Thursday, June 10, 2021

Herlihys of Cloonkeen

Jeremiah Collins of Adrigool, a brother of my 2g-grandfather Daniel, died on May 4, 1903. Their baptisms did not survive and I am not certain if they had the same mother. (yDNA evidence is conclusive for a recent common paternal ancestor.)

Among the mourners listed in the Southern Star on May 9, 1903 at Jeremiah's funeral who were called "cousins" were:

Jeremiah Herlihy, Tooreen; Michael Herlihy, Cloonkeen; Denis Herlihy, do

Michael Herlihy died on November 10, 1903. He had been a National Teacher. He had been living in Knockaneagh with his family. His wife Kate Hurley had predeceased him in death the prior year. According to the Southern Star on November 21, 1903, the mourners at his funeral were:

...John and Thos Herlihy (brothers), Mrs. Leahy (sister), Ds. C., Daniel J., and Patrick J. Herlihy (sons), Denis, Daniel, and Jeremiah Herlihy, Ds. and Dan Leahy (nephews), Mary, Kate, and Hannah Herlihy, Maggie and Jane Leahy (nieces), William and Jerh. Herlihy, Lawrence, Jeremiah, and John Collins (cousins). Daniel and Jeremiah Hurley (brothers-in-law), Mrs. Young, Mrs Dineen, T Dineen (cousins)...

The Collinses listed were likely sons of the aforementioned Jeremiah Collins and another brother, John Collins. The John Collins listed was probably the one who had purchased a farm in Smorane in 1896 and lived there at the time of the funeral. (John married Elsie Roberts in 1909 and went back to Adrigool.)

Michael Herlihy's wife was Kate Hurley (1855 - 1902) of Coolnagarrane. Her parents were Daniel Hurley and Honora McCarthy, the latter a Sowney from Driminidy, her mother a Donovan. Kate's sister Ellen (1852 - 1930) married William Young of North Street, Skibbereen, in 1875, so Ellen is probably the Mrs. Young mentioned among his mourners. Another Hurley sister, Mary (1851 - 1935), married Timothy Dineen of Shreelane in 1874. That might explain the Dineens listed among the mourners, but if they are the right ones, it doesn't explain why they, and Mrs. Young, were not also listed as in-laws.

Michael Herlihy's ancestral family was from Cloonkeen. The parents were Denis Herlihy and Mary Regan, who married February 8, 1834 in Kilmacabea & Kilfaughnabeg parish. Witnesses were Cornelius Cahalane and Patrick Herlihy. The family records are Kilmacabea & Kilfaughnabeg R.C. Parish.

Son Patrick, baptized April 12, 1835, married Eliza (Bess) Brien of Ballyvireen on February 25, 1879.

Son Daniel was baptized August 9, 1840.

Son Denis was baptized December 14, 1842.

Daughter Johanna may have been baptized May 1844. She married Denis Leahy of Dromcorragh, Caheragh on Feb 18, 1875.

There may have been a daughter Catherine, baptized April 19, 1846. The mother is written as Cath, not Mary.

Son Michael was baptized April 13, 1851. He married Kate Hurley on May 7, 1886.

Son William was baptized April 18, 1853. He never married, and went to live at the Leahy residence in Dromcorragh.

Son Thomas was baptized April 7, 1855. He married Hannah Williamson of Knockskagh on February 2, 1895.

Thomas's twin John, also baptized April 7, 1855, married another Mary Regan on November 24, 1904.

The Collins obituary also mentions as a cousin Jeremiah Herlihy (1841 - 1908) of Tooreen. This is probably Tooreennasillane. The record of the marriage of this Jeremiah Herlihy to Johanna McCarthy on February 23, 1873 states his father was Denis. However, he does not seem to be from the Herlihy-Regan family of Cloonkeen. Maybe he was the son of Denis Herlihy and Mary Long in Skibbereen parish.

Other Herlihy obituaries tie the Herlihy-Regan family of Cloonkeen with the family of Patrick Herlihy and Mary Long (a different Mary Long) of Cloonkeen.

The records I was able to locate:

Son James, baptized July 7, 1834.

Son Daniel, baptized April 5, 1836. Married Hannah Donoghue on February 8, 1870. They lived in Milleenawillin and Derrylugga. Daniel died in November of 1914 (unable to find a death record).

Son William, baptized September 23, 1838.

Daughter Kate, baptized December 8, 1839. Married Denis Sullivan possibly August 7, 1863 in Cork South Parish. Kate died July 4, 1921.

Possibly a son Thomas, baptized around 1842. Unable to support with a baptism record. Married Ellen Carey on February 25, 1873.

Son Pat, baptized May 23, 1845.

Pat's twin Johanna, baptized May 23, 1845. Married Florence O'Driscoll on February 7, 1882 and lived in Kilsarlaght, Aghadown.

The November 28, 1914 Southern Star obituary of Daniel Herlihy of Milleenawillin, who died aged 79, mentions Mrs. O'Sullivan and Mrs. O'Driscoll (sisters). The details:

...The chief mourners were: Patrick, William, Thomas and Daniel (sons); Hannah and Julia (daughters); Mrs. O'Driscoll and Mrs. O'Sullivan (sisters); Florence O'Driscoll (brother-in-law); Denis and John, Stephen and Daniel O'Sullivan (nephews); John and Thomas Herlihy, Knockskagh; Thomas Herlihy, Smorane; Michael Herlihy, do; Mrs. J. McCarthy, Leap; Mrs. Cullinane, Leap; John McClean, Drisheen; Michael Harrington, North Street; Mrs. Nagle, do; Daniel M. Howard, Waterford; Mrs. O'Driscoll, Moultrahane; Mrs. Walsh, Derryleigh;, R. Long, do., etc. (cousins).

