Cork City. A distillery . It is Keeffe O'Keeffe and John O'Keeffe and I think it ends badly.
Also another down in the south somewhere I forget the details.
Oh and David Keeffe in Youghal making earthenware and dealing in coal and ships.
Rathmolyon Richard Keefe
Kill Mill somewhere like that. This and the above are in Meath.
Knock Mills Iffernock Clearly connected with Richard Keeffes. I have been researching this family. I want to know all about them. Particularly because Nock Mills or whatever it is called, is in Trim. Also Trim (and Dublin) we have Michael and Christopher O'Keeffe with their plant nursery in Trim. And I've mislaid all the notes I made.
Recently I took a look at Matthias O'Keeffe. He's interesting. See below. But I digress. We should adopt Matthias though. If we could choose then that it what we should do.
So was Richard Keeffe miller baptised at St Finbarr's ? We hope so. I want this one Richard Keeffe 1804 parents John Keeffe and Ansty Barry/Berry. John and Anstace live near and around Gill Abbey Street which is near the river in Cork. They had a few other children too. Mainly Mary, Daniel and Johanna. Jolly good. I want the Richard Keeffe of about that birth date to get married at St. Finbarr's. I am choosing this one. Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley of St Brongs. I am choosing this marriage for a reason. I want the random birth of a John O'Keeffe around about 1834 ish in Cork to a father Richard - and I like this one best. John Keeffe 1838 to Richard and Norry Keeffe Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge. Just cos. Because Buckley is the kind of name you get with Milling families. That and Sherlock (posh) Sullivan, Barry and so on.
So back to facts. Now I need a Honoria Keeffe death. Sadly. So I looked at Wills first. There are not many in Cork so I widened it. I found one in Trim. A Will. Death of Richard Keeffe. That might be one of the three Richard Keeffe's that are connected with various Meath mills but it is a bit of a co incidence.
The Nock Mills ROK has a good background for me. He is politically active around 1840s with Irish rights problems. Gives money to this and that cause. We can have him.
Of course it does not work quite right. This is because of funeral monuments in Trim that give more detail about a Richard Keeffe who indeed had a father John but his mother was called Mary. Anyway. I still want to adopt them. I like too the next generation where a Richard Keeffe married Alicia Maria Synnott in Dublin. She died in 1885 in Summerhill Wexford. Ferns. And also there are a little nest of O'Keeffe's back in Waterford, O'Keeffe and Co. William Joseph who is the son of Richard Keeffe of Nock Mills. So a big connection with this family to Wexford and William Joseph thinks he was born there and not in Meath.
So is there an Ansty Keeffe death in Waterford or Wexford? Astace Barry was born in 1777 - there is a maybe death in Dungarvan in 1872. Hmm.
What there is from all this is a picture of mobility and connection between the O'Keeffe's of Trim and Wexford maybe also Waterford. It would be nice if our ancestors in Cork had had some land and not been millers. Farmers are so much easier to find. I am sticking for the moment to this Honoria O'Keeffe. She'll do for now.
Engineer and architect, of Cork and London. Mathias O'Keeffe, who was born in Cork circa 1830,(1) was articled in 1850 to PETER JOSEPH KLASEN , a district engineer in the Board of Works. He then worked on various engineering projects in England, Ireland and Scotland, before settling in Cork in about 1859.(2) He remained in Cork until at least 1880, when he held the position of city engineer and surveyor,(3) but by 1887 had moved to Brixton in London.(4) The English census of 1891 shows him as a sixty-one year old civil engineer and architect living at 13 Villa Road, Brixton, with his thirty-three year old Cork-born wife, Margaret, and two-year-old daughter, Mary.
A survey drawing by O'Keeffe, signed, addressed and dated 23 November 1876, showing the plan and section of the route for a proposed viaduct from Cobh cathedral over Middleton Street and West Street to the Crescent is among the Ashlin and Coleman drawings in the Irish Architectural Archive.(5)
What is interesting too is that his only child Mary O'Keeffe seems to have joined the Notre Dame order in Wandsworth and is a teacher there.
Knock Mills.
There are some mills associated with O'Keefe.
Rathronan - here a Richard Keeffe died about 1850. I believe his wife was called Ellen although I don't remember why. This family is connected to the Yelverton mob and were having a bit of a do over this Will. I kind of discount this mill now.
