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

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 1885

http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Memories-of-Yass-Mission-New.pdf

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.  

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:

O'keefe Rathmines Family Tree

O'keeffe in Youghal Family Tree

Peter O'Keefe 1810 Waterford -1887 Staffs UK

Richard O'Keefe = Ellen Callaghan, family in Cork c.1828

Richard O'Keefe = Mary Sullivan family Cork

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.

Peter O'Keefe - Engine Fitter Waterford/Wexford

Karen has just raised this because of the search for the Peter O'Keefe who made the news in 1873 along with John Monaghan in Egton area of Yorkshire.

[KH info - One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette.  Who is Peter Keefe?   Was he a relative visiting John?  A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker"  Again a record which might be a clue to relative of \John's.  There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887.  All his sons are potters at some time growing up.  His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at Cannock.  ] 

This Peter O'Keefe that Karen has been researching hails from Staffordshire via Waterford. So I have been padding him out a bit.

In 1851 Peter  Keafe can be found in the High Street of Stoke Upon Trent and is an engine fitter (Millwright fitter). He has wife Bridget (Sullivan) with him and five children all born in Ireland. Youngest son Joseph was born in Fenton, Staffordshire. I'm not sure if this High Street is in Stoke or Fenton?

So I have traced the births of the children. They were born in Dublin Arran Quay or Haddington Road and baptized there. Another child Edward appears on the next census in 1861, born in 1855. Son Peter died in 1867 and this sad fact appeared in the newspaper.

Son William born around 1836 was first recorded as a potter, then by 1861, he was married to Hannah Rowley. He is probably the son of Peter as he consistently gives his birth place as Dublin. He can be found in the 1871 Census and now he is an Auctioneer and Valuer. His father Peter O'Keefe having been bankrupted as an Engine Fitter in 1868.
 In 1861, William Junior, is described as a general engine fitter and his sister Bridge is living with him in Harding Street, Stoke. She gives her employment as dress maker.

He and Hannah have one son William Rowley O'Keefe. This son became a Catholic Priest and was Canon Rowley O'Keefe at his death. Parish priest in Stourbridge for 17 years. Etc.

Confusingly there is a Bridget O'Keefe and two sons William and Thomas in London in 1871 - all from Waterford which confused things for a while. Ah take that back, I have now found Peter and Bridget living in Stoke with sons Joseph and Edward.

 A William O'Keefe married a Hannah Rowley in 1857 in Hanley Staffs. She died before 1891  I think. She was some ten years older than William. A sister in law, Martha Rowley was living with William and Hannah in 1881.

William went on to be a successful auctioneer and by the 1891 Census was living off his own means.

So back to Peter born around 1811. Of course I cannot find anyone to fit this birth date. There is just one lively suspect on FMP and it might need a search on the Eire paying site to check things out. I did find a Peter son of a Richard in Wexford, Ferns in 1817. The family that match up to this comprises just one son and several daughters. It's a bit annoying. I have not found the rest of this Peter O'Keefe's children and traced their lives yet. They have vanished.

I have now found that Joseph O'Keeffe  (1851) married an Elizabeth and worked as a potter. In 1881 he was living in Milner Street, Stoke. In 1900, he and Elizabeth are in New Jersey. Trenton, Mercer. He is still working in the pottery trade. The Census has a column for their parents' origin, and Joseph's parents are listed as being from Ireland, while Joseph was born in England.

This is all something and nothing. Two similarities with the O'Keefe family in Egton Bridge. The connection to Mills and Milling being one and the interest in pottery. John O'Keefe (1832/6) was an agent for Eartheware products when he lived in Glaisdale. We wondered if this was a link to a Milling family in Waterford. But possibly it could be a link to this family in Stoke. There is also the same lack of consistency with the spelling of the family name and a deep commitment to Catholicism.

Revisiting [Karen's contributions in blue]   All ideas welcome, good to question things.

John O'Keeffe (I think this is the spelling in the 1861 census - there is for sure, an O' ,and I think the lower parts of two ffs ) was apparently born in 1833 but was not quite sure of it!   This would make him 13 years older than wife Elizabeth, if it was true.  We know he is a school master, and numerate, and trustworthy. So why does his age than wander to a birth date of 1836?  [presumably to bring thier ages closer together - a very common thing people did when their ages were quite different was to bring them closer together].  He seems to be O'Keefe at his wedding and then he is known as Keefe. Is this the outcome of others filling out his census returns etc?[he is named as Mr J keefe in 1858 when attending the opening of the catholic Church in Scarborough]  Or did he choose to lose the O'? Karen thinks he would be avoiding prejudice against the Irish but I do not agree with this. [This is what people in the family told me when I began researching the family history in the 1980s - I was told that it was Mary nee Conroy who insisted they use the "O" because it was she who was especially pro-Irish]  He lives in an outpost of Catholicism where he has come as part of the Mission to them as the first schoolmaster at the Catholic School. I don't think they are anti Irish in this spot. They have far too much experience of oppression to be thus biased. Where did the O' go? And the extra f.? My feeling is that is was of no importance at the time as these spellings are all uses...... his son Joseph marries as O'Keeffe. But then Joseph's son is John O'Keefe.   [I suspect the use of the "O", or omission of it, in the birth registrations of the children of Joseph and Mary O'Keefe may have been dependent on who registered the birth]   I think I have been denied my full quota of letters in my name!
Karen has a book with dedication very clearly to O'Keeffe.  [this is a book with the date 1854 in the inscription - perhaps when he turned 21 or left ireland]    It must be that we have a liking for standard spellings that was not around in earlier times. If I changed the spelling of my name it would lock me out of various internet accounts. Things are different now.

Also, he must have had an Irish accent. So avoiding Irish prejudice would have been a bit difficult.