Daniel Herlihy was noted as a victim in the Land Wars.

The July 16, 1921 Skibbereen Eagle obituary of Catherine Herlihy Sullivan confirms her relationship to the same people.

These Herlihys appear to have also had a relationship to Cornelius Cahalane and Catherine Herlihy of Cloonkeen. I don't if Catherine Herlihy was a sister to Patrick (1800) and Denis (1808).

To double and triple check, I examined the obituaries of Mary Hourihane Collins (1837 - 1922), widow of Jeremiah, and also Catherine Sheily Collins (1833 - 1905), widow of John. There are no mention of Herlihy, Regan, Long, etc.

How the Adrigool Collinses and the Herlihys were related, if they were, remain a mystery. The Collinses were born decades before 1842, likely in Castlehaven & Myross, so their baptism records did not survive. The marriage records of these Collinses and the baptism records of their children do not show a single witness named Herlihy, Regan or Long. Available records for these Herlihys in the later generations have shown a few Collinses, but there are no obvious relationships to Adrigool Collinses.

Patrick Herlihy (1800? - 1875?) and Denis Herlihy (1808 - 1887) are modeled as brothers in the family tree below until more information is made available.

Any updates to this page will be added below.

  • HERLIHY PATRIARCH
    Unknown Matriarch
    • Patrick Herlihy
      1800? - 1875?
      Mary Long
      • James
        07 Jul 1834
      • Daniel
        1836 - 1914
        Hannah Donoghue
        • Mary
          30 Dec 1870
        • Catherine
          11 Mar 1873
        • Patrick
          22 Sep 1875
        • Johanna
          12 May 1878
        • John
          19 Sep 1883
        • William
          21 Sep 1886
        • Thomas
          15 Jun 1888
        • Julia
          08 Apr 1894
        • Daniel
          26 Mar 1897
      • William
        23 Sep 1838
      • Kate
        1839 - 1921
        Denis Sullivan
        • Patrick Sullivan
          15 Dec 1867
        • Mary Sullivan
          04 Apr 1869
        • Denis Sullivan
          12 Feb 1871
        • Jeremiah Sullivan
          03 Mar 1872
        • William Sullivan
          06 Dec 1874
        • Daniel Sullivan
          21 Sep 1879
      • Thomas
        1842? - 1931?
        Ellen Carey
        • Patrick
          22 Mar 1874
        • Mary
          29 Jan 1876
        • Jeremiah
          21 Jul 1878
        • Anne
          29 Aug 1880
        • Daniel
          04 Jul 1886
        • Michael
          18 Mar 1889
      • Pat
        23 May 1845
      • Johanna
        23 May 1845
        Florence O'Driscoll
        • Denis Driscoll
          1886
        • John Driscoll
          1887
        • Mary Driscoll
          1990
    • Denis Herlihy
      1808? - 1887
      Mary Regan
      • Patrick
        1835-1895
        Eliza (Bessie) Brien
        • Mary
          18 Apr 1880
          James Collins
          24 Sep 1876
          • James Collins
            28 Dec 1910
          • Patrick Collins
            10 Feb 1912
          • Michael Collins
            23 Apr 1913
          • Nora Collins
            03 Jun 1914
          • John Collins
            10 Jul 1915
          • Mary Collins
            15 Aug 1916
          • Elizabeth Collins
            06 Mar 1918
          • Hannah Collins
            28 Apr 1920
        • Catherine
          08 Jun 1881
        • Denis
          01 Mar 1886
        • Ellen
          01 Apr 1887
        • Daniel
          15 May 1888
        • Jeremiah
          06 Jun 1889
      • Daniel
        09 Aug 1840
      • Denis
        14 Dec 1842
      • Johanna
        May 1844
        Denis Leahy
        • Johanna Leahy
          19 Nov 1875
        • Mary Leahy
          27 Dec 1876
        • Margaret Leahy
          16 Jan 1878
          Henry Browne
          • Ellen Browne
            04 Sep 1914
            HURLEY
          • Margaret Browne
            13 Apr 1916
            GORMAN
          • John Edward Browne
            04 Oct 1917
          • Julia Anne Browne
            30 Mar 1919
          • Richard Ths Browne
            22 Nov 1920
        • Patrick Leahy
          Jun 1879
        • Jane Leahy
          Oct 1880
        • Ellen Leahy
          13 Nov 1882
        • Anne Leahy
          01 Mar 1884
        • Daniel Leahy
          20 Jun 1887
        • Denis Leahy
          01 Jun 1890
      • Catherine?
        19 Apr 1846?
      • Michael
        13 Apr 1851
        Catherine Hurley
        • Denis
          11 Dec 1886
        • Daniel
          27 Oct 1887
        • Patrick
          28 Mar 1889
      • William
        1853 - 1936
      • Thomas
        1855 - 1924
        Hannah Williamson
        • Mary
          25 Apr 1896
        • Denis
          1897 - 1902
        • Patrick
          01 Aug 1900
        • Michael John
          25 Sep 1902
      • John
        07 Apr 1855
        Mary Regan
        • Mary
          30 May 1908
        • Denis Patrick
          07 Mar 1911

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Daniel Sullivan and Margaret Keohane of Myross, redux

Back to the obituary of Johanna Collins Donovan (1826 - 1917), a sister of Daniel Collins (1814 - 1894), my grandmother's grandfather; of Jeremiah Collins of Adrigool (1821 - 1903); of John Collins of Adrigool (1818 - 1886), and other of their siblings. Descendants from the Sullivans of Myross were among the mourners at Johanna's funeral, listed as "cousins."

