Cloonreliagh and Clooncalaghy Link

 

Clooncalgy Link

(by Wendy)

Unexpected connections are lovely little gems when researching your genealogy! 

Thomas shared with me a grave stone he found in Granlahan Cemetery, that read “In Cherished Memory of the Dempsey Family/ Cloonreliagh and Clooncalaghy.”

As I am in search of how my 3^rd great grandfather, Thomas Dempsey, fits into the family lines, I was immediately intrigued!

I first had a look at the Griffith’s Valuation Records for Clooncalgy, Clooncalgy more, and Clooncalgy beg.  No Dempsey is listed.

In the 1901 census, a Patrick Dempsy is found with his family in Clooncalgy. 

With a little bit of reverse genealogy, daughter Bridget was found to have a cancelled/changed birth record for January of 1899.  Her mother is listed as Catherine Kenny, and the town is Clooncalgy.  No birth record is found for Jane or William, but they are both in the census for 1901 and 1911. Bridget dies in 1902.

Jane was a somewhat unusual name for the Dempsey line, and I thought she would be easier to trace than her siblings.  Jane Dempsey’s birth record is missing at this time, but her marriage license does list Catherine Kenny as her mother.

Jane Dempsey is found to arrive in New York on Aug. 9, 1920.  She gives Patrick as her father in Clooncalgy, and she gives a Patrick Dempsey, brother, of 131 Jarvis Street, Toledo, Ohio as whom she is going to in the US. 

 

The Dempsey family of Toledo, Ohio was actually familiar to me, as I have DNA connections though this Patrick Dempsey (brother of Jane), to his granddaughter, Jean.  This is where I had my “AH HA” moment!  Brother Patrick Dempsey was the son of Patrick Dempsey (son of Thomas Dempsy and Bridget Monaghan) and Sarah Kilcourse (married 1877 at age 17). 

Patrick and Sarah/Celia have Michael in 1877 (8 months later), Patrick in 1881, Thomas in 1884, and Mary in 1886.  Sarah/Celia dies March 5, 1890 in Keyfield of likely Influenza, and Mary Burke (sister) reports her death from Clooncalgy.  

 

So Patrick is a widower in early 1890 with small children.  It is likely assumed he remarried quickly.  I assume this is when he marries Catherine Kenny.  Jane Dempsey  gives her birth as 4 Jan 1890 on her Social Security Application.  While Jane is always consistent with January as her birth month, the years vary: 1890 on her Social Security Application, 1894 on her marriage license,  1893 on her Passenger list, 1891 on the 1901 Census, and 1893 on the 1911 census. 

Patrick’s young children from the first marriage are not found in the 1901 census with their father, but with their maternal Grandmother Mary Jennings Kilcourse in Keyfield.

Patrick Dempsey, son of Patrick Dempsy and Sarah Kilcourse, immigrates in 1906 to Boston.  He lists his Aunt Winnifred Donnelly of Rhode Island.  She is his Great Aunt Winnifred Jennings Donnelly.  Mary Dempsey (daughter of Patrick Dempsy and Sarah Kilcourse), has already come over to Rhode Island in 1905 and had listed her “Uncle” Michael Donnelly (Winnifred’s husband). 

By 1910, Patrick is working for the Railroad and living in Ohio, and his sister Mary (married to Michael Horgan) is in Ohio as well. 

 

Another connection to tie the families together can be found in this record from 1884 in the Courts.  In the 5^th entry. The Dempsey, Kilcourse, Buck, and Page families seem to have some connections as well.  Townlands represented in this entry incorporate all the townlands above: Keyfield, Clooncalgy, and Cloonreliagh.  Don’t miss the 4^th entry where Thomas Buck says Mary Kelly “set” a dog at him!

George Kilcourse is the brother of Celia Kilcourse Dempsey in the 5^th entry.

More to come on the Buck/Burke connection later.  Others might be interested in the 6^th entry on the page of the Grady family. Lots going on it seems!

Of the Toledo, Ohio Dempseys:

Son (“Jim” Dempsey) and granddaughter (Jean Dempsey) of Patrick Dempsey 1881-1972 Toledo, Ohio

Courtesy of Katie

It’s a Small World After All…..