So here we have the first teacher at the new Catholic School. (1858)
He resigns this post around the time of his marriage for a clerical post at the Ironstone works. Which closes, and by 1871 he is " out of employ" which is bad luck for a man with two children and a rent to pay. [he is a "booking clerk out of employ" - I was never sure if this was for the railway or for the ironworks.  However, the Glaisdale ironworks opened in 1866 and closed in 1876.  maybe this is why John and Elizabeth went to live in Glaisdale if this is whre he worked for a while.   (He is known to have collected money towards the building of the church from workers at the iron works - this reported to me by the archivist at Middlesborough many years ago).  The Grosmont ironworks was 1862-1892] We don't know the date that he finished at the school and began at the Ironstone works. We must presume that there was better pay  as a clerk, because the status as schoolmaster was something to be prized. Maybe.  [I am pretty sure he left the school master job in order to earn more working, he was school master when he married.]

It was not a well paid job. The school could not have been very large. At the time, the school must have been attached to the church somehow ... the modern day school is housed in the  pre 1867 church building which also included the Presbytery for the priest.
I don't know if there was also another school in Egton Bridge or Egton maybe for non Catholic children. We must assume yes.

Just having read a history of Teachers and Education in Ireland I wonder that John Keefe was given the post. There is a record of  John Keeffe graduating from Queen's College in Cork around 1856 ish - as usual I cannot find the record when I need it - in Arts. But according to the information I just read through, it was not really the done thing for a Catholic to attend this college because of disapproval by the bishops of Ireland. Also, very few Catholics were admitted because generally speaking, they were not well educated ,to access further education.
 It is all very enigmatic.

What are the chances that " the Captain" ( first mate maybe) of a ship should land up in Egton Bridge and be appointed the first school master in a remote Catholic community? I could understand the situation if John had been educated in England, say Ampleforth or Stoneyhurst or even Ushaw.  Maybe if he had been in England before 1858. But to think that he came over from Cork? What is this about? It does suggest that the post was given him while he was resident in Cork and that he filled in his time after his education with learning to be a mariner. Cork was a good place for sailors but this is all very odd.  [I agree it seems likely the school master job was arranged while he was in Ireland, and he came over to take up the post.  Egton Bridge is mentioned in Irish newspapers as donating money to Irish causes.  It is possible the O'keefe's knew Andrew McCarthy who was priest at Egton around the time John went there.  As for the ship connection - there is no reliable evidence for this at all, though it is quite possible John arrived in Whitcby by ship, unless he came to Liverpool and made his wasy across country.   The Catholic archives found nothing in the EB school or other records, about his origins or how he came to be there.  Also, there is no trace of a baptism for him in Cork - could the story have been that it was his father who was baptised or married in Cork, rather than him?  We actually have no idea where he lived, all we have is that in the 1911 census "unknown" for place of birth is crossed through - was this written by Elizabeth? - and Cork written in it's place - strongly suggesting he was born in Cork.  But so convincing baptism found to date.]

It would seem that he and his wife Elizabeth moved to Glaisdale after their marriage. [possibly for the ironworks job as mentioned earlier]

 Before this John is involved with the Egton Bridge Horticultural Society and Show on St Thomas' Island (He lodges with a family in 1861) - which island is just before the mill in Egton Bridge. This  Society and Show was begun in 1859 and did not go well the first year. After that things improved. John never enters anything that he has grown - he is the Secretary dealing with the paperwork. He is not a grower. He is a Classer at another Show some years later though. [He is a classer in 1866 - the year before he married - he must have known something to be given a judging job?] However his FIL George Barker is a keen exhibitor  and wins many prizes  - as are many other familiar names. Joseph Lawson, Richard Barker etc. George grows winning gooseberries and these are exhibited in the Gooseberry Show, another organisation  - apparently around since 1800. George has been a winning shower for a long time before the Horticultural Society was founded! A George is mentioned in the 1820's but this was probably an earlier George Barker.

 In 1867 after his marriage John is involved with Penny Readings in Glaisdale. Press references to these span only two years. Penny Readings are a fashion in Whitby before this time. 

After this he is the Secretary for the Egton and Glaisdale Ploughing Society.... for around 8 years by Press release info. This is the competition for ploughing and hedge cutting. The committee have meetings at local hostelries ie The Tunnel Inn in Grosmont and other venues. The competition takes place in the winter.
This indicates that John was not very interested in growing things or that he did not have any time, or garden land. It also suggest that John was keen to get busy in Glaisdale until the children began to arrive and then his outlet was the Ploughing Society. John keeps to this for a good time and I hope he enjoyed the planning meetings and events. We don't know if the Press references and times they represent are determined by fashions for activities or by the proficiency of the organisers in getting press releases. It would suggest that John was a man who understood the ploughing of land though: that he cared about it. Or was he just being amenable? His obituary emphazises his kindness and goodwill.

Other social activities for him would include membership of the Guild of st Hedda and St Joseph in Egton Bridge. [John was not a member of the Guild of St Hedda's - I have been through all the Guild books, including the membership lists, at the RC Archives at Middlesborough and John never subscribes as a member of the Guild, or pays in to the funeral funds etc.  I suspect John was more interested in education and entertainment and would have found the Guild rather too restrictive and narrow, which was maybe why he never joined.]  Activities included walking round the area preceded by the Egton Bridge Brass Band and then a meeting - food - lectures  by the priest. One source cites this guild as being more influential than the parish priest " due to the strict rules for behaviour that were devised"( Margaret H Turniman.)

We see John more clearly in his musical activities. He played the violin and family legend has it, that he gave lessons in violin. He played at some time in a quadrille Band for balls and so on and he was given to singing at the Catholic Concerts in Egton Bridge. (Not Irish songs maybe, although some reports include others singing Irish ballads, but not John).  In one report he sings about Hot Codlings, a rather suggestive song about alcohol... he also sings in Glees.  (part singing usually of  a classical nature at this time) He is clearly a very musical man. He and his wife are believed to have sung in the church choir before their marriage. I hope they sung afterwards as well.