These Myross Sullivans were partially documented in prior posts here and here. However, the ancestral family, that of Daniel Sullivan and Margaret Keohane of Myross, along with their descendant branches, have not been presented comprehensively.

... Mrs. Pat Nyhane, Rosscarbery; Miss Eileen Barry, do.; Miss Francis Barry, Dungannon; Edmund Barry, do; Miss Maggie Daly, Froe ...

Mrs. Patrick Nyhan was Mary Agnes Barry (16 Jun 1880), who married Patrick Nyhane on October 28, 1913. Their family lived in Rosscarbery. Mary Agnes was the daughter of James Barry and Eliza Sullivan. Their family also lived in Rosscarbery.

Miss Eileen Barry (01 Dec 1892) was a sister to Mary Agnes.

Miss Frances Barry (b.c. 1887) married Patrick Fitzpatrick of Barley Hill on February 11, 1926. (I have not found her birth record.) Frances was the daughter of John Barry and Anne Sullivanl. Their family lived in Benduff.

Edmund Barry (10 Apr 1877) was a brother to Frances.

Miss Maggie Daly of Froe (17 Jan 1895) was the daughter of James Daly and Maria Barry. Maggie Ann married Timothy Lalor of Ardagh, Rosscarbery, on March 4, 1919. Maria Barry is believed to have been the daughter of John Barry and Anne Sullivan, born 02 Mar 1871. Maggie's parents married around 1893. I have not yet located the Daly-Barry marriage in civil registration.

Among the siblings of Anne and Eliza Sullivan was an older brother Thomas (1834 - 1918). His birth and baptism would have preceded the available Castlehaven & Myross R.C. records. He is a focus of investigation, because, of the all the known church events of the known children of Laurence Collins of Adrigool (1783 - 1867), the name Thomas Sullivan appears five times:

As a witness to the marriage of John Young of Derryclogh and Mary Collins of Adrigool, 30 Dec 1855.

As the godfather of Laurence Collins of Adrigool, 13 Sep 1857. Parents Jeremiah Collins and Mary Hourihane.

As the godfather of Nancy Sullivan, baptized 30 Sep 1860 in Castlehaven (probably different Sullivans). Nancy's mother was Catherine Collins, likely a daughter to Laurence.

As the godfather of Catherine Collins of Adrigool, 13 Oct 1861. Parents Jeremiah Collins and Mary Hourihane.

As the godfather of John Collins of Adrigool, 29 Dec 1864. Parents John Collins and Catherine Sheily.

There *might* be some Collins reciprocity among the Myross Sullivan records. There isn't much, possibly because many of the interactions would have occurred in Castlehaven & Myross prior to 1842, for which the records did not survive. For now, I am assuming it is one Thomas Sullivan and that it is the Thomas Sullivan from Myross. This may not necessarily be the case !

The family of Daniel Sullivan and Margaret Keohane

I have not found a surviving marriage record.

Thomas (1834 - 1918). Godparents unknown. He married Catherine Coakley 20 Feb 1873 in Rosscarbery. They lived in Myross. He died 19 Apr 1918, aged 84.

James 29 Dec 1842 godparents Thomas Sullivan, Margaret Hegarty.

Anne 22 Sep 1844 godparents Michael Sullivan, Margaret Power. She married John Barry 31 May 1870 at Union Hall. The family lived in Benduff. Their daughter Mary (Maria) is believed to have married James Daly of Froe about 1893. The Dalys lived in Froe. Their daughter Frances married Patrick Fitzpatrick 11 Feb 1926.

Eliza (1845 - 1939). Baptism record not found. She married James Barry 30 Jan 1877 at Union Hall. The family lived in Rosscarbery. Their daughter Mary Agnes married Patrick Nyhane of Rosscarbery 28 Oct 1913. Eliza died 07 Jan 1939 in Rosscarbery.

Owen 09 Oct 1846 godparents Jeremiah Donovan, Catherine Sullivan. Not sure if the name is indexed correctly.

Margaret 22 Mar 1848 godparents Daniel Collins, Johanna Collins. Mother indexed as Peg Sullivan. Margaret married Jeremiah Driscoll of Collatrum 08 Aug 1872. They were in Collatrum Beg, Aghadown in 1901.

William 27 Sep 1855 godparents Michael Sullivan, Mary Kelly.

It is unknown if Daniel Sullivan was related to the Michael Sullivan of Reen, who was married to Anne Barry. Their daughter, Eliza (03 Mar 1872) married a Collins man from Adrigool.

Any updates to this page will be added below.