Rathangan Kildare - this was pre 1800 and the family were petitioning the Duke of Wellington after soldiers stationed at the mill took all the stock or something. But I can't find any descendants although there are Keefe's around. Daniel I think.
Barllyartella. This was a Patrick I think - around about 1850 he was having an angry match with someone in the press, then immigrated. I think he was in debt. Etc. Loss of wife and children in a shipwreck on the way to Australia.
Ballyquane - Sherlock and Helen Keeffe marriage. I have googled around it. It ends up in the Landed Estate Courts. It does not seem to get anywhere.
St Dominic's Mill in Cork City. A distillery . It is Keeffe O'Keeffe and John O'Keeffe and I think it ends badly.
Also another down in the south somewhere I forget the details.
Oh and David Keeffe in Youghal making earthenware and dealing in coal and ships.
Rathmolyon Richard Keefe
Kill Mill somewhere like that. This and the above are in Meath.
Knock Mills Iffernock Clearly connected with Richard Keeffes. I have been researching this family. I want to know all about them. Particularly because Nock Mills or whatever it is called, is in Trim. Also Trim (and Dublin) we have Michael and Christopher O'Keeffe with their plant nursery in Trim. And I've mislaid all the notes I made.
Recently I took a look at Matthias O'Keeffe. He's interesting. See below. But I digress. We should adopt Matthias though. If we could choose then that it what we should do.
So was Richard Keeffe miller baptised at St Finbarr's ? We hope so. I want this one Richard Keeffe 1804 parents John Keeffe and Ansty Barry/Berry. John and Anstace live near and around Gill Abbey Street which is near the river in Cork. They had a few other children too. Mainly Mary, Daniel and Johanna. Jolly good. I want the Richard Keeffe of about that birth date to get married at St. Finbarr's. I am choosing this one. Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley of St Brongs. I am choosing this marriage for a reason. I want the random birth of a John O'Keeffe around about 1834 ish in Cork to a father Richard - and I like this one best. John Keeffe 1838 to Richard and Norry Keeffe Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge. Just cos. Because Buckley is the kind of name you get with Milling families. That and Sherlock (posh) Sullivan, Barry and so on.
So back to facts. Now I need a Honoria Keeffe death. Sadly. So I looked at Wills first. There are not many in Cork so I widened it. I found one in Trim. A Will. Death of Richard Keeffe. That might be one of the three Richard Keeffe's that are connected with various Meath mills but it is a bit of a co incidence.
The Nock Mills ROK has a good background for me. He is politically active around 1840s with Irish rights problems. Gives money to this and that cause. We can have him.
Of course it does not work quite right. This is because of funeral monuments in Trim that give more detail about a Richard Keeffe who indeed had a father John but his mother was called Mary. Anyway. I still want to adopt them. I like too the next generation where a Richard Keeffe married Alicia Maria Synnott in Dublin. She died in 1885 in Summerhill Wexford. Ferns. And also there are a little nest of O'Keeffe's back in Waterford, O'Keeffe and Co. William Joseph who is the son of Richard Keeffe of Nock Mills. So a big connection with this family to Wexford and William Joseph thinks he was born there and not in Meath.
So is there an Ansty Keeffe death in Waterford or Wexford? Astace Barry was born in 1777 - there is a maybe death in Dungarvan in 1872. Hmm.
What there is from all this is a picture of mobility and connection between the O'Keeffe's of Trim and Wexford maybe also Waterford. It would be nice if our ancestors in Cork had had some land and not been millers. Farmers are so much easier to find. I am sticking for the moment to this Honoria O'Keeffe. She'll do for now.
Engineer and architect, of Cork and London. Mathias O'Keeffe, who was born in Cork circa 1830,(1) was articled in 1850 to PETER JOSEPH KLASEN , a district engineer in the Board of Works. He then worked on various engineering projects in England, Ireland and Scotland, before settling in Cork in about 1859.(2) He remained in Cork until at least 1880, when he held the position of city engineer and surveyor,(3) but by 1887 had moved to Brixton in London.(4) The English census of 1891 shows him as a sixty-one year old civil engineer and architect living at 13 Villa Road, Brixton, with his thirty-three year old Cork-born wife, Margaret, and two-year-old daughter, Mary.