Employment.
 Looking at the census returns gives us a skewed picture. He is out of employ then a signal man, shopkeeper  -then a signal man and so on. [The census returns give him as a booking clerk in 1871 (presumably at the railway/), a railway signalman and gocer in 1881, a block signalman i n 1891, a railway signalman in 1901, and a pensioned retired signalman in 1911 South Eastern Railway]  His Obituary declares that he was a Signal Man for 25 years and he had a pension for this.  The date is given but I forget.  I believe he must have been a Signal Man from around 1875 . The Press reveals that, in addition to this, the family was giving  accommodation for visitors and this is documented from around 1890. I do forget. They were taking in visitors at Carr View, as were their daughters Eliza and Helen at some point. They also have paid guests when living back in Egton Bridge at St Hedda's Row.
The whole area was famous for beautiful scenery and there was much business to be gained.

His father in law and second wife, they were very much into the lodgings trade  (Esk Villa) and this is where we find the daughters of the family finding economic development. (Manchester) His sister in law Hannah Mary marries the nephew of Joseph Lawson [she married Isaac lawson in 1899 - in 1891 he is railway clark in Darlington, in 1901 he is Station master at Egton Bridge] the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton Bridge.  Her husband Isaac has been working in Darlington prior to his appointment as Station Master at Egton Bridge. The prizes won by Hannah's husband Isaac as Station Master in Egton Bridge suggest she that she too is into growing stuff  and good at it too. I imagine hanging baskets of flowers. The building of Esk Villa would seem to be aimed at developing the business side of  Holiday Lodgings - instead of the traditional family trade of tailoring and shop keeping.  [It seems highly likely that it is Frances, George Barker's 2nd wife, who runs this - it is her name in all the newspaper lists of visitors]

Looking at the connections and family and social grouping for John, gives an interesting picture.
His sisters in law, Hannah and Esther were talented musicians, both capable pianists and organists. Hannah was also a teacher and Principal of her own school. [Hannah is an assistant teacher or teacher in 1881 and 1891.  In 1901 Hannah Mary Lawson is living at 1 Broomfield terrace, Ruswarp, and is the first listed in the household of 2, but is given as "partner" to the head of household (who is presumably not present that night) and her occupations as "Principle Private School" working from home on her own account, with a servant Annie SDoyle age 18 born in Anglesy, living in with her.   Assistant ]  He married into a very musical family.  A family that educated their girls. I wonder why his wife Elizabeth was not so gifted? Or was she?   [I seem to remember newspaper reports show she was involved in the helping with entertainment events]  
 He mixed with the whole community  and I would guess this was important to him.
Looking at the work and opportunities for progression on the railways - John did not do so well? He is a signal man which is labour rather than managerial.  [but you did have to be literate to do asignalman's job - communications and train movements had to be logged in a record book, and it does seem to have been a pensionable job]]
Isaac Lawson, his brother in law, is a station master.

 John and his wife took in some orphans from Bradford. The Glenn family were adopted by them and appear either in John's home or in the home of his grown up daughters. When one of the  Glenn family dies from injuries sustained in action in the second world war there is quite a thing about it in the Press. Father in law George also seems to have an orphan from Bradford living with him and second wife Frances,  in the 1891 Census. Anne Starr born in Bradford. Is she a servant or a foster child?

I boggle at the accommodation needs of so many children, foster children, and summer visitors!

Lastly John is listed in a Trade Directory as a dealer in Earthenware when in Glaisdale ie 1890. That is a bit of an anomaly.He was a signal man at that time. Perhaps he also had a shop (he is down as a shopkeeper either 1881 or 1891 I forget.) How would there be enough room for a shop?

Joseph Lawson - the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton, he is a sportsman and was into hunting in his younger years.

John however, has no references to this kind of activity. In the old photos which we think were taken around 1867 ie the time of his marriage - he has a bowler hat. These details are significant of social class at the time. What does this signify?  [In 1858 at the opening of the RC church in Scarborough (or Whitby), he is described in newspapers as a "noteable" person.  In 1901 he is reported in the newspapers "At the Arncliffe Hotel: Mr J O'Keefe presents a silver albert and silver matchbox on Mr pearson leaving the district to join the Outh African Constabulary", and his obituary in the newspapers in 1915 make it clear he was a respected person.  Anuty kath thought of him as a "gentleman" and said his accent was more Dublin than Cork - but who knows!  I just wish someone had asked him about his Irish family.]  
 Elizabeth wears a blouse and skirt: she has a pretty  hat and a cloak. Remember that her father is a tailor by trade and a daughter at one point is a dressmaker.

If John's father was called Richard , why no Richard son? We understand that brother in law, Richard Barker was "the Black Sheep"  of the family -but Richard is present at many local gatherings and has office of some sort, he also had the tenancy of an Inn in the village of Egton [he is joiner's app 1871, grocer in 1881, joiner in 1891, at the Wheatsheaf Inn as innkeeper and farmer in 1901 [Etgon for all these), then in 1911 he is living at Old Boulby, Easington and is a mechanic at the Ironstone mines.  

Why no references to Ireland handed down by family?  [Was Elizabeth the dominant one?  from what aunty kath said she was quite a feisty character, so maybe his origins were not talked about?]

If John's father was a miller in any meaningful way, why cannot we find reference to this? It should leave an echo.   Was he exaggerating somehow, about the miller bit?  Was his father a farmer? With  a bit of an interest in corn milling? Not a man  notable as a miller.

Is the marriage record wrong as to name?  [I have often wondered if the name is wrong!]