  • DANIEL SULLIVAN
    MARGARET KEOHANE
    • Thomas
      1834 - 1918
      Catherine Coakley
      • Mary
        17 Jun 1875
      • Jeremiah
        11 Feb 1877
      • Margaret
        1879 - 1909
        Denis Donovan
        16 Apr 1874
        • Ellen Donovan
          20 Dec 1902
        • Margaret Donovan
          29 Oct 1905
        • Cornelius Donovan
          31 Aug 1907
      • Michael
        16 May 1881
      • James
        20 Jun 1885
      • Thomas
        28 May 1887
    • James
      29 Dec 1842
    • Anne
      22 Sep 1844
      John Barry
      • Mary Barry
        02 Mar 1871
        James Daly
        • Maggie Ann Daly
          17 Jan 1895
          Timothy Lalor
        • Michael Daly
          01 Apr 1896
        • John James Daly
          21 Apr 1897
        • Patrick Daly
          12 Apr 1901
        • Bridget Daly
          12 Sep 1902
        • Kattie Agnes Daly
          06 Nov 1903
        • James Daly
          1905 - 1907
        • Anna May Daly
          24 Aug 1906
        • Frances Daly
          1907 - 1909
        • Eily Daly
          13 Dec 1907
        • Peter Daly
          27 Jun 1910
        • Vincent dePaul Daly
          13 May 1912
      • Kate Barry
        28 Jun 1872
      • John Barry
        06 May 1874
      • James Barry
        02 Jan 1876
      • Edmund Barry
        10 Apr 1877
      • David Barry
        25 Apr 1879
      • Anne Barry
        21 Nov 1880
      • Michael Barry
        04 Apr 1883
      • Frances Barry
        1887
        Patrick Fitzpatrick
    • Eliza
      1845? - 1939
      James Barry
      • John Barry
        31 Mar 1878
      • Edmund Barry
        01 Apr 1879
      • Mary Agnes Barry
        16 Jun 1880
        Patrick Nyhane
        • Nora Ev Nyhane
          17 Nov 1914
        • Elizabeth M Nyhane
          03 Sep 1917
        • John Jos Nyhan
          24 Nov 1919
      • Lizzie Barry
        28 Oct 1888
      • Ellen Barry
        01 Dec 1892
    • Owen?
      09 Oct 1846
    • Margaret
      1848 - 1902
      Jeremiah Driscoll
      • Ellen Driscoll
        05 Jun 1873
      • Catherine Driscoll
        20 May 1874
      • Mary Agnes Driscoll
        24 Aug 1880
      • Daniel Jos Driscoll
        17 Oct 1886
      • Theresa Frn Driscoll
        19 Apr 1892
    • Daniel
      Jun 1852
    • William
      27 Sep 1855

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Cornelius Collins and Annie Collins of Derrylugga

Cornelius Collins and Annie Collins of Derrylugga 

I've been researching this family for a while, because (I believe) one of the children of Cornelius Collins and his wife Annie Collins was a friend of my mother's family. I've asked my aunt if "Cyril" was a relative but nobody knows. The research is complicated and muddy as Cornelius and Annie were a Collins-Collins marriage. In addition, the purported "cousins" listed as mourners in Cornelius's 1920 obituary look more like they were from Annie's family. I do not know if Cornelius and Annie were blood relatives.

Cornelius and Annie married March 2, 1897 in Skibbereen. They had the following children:

Denis Joseph, born January 30, 1898. Daniel Collins, grandfather, PAB.

Ellen (Lilly?), born August 23, 1900. Married a man named Hourihane in Tooreen.

Daniel Aloysius, born June 20, 1902. Died June 11, 1962, single, at his Hourihane brother-in-law's residence.

Bridget, born June 20, 1902.

Cornelius, born October 10, 1903. He was known as Cyril and was our family friend. He died in 1985 in Clonakilty, single.  His obit says he was "...survived by brother-in-law, cousins, and other relatives..."

Cornelius Senior died on May 1, 1920. Since the obituary of Cornelius appears to list as "cousins" people from both his and Annie's families, Annie's family information is listed below.  We'll start with her.

More about Annie

If the research is correct, Annie was born January 17, 1866, the only child of Daniel Collins and Mary Neill of Derrylugga. Her godparents were Patrick Neill and Anne Collins.

Daniel Collins and Mary Neill married February 28, 1865. Witnesses were John Hourihane and Patrick Neill.

Annie's Collins ancestry and relatives

Annie's father Daniel's parents were likely Daniel Collins (whom I'll call Senior) and Ann (Nancy) Regan. They probably married in Skibbereen about or before 1833. Known children included:

Mary, baptized October 27, 1833. Godparents Daniel Burke and Ellen Hourihane.

James, baptized April 12, 1835. Godparents Peter Collins and Mary Keating.

Anne, baptized August 4, 1842. Godparents John Riordan and Mary Regan. It is believed she married Daniel Crowley on February 11, 1871 in Skibbereen. She could have been Annie's godmother.

Andrew, baptized February 4, 1844. Godparents James Collins and Bridget Collins. This Andrew possibly died shortly after birth, because of another child named Andrew.

Andrew, baptized, April 23, 1846. Godparents Thomas Hayes and Catherine Deasy. Andrew was well-known in town. He was a Clerk of the Petty Sessions (CPS). He married Elizabeth ("Bessie") Davis on April 29, 1871. Bessie died May 27, 1906. Andrew died January 18, 1931.

Andrew and Bessie had a number of children, among them:

Patrick James ("PJ"), baptized April 14, 1872. Godparents Michael Collins and Mary Canty. PJ became a prominent, well-known solicitor. He died, unmarried, at age 43, in 1915. The local papers carried extensive listings of the attendees of PJ's funeral, a lot of them named Collins.

There are family trees on Ancestry that claim that Patrick came to America and sired a family.  Obviously, I think these are incorrect.

Margaret Mary, baptized October 23, 1873. Godparents Robert McCarthy and Lucy Davis.

Ann, baptized Oct 10, 1874.  Godparents Daniel Collins and Eliza Canty.

Daniel, baptized December 25, 1875. Godparents Bridget Kennedy and Daniel Collins.

The Skibbereen records are very difficult to read in the 1830's. Notice that Annie's father Daniel's own baptism is absent from the children listed for Daniel Collins and Anne Regan. So besides him there could have been more children, including a brother Michael.

Daniel's brother Michael married one Mary Burke about 1889, but so far a marriage record has not been located. They lived in Drummig. They had the following known children:

Anne, born April 4, 1890.

Mary, born May 11, 1891. She may have been known as Mollie.