A survey drawing by O'Keeffe, signed, addressed and dated 23 November 1876, showing the plan and section of the route for a proposed viaduct from Cobh cathedral over Middleton Street and West Street to the Crescent is among the Ashlin and Coleman drawings in the Irish Architectural Archive.(5)
What is interesting too is that his only child Mary O'Keeffe seems to have joined the Notre Dame order in Wandsworth and is a teacher there.
Friday, 10 January 2020
Well I am vexed. I have just endeavored to re do old research to try to find our Richard Keeffe.
Something somewhere has to be wrong.
Irish records are not that bad. Especially for Cork City.
I have looked at all Richard Keeffe marriages at St Finbarrs. All children born to Richard Keeffes.
At all John Keeffe's births.
Somewhere somehow there has to be connection.
I traced Matthew/Matthias Keeffe of Cork. There were two. One was a doctor and one was a noted Engineer, who apparently travelled in the UK and then settled back in Cork. He was also a teacher.
The engineer came to England and is the Census for 1891 I think. He came and he was married then to a much younger woman. They had one child born in Lambeth and this child went to be a nun of Notre Dame.
Hmm.
But I cannot find his birth etc.
I have contacted Irish groups for the parish of Ballymacoda and Ladybridge where there was a John Keeffe born to a Richard and Norry Keeffe in 1838. There was a corn mill in Ballymacoda. A marriage for a Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley in Cork City in 1821. But the researcher there suggested John Keeffe born in Cork City in 1822. That seems too early for our ancestor.
Anyway. Vexed here.
One record for a Richard Keeffe, marriage or parent must be our ancestor. But which?
Hi Clare, yes it is most frustrating. I have collected lots of info on Richard O'keefe's (& variant surnames), built trees on Ancestry for various O'keefe families, had our O'Keefe YDNA tested, searched for autosomal DNA links in ireland, but still nothing that we can say is our Richard or John in Ireland. As you know I thought the Richard O'keefe and Mary Callaghan couple having children in Cork was them, though their John was baptised 1828, but found that the 1828 John was recorded in other records. These are the families I have explored via creating trees:
Something somewhere has to be wrong.
Irish records are not that bad. Especially for Cork City.
I have looked at all Richard Keeffe marriages at St Finbarrs. All children born to Richard Keeffes.
At all John Keeffe's births.
Somewhere somehow there has to be connection.
I traced Matthew/Matthias Keeffe of Cork. There were two. One was a doctor and one was a noted Engineer, who apparently travelled in the UK and then settled back in Cork. He was also a teacher.
The engineer came to England and is the Census for 1891 I think. He came and he was married then to a much younger woman. They had one child born in Lambeth and this child went to be a nun of Notre Dame.
Hmm.
But I cannot find his birth etc.
I have contacted Irish groups for the parish of Ballymacoda and Ladybridge where there was a John Keeffe born to a Richard and Norry Keeffe in 1838. There was a corn mill in Ballymacoda. A marriage for a Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley in Cork City in 1821. But the researcher there suggested John Keeffe born in Cork City in 1822. That seems too early for our ancestor.
Anyway. Vexed here.
One record for a Richard Keeffe, marriage or parent must be our ancestor. But which?
Hi Clare, yes it is most frustrating. I have collected lots of info on Richard O'keefe's (& variant surnames), built trees on Ancestry for various O'keefe families, had our O'Keefe YDNA tested, searched for autosomal DNA links in ireland, but still nothing that we can say is our Richard or John in Ireland. As you know I thought the Richard O'keefe and Mary Callaghan couple having children in Cork was them, though their John was baptised 1828, but found that the 1828 John was recorded in other records. These are the families I have explored via creating trees:
O'keefe Rathmines Family Tree
I have just created a tree to put on all the found Johns and Richards of about the right age who aren't in one of the other trees. This can gradually be built up and maybe used to eliminate various John's born in Ireland about the right time. Hardly anyone on this tree yet - but did find a John Keefe, shipwright born Cork on the vessel Encounter in Japan in 1861.
Just seen this - I have been so busy tonight with the Nurserymen of Dublin/Meath Michae
l and Christopher. Christopher is resident of Rathfarnham. And in Rathfarnham we find a Richard Keefe. Thinking on it. A shipwright is good. But our John was in Egton in 1861.
Just seen this - I have been so busy tonight with the Nurserymen of Dublin/Meath Michae
l and Christopher. Christopher is resident of Rathfarnham. And in Rathfarnham we find a Richard Keefe. Thinking on it. A shipwright is good. But our John was in Egton in 1861.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)