[One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette.  Who is Peter Keefe?   Was he a relative visiting John?  A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker"  Again a tantalising record which might be a clue to relative of \John's.  There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887.  All his sons are potters at some time growing up.  His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at cannock.  ] 

The Dunwells

                                        John =Elizabeth  CLOTH MAKER
Harriet James William Job Emma Mary Benjamin

                             William =Alice Thompson LABOURER JOURNEYMAN BRICKMAKER
James John Mary Ann Rachel  others William

This family are in Holbeck South Leeds and William and family are there in the C1871 at 36 Pottery Place / Hunslet Hall.

 James however, is in Egton Bridge. That is a big jump. He is lodging with Mary Ann Roe  -shoe maker's widow.  He is a Labourer brick works - it would be likely this is at Grosmont where there was a Brickworks next to the Ironstone Mine. It does not seem that at that time that the Brick works belonged to the Dunwells.  His brother John is still in Leeds as a lodger in another family and he is a brick moulder.

James marries into the Roe family, one Margaret Roe in 1871 and she is the daughter of Thomas Roe a shoemaker of Egton. (Presumably deceased) as he is lodging with widow Mary Ann Roe in the 1871 census. (Did she have a little legacy I wonder?)

Ten years later James and Margaret are in Headingly Leeds at 20 Holderness Place with 7 children including Austin Dunwell and James is listed as  Brickmaker. Of the children we can see that 5 were born in Egton up to Margaret born in 1878. The youngest children are twins Lilly and Rosa born in 1880. The road seems fairly prosperous with a mix of trades and employment but not wealthy or prestigious.

In the next census however, we find James and Margaret back in Egton now living at the Mill house in Egton Bridge. References to the family in the newspapers include a drowing of a young man who was visisting with them, an accident to one of the sons at the Brickworks that sounds quite serious and also a fire which nearly destroyed the property. James is now a Brick Manufacturer and I think it must have been Alban who was injured as he is in the brick trade while Austin is a joiner's apprentice.

By 1901 this family have moved to 9 Dixon Terrace Darlington and James is now a Brick and Tile manufacturer, as are Austin Dunwell and two of the other sons. James dies 1907/8 in Darlington. His wife Margaret lists herself a Brick Manufacturer in 1911 and her son Austin is listed as an assistant. Margaret dies in around 1928.

Meanwhile James' brother John has married another Roe - Sarah Frances Roe in April to June 1880. (daughter Catherine is born quite soon afterwards in the first quarter of 1881). In 1871 as mentioned above he is lodging in Holbeck Leeds and is a brick moulder. We next find him in the 1881 census living with parents in law in Grosmont. John Roe is the Ironstone Mine Deputy and John Dunwell is a brick maker. Ten years later John and wife Sarah Frances live at the Brickworks with their 8 children and by 1911 the family have moved up to Low Leys and John is now a brick and tile manufacturer.

William Dunwell, the youngest brother of James and John appears in the 1901 census as the foreman at the brickworks in Grosmont and ditto in 1911. He has married Mary Brown born in Robin Hood's Bay and has a fine family with some interesting names.

I always remember Aunty Kath talking about Austin Dunwell. She never called him Uncle Austin. She just said Austin Dunwell as if that was a thing. Eliza Keefe married Austin Dunwell and went to live in Darlington. Full stop. Austen Dunwell wanted one of the Keefe girls. Full stop.

What we do know from the press articles at the time, is that our Austin was engaged to another girl, a teacher, and she took him to court for breach of promise complaining that he had been seeing another girl. Austin and his fiancee could not marry because she could earn more as a teacher than he could provide her with  -as his father only gave him a small wage.  He became engaged to Margaret Fitzpatrick in 1900 and she took him to court in 1913.  When examined during the court case, he stated that he had 29 shillings a week from the executors of his father's estate and that he and his brother managed the brickworks - presumably in Darlington. He did not marry Eliza Keefe until 1915 - during the war - after he had paid off the 60 pound damages awarded to Miss Fitzpatrick?-  and they were both in their forties. In 1917 he joined the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. He seems to have endured some bad health. In the photograph with Hannah Lawson he looks a bit sheepish. Eliza - a capable boarding house keeper in 1911 living in Chorlton Manchester and running a large establishment - I wonder why she threw in her lot, with Austin Dunwell.

The Dunwells also made bricks in Pocklington. 1900 to 1915, the manager was Alban Dunwell and the company was run by Trustees of James Dunwell.

We were walking around Grosmont and wondering where the clay came from for the bricks and tiles. On the old maps there seems to be a fair pit around the brickworks so probably there was a clay bed around the works. There was a sale of a bed of clay in 1859 connected to a Robert Jackson ( Oxford graduate? school teacher and later shop keeper of Egton Village). It is not clear if he owned it or was an agent. The clay bed was adjacent to the railway line - maybe this is the site at Grosmont but not necessarily.

Certainly the manufacture of bricks and earthware chimney pots, drains etc became very profitable during the second half of the nineteenth century with development a sure investment. In this part of Leeds, the wealthy mill owners lost their estates to the owners of the brickworks. They became the wealthiest people. (Inghams Cliffes). The ironstone mines in Grosmont were a big source of employment for the area and a big source of wealth for the owners. They were worked out and the brickyard became as important for local industry. Looking at the area today does little to indicated how industrial it was in the nineteenth century with the coming of the railways opening up lots of opportunities for trade and manufacture. Coal was needed for the kilns and bricks could be sent out on the railways.

We have one little factlet about John Keefe - in 1891 he is listed in a Trade Directory as an Earthenware Dealer. Does this connect him to the Dunwells? Or to the OKeefe Brickmakers in Youghal?

shopkeeper, grocers

At Egton Bridge in 1871 Census, George Barker give his occupation as Tailor, Draper and Grocer.
In 1881 Census he lives at Esk Villa and is a tailor.  So he is no longer a grocer or draper.