Daniel, born December 1, 1892.

Michael died January 31, 1895. Daniel Collins of Derrylugga, brother, was present at death (PAD). Michael was only 53.

Mary Burke Collins, the widow, was in Drummig in the 1901 census with her children, a relative and a servant. Mary remarried, to James Walsh, on February 11, 1902, but was widowed again by the 1911 census.

Michael's son Daniel married one Julia Daly from Dromillihy, according to Julia's Southern Star obituary from January 24, 1959. Daniel's obituary is dated June 5, 1978 and mentions one daughter.

Annie's Neill ancestry and relatives

Mary O'Neill Collins, Annie's mother, was living with the Collins family in Derrylugga in the 1901 census. She was aged 69.

Mary died December 20, 1909. According to the death record, she was 83. That would make her year of birth roughly between 1826 and 1832. If this is accurate, she could have been anywhere from 33 to 39 when she and Daniel Collins married in 1865.

According to the Collins-Neill 1865 marriage record, her father was Phil, and she was residing in Rearahinagh. This townland happens to be split between two parishes, Caheragh and Dromdaleague. It is believed they lived on the Caheragh side.

There wasn't anybody named Neill (or O'Neil, or Neal) listed in Rearahinagh in the Tithe Applotment books, nor in the Tenure Book, which appears to have been enumerated on January 25, 1850. However, people named Neal were listed in the House books dated later that year and in 1854 - Catherine Neal and Patrick Neal. They are also listed in Griffith's Valuation, in the Caheragh side of the townland.

A Catherine Neill, aged 78, died on November 26, 1873 in Derrylugga. Catherine would have been born around 1795. Daniel Collins was PAD. 

Was this Mary's mother?

To make a long story shorter, the best fit I can find for Mary's nuclear family is:

Phil Neill and Catherine McCarthy
no surviving marriage record

Mary, baptized January 13, 1834 in SKIBBEREEN. Godparents John Peard, Sarah? Peard.

Bridget, baptized February 4, 1837 in SKIBBEREEN. Godparents Michael Pierce?, Peg Sullivan.

Cornelius, baptized January 18, 1840 in CAHERAGH. Residence Bauravilla. Godparents John Tobin, Catherine Tobin.

Catherine, baptized November 12, 1842 in CAHERAGH. Residence Bauravilla. Godparents John Hourihane, Jane Donovan.

Michael, baptized September 30, 1848 in SKIBBEREEN. Godparents John McCarthy, Honora Burke. This would be a bit of a stretch if Catherine McCarthy was born about 1795.

There were also a Patrick Neill, in Rearahinagh, married to Honora McCarthy. (Her name might have been mistakenly written as Margaret in one record). Patrick's parentage at this point has not been researched. Patrick and Honora's known children start appearing in the baptismal records in 1859.

There were also a Jeremiah Neill, in Rearahinagh, whose father was Phil, and who married Hannah Collins of Coornishal on January 26,  1864. Witnesses Cornelius McCarthy, Hannah Neill.  (Although I cannot unequivocally prove it, I think Hannah Collins had an older sister Mary who married Cornelius McCarthy of Lissane Upper. So Cornelius McCarthy was her brother-in-law. That's an entirely separate genealogy rabbit hole.)

Obviously I cannot make further dents in Phil Neill, and I have no real ancestral data on Catherine McCarthy.

This pretty much exhausts what I've been able to scrape up on the ancestry of Annie. Much of it remains unproven. Now on to Cornelius.

More about Cornelius

As previously stated, Cornelius died May 1, 1920. He was 63. Anne Collins widow PAD.

The 1897 marriage record lists his residence as Cunnicawn. This is Knockane. Apparently he went to live at Annie's Derrylugga residence.

The marriage record also says his father was named Denis.

The 1911 Derrylugga census shows that Cornelius had two nephews, Michael Hourihane and James Hourihane, staying with the Collinses.

It looks like those same nephews were in Knockane in 1901, the children of Michael Hourihane and Mary Collins. So far, I have not found that marriage record. 

The known Hourihane children:

Patrick, born May 19, 1886. Julia Collins, PAB.

John, born June 1, 1888.

Cornelius, born Jun 21, 1889.

Annie, born October 27, 1890.

Michael, born January 21, 1892.

Timothy, born March 25, 1893.

James, born July 21, 1894.

Kate, born May 20, 1896.

Ellen, born July 26, 1897.

Mary Collins Hourihane died 27 Mar 1905, aged 48. She was 42 in the 1901 census. So her Year of Birth was somewhere around 1857 - 1859.

At this point I proceeded on the assumption that Cornelius and Mary were siblings. From Cornelius's obituary, they also had sisters Ellen and Julia. By the 1897 marriage record, I am also assuming their father was named Denis.

There is a death record of a Denis Collins of Knockane, aged 70, dated February 22, 1896, with Cornelius Collins PAD. So this Denis was born about 1826.

With this information, I found the family of a Denis Collins and Jane McCarthy in Rearahinagh:

Ellen, baptized October 17, 1852. Godparents Andy McCarthy and Mary Donovan.

Mary, baptized March 17, 1854. Godparents Pat Neill, Mary Donovan.

Cornelius, baptized January 31, 1856. Godparents Cornelius McCarthy, Nancy Skuse.

Bridget, baptized January 31, 1856.  Godparents William Young, Jane Young.

Julia, baptized September 29, 1857. Godparents Andrew McCarthy, Ellen McCarthy.

There is an 1834 marriage of a Denis Collins and Jane McCarthy, but based on the baptisms above I don't think this is the correct marriage.

