Rathronan, Rathangan and Ballyartella

This cutting is from 1852 papers, it is about Rathronan and I think we can be sure this is Richard O'Keefe Esquire of Rathronan Mills in Tipperary. They are a very well heeled lot the Yelverton O'Keeffes. Lawyers with public office and they settle in England in the end. Connected to aristocary Lady Avenmore was an O'Keeffe. Probably not who we are looking for,

Here are three brother, Martin, Edward and Patrick who are millers. Edward is the proprietor of Rock Vale Mills and Patrick seems to own Ballyartella Mills, still extant and a National Monument.

Patrick struggles financially and goes bankrupt. He immigrates to Australia and is followed by  his wife and at least two children but these are shipwrecked and drowned in 1854. In the bankruptcy proceedings Patrick is described as Merchant, Dealer and Chapman. 

Rock Vale mills is burnt down around 1860 and Edward was not well insured  -the mills were rebuilt because they are seen for sale later in the century.

Another incidental factlet is that in Laracor which is next to Trim where there is a Richard Keeffe miller , there is a nursery seedsman named Martin Keeffe. 

Martin Okeeffes are quite thin on the ground so should be findable. Edwards and Richards are not that common. This family should be very visible. 

I do wonder if this branch of Okeeffe millers was originally the family from Kildare that had a big mill and distillery in Rathangan Kildare. Edward is one of their family names. They had the mill in 1780 and lost it some time around 1810 - the business got into trouble in the 1798 Rebellion with much fighting in the town of Rathangan and the British troops ate all the stores and then paid no damages leaving the family in debt. But what happened to them. Did they become involved in  mills elsewhere? 

Rathangan information