In 1881, George's surviving son, Richard gives his occupation as Grocer. He has a grocers shop which in 1882 he sells, along with tools and agricultural items as he is, "leaving the area".

It could be that this is Richard's inheritance at the death of mother Ann in 1871 or 1872.

Richard is back in Egton Bridge in 1891 this time living at Sandsend just along from the Barkers, with his wife's aunt. He is now a joiner.

In 1871 Census John Keefe, the son in law of George Barker, gives his occupation as Booking Clerk Out of Employ. In 1881 he gives his occupation as Shopkeeper. Not grocer. Shopkeeper. His wife Elizabeth is a Shop keeper's wife. They are keeping a shop.

Which shop?

Was this Richard Barker's shop in Egton Bridge?
Or was John employed at Botham's shop at the end of Arncliffe Terrace? Unlikely as the shopkeeper is clearly Mackridge.

Or another shop of his own?

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

Mount Keeffe

One of the Richard Keeffes to be found in Griffiths Valuation is a Richard Keeffe in Newmarket County Cork. Near Newmarket is Mount Keeffe, still extant, and also Newmarket House, once  the home of Richard Aldworth -  which is now called the Jame OKeeffe Institute.

Richard Aldworth became Lord Donerails. He is also associated with Rock Mills in Kildorrery. There are plenty of Keeffes and O'Keeffes in Kildorrery. Rock Mills is a village with...... a mill. A huge big mill.  The mill is later owned by a family called Oliver connected to the Aldworths by marriage. The Aldworths built the town/village of Newmarket.

Mount Keeffe is associated with lots of Keeffe's. Manus O'Keeffe and Charles O'Keeffe MD and Arthur O'Keeffe. Also Fitzgerald O'Keeffe of Spitalfield House.

This is the first find for me of a Richard Keeffe associated with Mount Keeffe and it is of interest. The date is 1842. He is listed as a farmer, he has become bankrupt and so maybe he lost the land? 
I willn try to find Mount Keeffe in Griffiths and see who owned it. The house and estate did stay in the Keeffe family.

It is the connection to Kildorrery that is interesting. It sounds a bit like Kerry, which was something Kath believed about John Keefe which does not make sense.

Rathronan Mills & a Richard O'Keeffe

Also in the Limerick and Clare Examiner February 1849 an announcement of the death of Richard O'Keeffe Esquire of Rathronan Mills Tipperary.

It's the best we've got so far.

But after this, no leads.

Rathronan Mills, according to William P. Burke in a History of Clonmel, was built by a Quaker Samuel Grubb as a bolting mill in 1791 at Rathronan 3 kms north of Clonmel. In 1793 it was leased to Robert Thompson and laster to someone called Chaytor. There is a full description of the mill in the above book, how many stones and other technical information. It certainly was "a thing". In Griffiths Valuation a mill in Rathronan was leased to John O'Connor. It may be that it was a late Valuation. I shall check that out.

There is nothing about any Keefe's at all in the Tithe Applotments or in Griffiths Valuation for Rathronan and in the 1901 Census there are four Keefe's in Rathronan who are servants. The same for Clonmel with very few families of the Keefe sort in the Census and no Tithe Applotment or Griffiths mentions. The only thing I have found is an O'Keeffe and Co, Grocers and Hotel Proprietors  (Bassets Directory of Tipperary 1889). But I am sure I have found more Clonmel Keefes in the past so I will look again.

A bit of background about Rathronan. It is not the resting place of William Smith O'Brien because unfortunately there is also a place called Rathronan in Limerick and he is buried there. My mistake.
Rathronan House is the residence of General Gough and various JPs and so on live there when he is on service in 1835 to 1850. He rents out his mansion house with its orchards, greenhouses what have you to James Scully and others. In 1827 some lands part of Rathronan are to rent with a good slated house which I don't think is Rathronan House and maybe this is where Richard O'Keeffe comes in but that is just speculation. As if this person just missed the Tithe Applotments and Griffiths too, thus leaving very little record. But no, an obituary of 1832 laments the death of Catherine, wife of JOhn Thomas Young Esq of Bantry and daughter of Robert Thompson Esq.  late of Rathronan Mills, who died aboard the Lavinia en route to Van Diemen's Land. We perhaps need the date of Robert Thompson's death to see how this fits in.

So that's not much.
 If it is our Richard then he died 1849 and we need a Richard who dies pre 1867 as on John and Elizabeth's marriage certificate.

I wonder if being know as of "Rathronan Mills" is a courtesy title thing, and perhaps, this Richard did not live in the area at all, or maybe in Waterford, Clonmel, Dungarvan... perhaps even over in Ballymacoda. Or Cork City.

!852 

Clearly two Richards in Rathronan Tipperary  - one has left a Will and one died intestate. Family are connected to Charles O'Keeffe and Charleville.

David Okeeffe Miller Youghal town. Troy family Fitzgeralds Muckridge

Well here is some more info on the Youghal Keefe thing. During this I wandered off into some Keefe family that lived in Rock Mills which turns out to be a village - with a mill of course but owned by the rich people .. which is where it always ends......

David O'Keeffe Merchant of Youghal  b.? d. 1870 ish

David was married twice. I have not found the first wife (this time, I am going over old old ground here) and Ellen Troy was his second wife. Ellen the daughter of John Troy merchant Youghal.
1835 They married in Youghal 1835 witnesses William and Ellen Cunningham.