I think the correct marriage mistakenly indexes the bride as Rose rather than Jane. It occurred November 1, 1851. The bride's residence was Rearahinagh. Witnesses look like Robert Young and Ellen Young.

And there is a death record of a Jane Collins of Knockane, November 13, 1896, with Cornelius Collins son of deceased PAD. She was 72. If this was correct, that would put her Year of Birth about 1824.

Now I've hit the brick walls. There is not one Collins name among the witnesses for this family's church events. So there aren't any real hints for the nuclear family of Denis Collins. 

There is some evidence that Jane McCarthy was somehow linked to the McCarthy Sowney family of Rearahinagh.  Andrew McCarthy(1815-1897) of Rearahinagh was likely the son of Timothy McCarthy of Driminidy, and probably Catherine Donovan. Andrew's baptism predates available records. I can only speculate here, and further speculate that perhaps Jane was a sibling.

The best thing I can do next is look close to home (Rearahinagh) and at the obituary of Cornelius.

The Obituary

The obituary of May 15, 1920 states:

The chief mourners were - Mrs. Collins (wife); Denis, Dan and Cyril (sons); Lily and Birdie (daughters); Ellen and Julia (sisters); C. Hourihane (nephew); Andrew Collins C.P.S., Skibbereen; John Collins, Drominidy; Mrs. and the Misses O'Donovan, Skibbereen; Michael and Mrs. Collins, do; Dan and Mollie Collins, Dromig; Jerh. O'Neill, Mary O'Neill, Patk. and Mrs. Collins. J. Collins. Adrigole; D. Collins, do; J. and T. Collins, Coornishal; J. Clancy, Bauravilla; Peadar O'Hourihane Skibbereen; Miss O'Hourihane do; T. Crowley Hollybrook; D. Crowley, Bauravilla; Mrs. Young, North Street, Skibbereen (cousins).

The relationships to Cornelius are more obvious here: Mrs. Collins (wife); Denis, Dan and Cyril (sons); Lily and Birdie (daughters); Ellen and Julia (sisters); C. Hourihane (nephew).

These look more like Annie's relatives: Andrew Collins C.P.S., Dan and Mollie Collins, Dromig.

Mrs. Young, North Street, Skibbereen was Ellen Hurley Young, widow of William Young, and daughter of Daniel Hurley(1809-1879) and Honora McCarthy(1819-1891) of Coolnagarrane. Honora was the daughter of the aforementioned Timothy McCarthy and Catherine Donovan of Driminidy.

T. Crowley Hollybrook; D. Crowley, Bauravilla. I can't explain these relationships. There were a Patrick Crowley and Catherine McCarthy of Bauravilla, the latter from the aforementioned family of Timothy McCarthy and Catherine Donovan of Driminidy.  But I don't think these Crowleys are from that family.

John Collins, Drominidy. This one has me stumped. If this John is the son of Timothy Collins, then John, who was the product of a Collins-Collins marriage, was my grandfather's first cousin. John's mother was Kate Collins of Lissane Lower (1860-1889). John's father Timothy was the son of a John Collins of Driminidy. Timothy's mother may have been an Ellen Collins. 

J. Clancy, Bauravilla. This might have been Joseph Clancy, son of Patrick Clancy and Ellen Barry (m. 1895). Patrick in turn was probably the son of Joseph Clancy and Elizabeth Keeffe. A relationship to Cornelius Collins is not obvious. I am not sure of Ellen Barry's ancestry.

Peadar O'Hourihane Skibbereen; Miss O'Hourihane do. Joseph Clancy and Eliza Keeffe knew the Bauravilla Hourihanes. A relationship to Cornelius Collins is not obvious. I am at a loss here.

J. Collins. Adrigole; D. Collins, do."D" might have been Dan Collins, married to Ellen Whooley. His father was named Timothy. His mother might have been Catherine Hegarty, but I really don't have information here. "J" might have been John or Jeremiah Collins. John and Jeremiah were known to be my grandmother's relatives.

J. and T. Collins, Coornishal. I'm guessing these were probably Tim and John Collins. Their parents were John Collins and Johanna (Hannah) Cahalane. John Senior's parents are believed to have been Denis Collins and Johanna Hourihane.

There were a number of Collins families in Coornishal. The relationship to either Cornelius or Annie is not obvious.

Jerh. O'Neill, Mary O'Neil. These look like Annie's relatives.  Or were they?  Recall that out of one of the Coornishal Collins families, one Hannah Collins (also went by Norry or Johanna) married Jeremiah Neill of Rearahinagh on January 26, 1864. Jeremiah's father was Philip Neil. So there was a relationship to Annie.

The children of Jeremiah Neill and Hannah Collins were:

Philip, baptized November 23, 1864. Godparents Pat Neill, Bridget Collins. Died in infancy.

Mary, baptized November 22, 1866. Godmother Mary McCarthy.

Patrick, baptized March 5, 1869. Godparents Patrick Donovan, Honora McCarthy. He subsequently married Elizabeth Croston on March 5, 1905

Jeremiah, baptized March 27, 1871. Godparents Cornelius McCarthy, Johanna Collins.

Even now, I cannot tell which Neills the obituary references.

Working on the theory that Hannah was the daughter of John Collins and Joan (or Johanna) Crowley,  John and Joan married March 2, 1824 in Drimoleague & Drinagh. Then there was a gap in children's births, because any baptisms in Kilmacabea & Kilfaughnabeg before 1832 did not survive. Recall my earlier speculation that there was an early daughter Mary who married Cornelius McCarthy of Lissane Upper. If Hannah was a younger sister to Mary, the godfather of her son Jeremiah could have been her brother-in-law.

So many burning questions!