Children found
1837 Peter born in Garrylaurence Imogeely Clonmult Cork to David Keefe and Ellen Keefe - this could or could not be David Keeffe and Ellen Troy. But hold on till the end. sponsors Edmund Keefe and Ellen Callahan. Probably not.
1837 Elizabeth  Mich Sullivan Eliz Fitzg. Y
1841 Margaret born in Catherine Street Youghal
1844 Mary born in QuayYoughal it will by Y for Youghal now...
1846 Margaret sponors John Troy and Mary Keeffe Y
1849 Ellen sponsors Richard and Ann Fitzgerald. Hang on to that    Y
1854 Mary Frances spn David Cunningham and Mary Keeffe Y
1863 Newsp, report death of Maggie Keeffe dr of David and Ellen Keeffe. Y
1868 Marriage of Ann  ?second daughter of David Keeffe to somebody Barber Edgecombe... of London son  of a doctor,  David went into business with him,  then dies  in 1870ish and then wife Ellen and Barber Edgecombe go bankrupt.  Another daughter marries a joiner and immigrates to New York where the trail goes cold.

OK so far so good.
Fitzgeralds are at Muckridge. Muckridge House - quite a posh lot with a pedigree and what have you found on line with a good google round.
In 1848 Muckridge House and lands in Copper Alley are for sale by auction and it is David O'Keeffe of Youghal to show the property or give details or what have you. The eldest scion of the house of Fitzgerald one Richard Fitzg. b 1800 ish -  was an MP  (He dies 1849) and he, as heir to his father Richard Fitz, has all the lands Muckridge and much more,  including an estate at Rathronan in Tipperary which is near Clonmel and connects to a Richard Keeffe miller who died in 1852.

In 1872 plus there are  repeated, attempted sales of the estate of the late David Keeffe which include some lands around Muckridge House and other properties which he has built. Copper Alley is a part industrialised area in Youghal and connects to David.

This connects David O'Keeffe merchant with the Fitzgerald family of Muckridge somehow.

Ploughing through a search for kinder of any David Keefe on Ireland Roots website I found another interesting family. Well, refound them as I have been down this road before.....

David Keeffe marries Mary Fitzgerald in Youghal in 1810.
Children found
1811 John b Y
1813 James b Y
1815 David  b Y
1819 John b Y
1820 Michael sponsors Mich Sullivan and Catherine Troy b Y
1822 Margaret spnsrs Buckley and Mgt Keeffe

And so back to Garrylaurence

One child born to a David Keeffe is
 John Keeffe born 1835 Garrylaurence sponsors John Callaghan and Ann Keeffe the mother is given as Mary Keeffe but might not have been a Keeffe by birth  (possible a Fitzgerald)
. If you look back above you have a Peter born 2 years later who sounds like he might be part of David/Ellen family but born in Garrylaurence.

So these two belong the same family with different mothers - as David Keeffe was a widower when he married Ellen Troy it might be the first wife was a Mary.

Just one more co incidence maybe.
Going back along the Fitzgerald family we have a William who married into a family called Strange. The Archbishop of England whose name escapes me just now that came from Waterford was the son of a Strange woman and he spent time in Waterford in his teens  in a place connected with the Strange family, not sure where now, I will have to look it up again. This Archbishop started the Nazareth Order of nuns in England. A Strange thing.

I have a feeling from earlier research that David Keefe and Mary Fitzgerald were in Garrylaurence... Griffiths valuation David Keeffe  111 acres  house offices land. Also a Catherine Keeffe with a small house next door.

So now I know lots more about Youghal Keeffe's although not sure where it gets us. One thing for certain there was a Richard Keeffe in Youghal around 1840 who petitions in Parliament around losing his vote in the election. But who was he, where was he born?

None of this connects to Cork City and St Finbarr's. If there is some connection to our Richard Keeffe miller it would have to be that he died fairly young and the widow moved to Cork City. But it gives us no connection to St Finbarrs.

All about as clear as Muckridge!

A little more about Rathronan
Griffiths Valuation
John Connor renting House Offices flour mill corn mill from Ths. Sml. Grubb (Grubbs are big Quaker milling connections)

And a little footnote about Richard Fitzgerald Senior of Muckridge, and Mooristown Kildare he married Ann Nagle a noted beauty in 1804 and she was lauded by the poet Lysaght.

A few days ago I started to write this and saved it but then, when I came back to finish off I could not find the draft. So I wrote it again. Then I managed to publish the draft which appeared suddenly, well anyway, in a general mess here.
But I am going to publish this too as it is part of the thinking together process and there is different information in both posts.
Ramble ramble ramble

So. Richard Keefe/Keeffe/O'Keefe ...etc ...... Miller?
It is most unfortunate that Cork is full of mills. There is a mill in every village and town. The place is full of fast, wild, waters that love to turn mill water wheels. In fact, Ireland is full of mills - paper mills, flour mills, tuck mills, linen mills, woollen mills, clay mills, industrial steam mills.......
What does "Miller" mean?
Windy Miller from Trumpton hauling sacks of flour?
A mill in Cork City?
Is Richard a Mill Owner or a mill manager?
Is he connected to a milling family? Does he work for the family firm? (John is educated = money and some kind of status or connection.)

Cork City has some mills on the River Lee. St Dominics Mill on an island ... mills at Cross Green. Nearby mills. On the Blackwater. Coachford. Clonmoyle.Brinny. Youghal.  Etc Etc. But every town has plenty of mills. It is like searching for a mill in a mill economy.

Is Richard a miller or as most wealthier millers were, also a merchant, corn, flour, animal feed, timber, earthenware, ...........
...... and there is also a ship connection. A seafaring tradition. Richard's son, our John, is reported to have some seamanship skills. Connections. Cork, Youghal, Wexford, Tralee, Ireland is full of ports exporting grain, butter, timber etc and importing coal.......

If you google enough you will find some notable Richard Keefe millers. Not in Cork City though. One family of Keefes were in Kildare at Rathangan and were a major maker of flour in 1782. They are recorded in Parliamentary Papers/Reports. Sadly in 1798 during a Rebellion,  British troops were quartered on them and the family lost so much feed and supplies that they were in debt and lost the mill. That is in Kildare.

There is a Richard Keefe miller in Rathmolyon (County Meath) in Griffiths Valuation with a mill that was so lacking in water power that it did not run for some of the year. This mill is
 lost.