Could Denis, the father of Cornelius Collins, have been from any of the Coornishal Collins families?  John Collins and Johanna Crowley did have a son, Denis, in 1846, so maybe our Denis, father of Cornlius, was from a related family. 

Could Jane McCarthy been the daughter of Timothy McCarthy of Driminidy, and possibly Catherine Donovan, having been born before the start of Drimoleague & Drinagh records?

Could the Rearahinagh O'Neils been related to the ones in Trawlebane? This one is of significance to me, since I have DNA triangulation evidence between my aunt and uncle and two people descended from Trawlebane O'Neils. The matches with Trawlebane O'Neil ancestry are descended from the parents of Captain Francis O'Neil. Yes, that Captain O'Neil, whose statue is in Trawlebane.

Where was Phil Neil's wife, Catherine McCarthy, from?

Were Cornelius Collins and Annie Collins distant cousins?

And the big one - was Cyril Collins and either or both of his parents related to my family?


Cyril is in the picture below the right red arrow. The original was cropped from a larger photo of my mother's family. The man below the left red arrow is an unknown.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Followup on Donovan women from Lissalohorig

In a previous post I described the family of Denis Donovan of Lissalohorig and Catherine Collins, who was from Lower Lissane. That post suggested that Catherine was the daughter of Humphrey Collins of Lower Lissane and Johanna Barnane. Johanna was probably from Drinagh.

The known Donovan family consisted of six daughters and one son. So far, I have not been able to follow up on daughters Julia, Johanna, and Catherine and son Cornelius. Some information has been found about the remaining daughters.

The Bohanes of Killadery

Mary Donovan of Lissalohorig (b 1852) married John Bohane  26 Feb 1884. In addition to Killaderry, Castlehaven, it appears the family spent some time in Callaros Oughter, Goleen. Among their known children were:

Jeremiah (1885), born in Killaderry.

Patrick (about 1886, haven't found birth rec)

Norah, or Hanora (about 1887, haven't found birth rec)

Mary (1889), was born in Callaros Oughter.

The McCarthys of Mohanagh

Hanora Bohane (bc 1887) married John McCarthy 09 Feb 1922. The family lived in Mohanagh, Aghadown.

The McCarthys of Lissalohorig

Mary Bohane (1889) married Daniel McCarthy 13 Apr 1920. They were in Lissalohorig at the time. Their daughter Mary Philomena went on to marry Patrick Caverly of Cooranuller.

The Hegartys of Bluid West

Hanora Donovan of Lissalohorig (1855) married Daniel Hegarty of Bluid 10 Feb 1891.They had a son John (bc 1892, haven't found birth rec) and a daughter Maria (b 1895). This family was in the 1901 census.

By 1911, Daniel Hegarty was a widower.

Daughter Maria Hegarty married Denis McCarthy 24 Nov 1927.  They may have lived in Angram and had a number of children, but this line of investigation has not yet been pursued.

The Lordans of Drishanebeg

Ellen Donovan of Lissalohorig (1864) married Cornelius Lordan of Drishanebeg 29 Jan 1898. As far as is known, they had one son, Patrick John, about 1901.









Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The Mahony ancestors of Captain Francis O'Neill

Captain Francis O'Neill, the famous Irish musician and Chicago policeman, was from Trawlebane in Caheragh parish. There is an organization devoted to preserving his memory, including the memorial in Trawlebane.

He was baptized Daniel on August 30, 1848, the youngest child of the family of John O'Neill and Catherine Mahony, who married in Caheragh on April 6, 1834. The Mahonys resided in Kealanine, near Castledonovan.

Catherine's father was known as Daniel O'Mahony Ciánagh Mór. The family were known for their love of music. (I think this is all documented in Captain Francis O'Neill's book on Irish Folk Music. Check the web and Google book archives.)

Catherine's mother was known only as Mary Mahony. I cannot tell if that was also her maiden name. Daniel and Mary both died about 1857. They were eventually interred in Enniskeane. I do not know if that is where these Mahonys were originally from.

The marriage record for Daniel and Mary as well as the baptism records of their children probably have not survived. I did a search for Mahonys as witnesses in the records of the Trawlebane O'Neill family, as well as other Mahonys out of Kealanine, wondering if perhaps they could have been relatives of Catherine.

A Daniel Mahony and a Mary Mahony witnessed the 1834 marriage of John O'Neill and Catherine Mahony.

John Mahony was godfather to Philip O'Neill on January 27, 1835.

Mary Mahony was godmother to Mary O'Neill on July 6, 1836.

Daniel Mahony was godfather to Michael O'Neill on January 15, 1841.

Ellen Mahony was godmother to Catherine O'Neill on September 19, 1843.

____

A John Mahony married Margaret Hourihane in Drimoleague & Drinagh on March 3, 1840, before witnesses Daniel Mahony and Pat Hourihane. They lived in Kealanine.

The children I could find are Daniel, January 19, 1841 with godparents Daniel Mahony and Mary Mahony; Mary, February 10, 1842, with godparents Daniel Mahony and Ellen Mahony; and Margaret, August 30, 1846, with godparents James McCarthy and Bess Hourihane.

____

A Norry Mahony from Kealanine married Tim Canty February 22, 1838, with witnesses Daniel Mahony and Tim Canty.

Tim Canty the bridegroom may have also gone by John. **If that is correct**, records show them in Dromasta and Kealanine, and the known children include Margaret Canty, October 28, 1843, godparents Jeremiah Canty and Mary Sweeney; Curly (Cornelius?) Canty, November 13, 1845, godparents Paddy Canty and Mary McCarthy; Ellen Canty, May 21, 1848, godparents Andrew McCarthy and Johanna Mahony; and John Canty, April 25, 1852, godparents Daniel Mahony and Honora Mahony.