A notable Richard Keefe was in Iffernock in the town of Trim in County Meath from 1845 ish to some time later..... a Richard who was celebrated for improvements in the processing of flour and who married into the Synott family of Waterford (merchants).

In Cork City we have a Keefe O'Keeffe at a mill on the river Lee and a Francis  Keefe probably connected and they have records around 1820 to 1840 for activities on the aforesaid river......well documented in various places..... St dominics Mill (distillery) and Crosses Green. Keefe has property on Main Street Cork (st Finbars) and there is actually a Richard Keefe in Main Street around the time of Griffiths Valuation.

At Brinny we have a John Keefe with a manager who was from Waterford and continues in the milling trade after the closure of the mill in Brinny.

There is a Helen Keefe who marries John Sherlock of Ballyquane Mills (Glanford Mills) and some documented history around this. They are connected to Woodville, Killshanig.

There is a Patrick Keefe at Ballyartella mills who has a lively history

And David Keefe with a clay mill, coal merchant, grain merchant, ship owner in Youghal with great connections and history around 1850 to 1870 .. connected to somewhere called Muckridge and so on so forth. His widow goes bankrupt around 1870 with the help of her son in law. One of the matriachal connections is Helen Troy,

Lastly we have a Richard Keefe of Rathronan Mills died 1852 and the mills...  later in the hands of a Mahoney and burnt down in 1880 something. Near to Clonmel and the burial place of William Smith O'Brien. Sentenced to be hung etc and then transported.

Notable, significant and recorded Richard Keefes are in Newmarket, Fermoy and Waterford. They are gentlemen, relieving officers, and so on.

And then there is Mooncoin.  Which has an extant mill and a history of Richard Keefes.

There is a John Keefe born 1838 in Ballymacoda Ladysbridge who was near a mill and near Youghal.

Millers

So what does "miller" mean in 1867 in rural North Yorkshire?
What would it mean in Cork, Ireland?
Does it mean something different in rural Cork and in the City of Cork.
Does John's father work a mill, manage a mill or own a mill?
Does he come from a mill owning  and or merchant family?
What does it mean to be a miller in 1820 after the Peninsular Wars and so on.. and Canadian corn being widely imported? During and after the Famine.
Was the mill a corn mill, wool mill, paper mill, wood mill, clay mill, water or steam?


Below I use Keefe generally as it is quick to type. Dates are not accurately given here, just general impressions.

Richard O'keefe is described as a miller on son John's marriage certificate. There is a corn mill in Egton Bridge and John's wife Elizabeth,  -her family live next to that mill. The mill is rebuilt in 1871 and there are variously people there who are the millers but who do not own the mill. John's son in law, Austin Dunwell - his family eventually live in the Mill house but are not the millers and information about them includes the record of a fire which near destroyed the Mill house but luckily they were insured. I wonder what John thought of all this. Did he take an interest in the mill in Egton Bridge or was he not interested in his father's trade. He is listed in  Trade Directory as an Earthenware dealer and the Austins owned several brick ones including one near Egton Bridge ie Grosmont. There is also a sale of a tilery brick works in Egton around 1850 which I can find listed but not see on the page of the newspaper. This might be what brought the Austins from Leeds to Egton around 1865.

This is all rambling by the way. Off the top of my head. So dates and details are not going to be given, just thoughts.

It is not possible to find a Richard O'Keefe, miller, in Cork that fits with John's history. It is not possible to find John's birth record at St Finbarr's in Cork. I'll come back to this later.

Are there any Richard Keefe millers in Ireland. Yes. Quite notable examples and some other connections.

Rathangan Kildare. Richad Keefe has a mill which is recorded in Parliamentary Papers which dealt with the amounts of flour produced and no doubt, coming out of Ireland. Napoleonic Wars and all that. These records are 1780 ish and in 1798 it is known that Rathangan was the scene of bloodshed and distress in the 1798 Rebellion. The mill and stores were used by English troops and no recompense was given and there is documented protest from the family and in fact, they lost the mill. They went bankrupt. It also appears they were distillers as well. What I know from looking at Yorkshire mills and millers and bankruptcy is that people pop up again and get into business again if they are that way out. But all this has no connection to Cork City.

Rathmolyon, Kilballyporter County Meath. Another Richard Keefe this time in Griffiths Valuation circa 1840 with a mill and property too. The mill is not a good one and has no power for much of the year. The man also goes bankrupt around 1850 but the mill is still in the family a bit later. A Richard Keefe of Kilballyporter dies around 1872 and leaves something in his will. Not connected to Cork City though.

Knock/ nock/ Iffernock/Ifferknock in Trim, County Meath. This Richard Keefe is a gentleman in the end and has family that make good connection - he also connects to Dublin as would any man of standing and some substance. This mill burns in 1850 but was insured and rebuilt. It is still extant but ruinous. But this is not Cork City.

Rathronan Mills -  1852 there is a reference to a Will of one Richard Keefe of Rathronan Mills (near Clonmel and in Lismore Diocese not too far from Youghal) Rathronan Mills were burnt down in 188something and at the time they were connected to Thomas Mahoney. The fire was malicious. This is not too far from Cork, there are no references in Griffiths Valuation to this man. There does seem to be a John Keefe major landowner thereabouts. Rathronan is the burial place of William Smith O'Brien, an Irish patriot and leader (Young Ireland movement maybe?) Although the Will says this man was of Rathronan Mills it might not mean that he lived at Rathronan. This is probably the best Richard Keefe Miller that we have right now.
.
Mills with connections to Keefes

Patrick Keefe - a mill in Ballymartle County Cork. This Patrick was litiginous! Around 1855 he immigrates to Australia or that way, and loses his family in the journey.

John Keefe - Brinny a corn mill with a young man from Waterford as manager seen in the Census of 1901  but goes out of business soon after that. Upton County Cork

Clonmoyle Mills Coachford near Cork - trade directory; D. Keefe, Clonmoyle mills - mills were not owned by Keefe's as far as I can make out.

Cork City - Crosses Green/St Dominic's Mill Keefe O'Keeffe miller on the River Lee - features in Parliamentary Papers and in newspapers in connection with problems of water and channel blockage on the river Lee. Also a bit of bankruptcy. In connection with Keefe we also have Francis Keefe Miller in around the same place/ date - only references are in newspaper. Keefe O'Keeffe is quite nebulous but features in Trade Directories and has another address Main Street in St Finbarr's parish. He also seems to be a merchant which was often the case, as millers might market corn or whatever they milled  and other stuff, and were into business opportunities and investment.  They might also be provisions dealers or bakers. Also, this Keefe and family, they were big distillers too. Big port, ships, trade and milling.

David Keefe of Youghal. Ship owner, coal and grain merchant, earthenware maker (bricks?) with Clay Mill, benefactor..... married Ellen Troy, owned Muckridge which was a big house in Youghal area. Not sure of date of death but his widow in conjunction with one son in law, went bankrupt... but  she is still listed as a Ship Owner after this ie after around 1870 ish. David has offices in North Main Street in Youghal and a mill and warehouses /coal yard on the harbour front. At the very least this Keefe miller gives us ideas of what it might be like to be a miller in Cork County in the middle of the nineteenth century. Connections might be John Keefe MP.

Thurles - Richard Keefe has a tuck mill there later in the century and the connection might be to Dixon Keefe of Thurles who certainly was a wealthy man with milling interests. The Horse and Jockey was an Inn with  a John O'Keefe running a grocer's shop in the village too. But the dates are late and so if this is our connection there would need to researching back which so far has produced no good connections.

Lastly in Glanworth John Sherlock of Ballyquane Mills in 1835 married Helen O'Keefe , he d 1862 and his sister Honora married a John O'Keeffe ... Woodville Buttevant. Ballyquane Mill was Glanworth Mill which has some information about it featuring in a Encumbered Estate sale .. Glanworth Mill is still extant complete with water wheel although Ballyquane might have one of a group of mills thereabouts in Glanworth.

So?
The best fit might be Richard Keefe d 1852 Rathronan Mills - this might be someone who had a mill but lived in a house in Cork City or whose family went to Cork City after his death.

But considering the St Finbarr information. We have Keefe O'Keeffe and Francis O'Keeffe milling on the River Lee in Cork City in St Finbarr parish with plenty of references to Richard Keefe(s) in the birth records at St Finbarrs just not for a son John in the right kind of date. IN Griffiths valuation one Richard Keefe (and there are not that many) is listed in Main Street City of Cork. There is a death of a Richard mid century ish who was a grocer provision dealer in Cork City. Actually I am not sure now but I will check. - Keefe O'Keeffe also has a base in Main Street Cork City. This would be much more fun as the connection to distilling is knocking around there.

That is all the Keefe millers I can think of offhand. Mill and Millers of Ireland provide a fairly complete list but I notice that Brinny Mill is not listed so there must be some omissions even in that expert document. Next I will consider all the possible Richard Keefe's that pop up in other guises but not today.

family bible mystery note

 John Keefe  -probably possibly a photograph of 1867 perhaps even a wedding photo. Age around 31 or if his birth date is 1833 not 1836, then he is 34.

 John Keefe in ? 1888  ( I am assuming Agnes has not been born yet?) with 8 children - a dynastic picture - not smiling now is he? He is between 52 and 55 years maybe.

 John Keefe in later life Karen may know the date and age. He seems to have had the same waistcoat his whole life.

 Elizabeth Barker presumed date 1867  maybe a wedding photograph, aged 21.

 Elizabeth Keefe  circa 1888 mother of 9 children, age 42

 The mystery woman holding a baby in the original photograph.... is she Elizabeth Keefe (Proud Grandma or Mary O'Keeffe nee Conroy, see below, mother of the baby?

 Mary Conroy pre 1901 - I assume. Born in 1877

Mary O'Keeffe nee Conroy - I don't know the date.

The photographs are engaging. John's date of birth might be a little imprecise. So how old is he in the photographs? Ideas about this would  help because it is not possible to find a suitable baptism at St Finbar's in Cork for 1836.
The photos of the mystery woman, is it Mary or Elizabeth?

This photograph shows all the family of Keefe's in Glaisdale, minus James who died circa 1883 (Will Mama ever forget him No Never) and little baby Agnes  is still to come. 

What can be read from the photograph?  I see a gap there in the back row for a little boy who would have been 8 years old. I would not be arguing with that toddler on Mama's knee. William looks like he might bite too. They must be wearing their Sunday Best - are they affluent or struggling? I also see a little Irishman with sad eyes, not quite so tall as his wife or maybe just sitting on a lower stool? Mary Ann and George look alike - the other children have a different face structure. The girls are all very pretty but I imagine they all wear black. Mary Ann and Helen, 20 and 18 respectively have their photograph taken together in the same costumes on the same day. Why was the photograph taken just here and now.  Why no smiles for the camera? Looking through other photos of the era online, they do seem a miserable lot, and it is hard to recognize the John who played at the Ball in his Quadrille Band and sang slightly risque songs at the Catholic Concerts in Egton Bridge. By 1991 some of the children have left home and only the four youngest children are still at home. ie Elizabeth, William, Frances and Agnes. 

Mary Ann and Helen Keefe circa 1888.

Photos below - from Monica O'Keefe's photo album, shared with me (Karen) by Wyn Simmons

Mother and Baby reverse says: To Willie and Molly from Nellie.  Is this Elizabeth Barker with baby William?  Is this why it's on the same page in Monica's album as the photo of John O'Keefe?