____

A Johanna Mahony married Andrew McCarthy (Sowney) on February 12, 1839, witnesses Daniel Mahony and Mary McCarthy. (I might have Johanna's death record as February 7, 1907, putting her birth year about or before 1821.) Ellen Mahony was godmother to Charles McCarthy baptized September 11, 1840; Dan Mahony was godfather to Johanna McCarthy baptized February 3, 1850.

____

I have not yet found obvious marriage data for Mary (O'Neill godmother, 1836) or Ellen (O'Neill godmother, 1843).

The O'Mahonys in the ancestry of Captain Francis O'Neill have NOT been conclusively identified in this research expedition. But the data could be circumstantial evidence of a sibling relationship between Catherine Mahony O'Neill, John Mahony, Norry Mahony Canty, and Johanna Mahony McCarthy. There is also some encouraging genetic data from known descendants of Johanna Mahony McCarthy and Catherine Mahony O'Neill showing an excellent match (centiMorgans in the low triple digits). However, rural Ireland being what it is, these two DNA test takers appear to be related in multiple ways. Genetically isolating the Mahony relationship - if there is one - is just not possible with the data currently available.

There are other Mahonys who resided in Kealanine, but their records don't exhibit obvious familial ties to the aforementioned Mahonys. Much more evidence is needed to make a case for the family of Catherine Mahony O'Neill, but at least this is a start.





















Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Sweeneys of Lakelands

John Sweeney married Ellen Hurley on February 22, 1846 in Skibbereen. Witnesses were Michael Hurley and Daniel Hurley.

It is believed Michael and Daniel were Ellen's brothers. The extended family is being modeled on the assumption that Ellen was baptized January 22, 1815 and that her parents were John Hurley and Jane McCarthy. There are no baptism records to confirm the parentage of her assumed siblings.

The Sweeneys resided in Lakelands and Kilnaclasha. Their known children were:

Eugene bap. 01 Mar 1847, godparents Daniel Hurley and Mary Sweeney
Michael bap. 29 Apr 1849, godparents Michael Hurley and Catherine Sweeney
John bap. 12 Aug 1851, godparents James Barrett (Barnett?) and Catherine Sweeney
Daniel bap. 13 Aug 1854, godparents Daniel Hurley and Mary Sweeney
Ellen bap. 18 Mar 1858, godparents Michael Hurley and Mary Hurley
Patrick bap. 16 Apr 1862, godparents Patrick Hurley and Ellen Sullivan

Mary Hurley was probably a sister, married to Jeremiah Driscoll before 1839. Daniel Hurley, an assumed brother, married Honora McCarthy in 1850. Michael, another assumed brother, married Bridget Cahalane in 1838.

Eugene Sweeney was a godfather to a relative, Kate Hurley of Coolnagarrane, on September 30, 1878.

Ellen Hurley Sweeney died October 11, 1879 in Kilnaclasha, a widow. Patrick Sweeney, the informant, was presumably the youngest son.

One of the problems with researching this family is that there was a doppelganger family in Letter (Clooncugger), and it is easy to get the two families mixed up since they resemble each other so closely.

Eugene's doppelganger married a Catherine Regan in 1883. There is a record of Eugene Sweeney, deceased father John, marrying Mary Duggan in 1886.

After that, the Sweeney trail goes ice cold.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Thomas Sullivan and Catherine Coakley of Myross

Thomas Sullivan certainly looks like a son of Daniel Sullivan and Margaret Keohane. Thomas died 19 Apr 1918, aged 84. That puts his birth year back to about 1834, predating the availability of Castlehaven & Myross baptism records. From a civil registration record, we know that Thomas, and Catherine Coakley, married 20 Feb 1873. He was from Myross, she was from Maulatanvally in Ross. His father was Daniel.

Their known children:
  • Mary bap 17 Jun 1875 godparents Daniel Sullivan, Ann Coakley
  • Jeremiah bap 11 Feb 1877 godparents William Sullivan, Mary Hill, birth 11 Feb, Bridget Collins Myross P.A.B.
  • Margaret (written Mary) bap 01 Sep 1879 godparents __ Coakley, Ann Barry, birth 10 Sep, Johanna Driscoll Myross P.A.B.
  • Michael 16 May 1881, Mary Driscoll P.A.B.
  • James 20 Jun 1885, Bridget Collins Myross P.A.B.
  • Thomas 28 May 1887

Notice Ann Barry the godmother in 1879. She was probably the Ann Sullivan mentioned in the prior post. If I am correct she was a younger sister of Thomas Sullivan.


The Johanna Collins Donovan of Ardagh, mentioned here, was a daughter of Larr Collins of Adrigool. Among her brothers were Jeremiah and John and among her sisters was a Catherine Sullivan, who married another Daniel Sullivan and lived in Laherdane.

A man named Tom or Thomas Sullivan was a godfather for Laurence Collins of Adrigool baptized 13 Sep 1857 in Skibbereen; Nancy Sullivan of Laherdane baptized 30 Sep 1860 in Castlehaven & Myross; and John Collins of Adrigool baptized 29 Dec 1864 in Skibbereen. They were all grandchildren of Larr (d. 1867 in Adrigool).

It certainly looks as if the Collinses of Adrigool had Sullivan relatives from Myross, but the exact nature of the relationship remains unclear.

Herlihys of Cloonkeen

Jeremiah Collins of Adrigool, a brother of my 2g-grandfather Daniel , died on May 4, 1903. Their baptisms did not survive and I am not certa...