Sunday, November 21, 2021

Ellen "Nellie" Flynn Durney b 1865 Kilkenny d 1951 Jerseyville

 Catherine Quinn was the youngest child of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald. She married Patrick Flynn in Ireland and did not come to America with the rest of her family. But they surely kept in touch by letter as several of her children did emigrate to America.


Her daughter Ellen "Nellie" Flynn was born on 15 May 1865 and baptized in Kilmacow Parish, Kilkenny.



According to the 1830 census, Nellie attended school until she finished 6th grade. She reported to the census that she came to America about 1881, when she was still a very young teen. She married her cousin, John Durney, who was the son of James Durney and Margaret Quinn (sister of Thomas Quinn.)

The couple had three children but only two survived; Margaret born 30 April 1889 in St. Louis, and Mary "Mayme" born in March 1895. John Durney died suddenly on 16 January 1900 and was buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Jerseyville. He was buried with his parents.



Nellie was a young widow with two daughters. She moved in to keep house for her uncle, Richard Quinn, in Jerseyville.


In 1910, she was caring for both her 80 year old uncle, Richard Quinn, and his 78 year old sister, Mary Quinn Cuddihey at 405 Hollow Ave. in Jerseyville.

In 1920 she was still caring for her uncle, and her daughter Maymie, age 24, was living with them and working as a saleswoman at a dry goods store.

Richard Quinn must have left her the house when he passed away in ? as on the 1930 census she is shown as owner of the house, valued at $800, and only occupant of the household. She was still living in the house in 1940, when she reported her age as 73.

Nellie Flynn Durney died on 15 January, 1951. at her home in Jerseyville. She was given a requiem high mass at St. Francis and was buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery on January 17. Her daughters were listed as Mrs. Dave Tarkington of Chicago and Mrs. Mayme Durney Exposite of Brooklyn, NY.







Monday, June 21, 2021

Kelly, the Boy from Killane

 

If you go to an Irish Pub, you may hear the ballad of  "Kelly, the boy from Killane."

His story began at the Battle of New Ross, which took place less than twelve miles from the homes of our Quinn and Fitzgerald ancestors in Kilkenny, on June 5, 1798.

Our immigrant ancestors, born in the early 1800's, would have heard the story of this epic battle from their parents and grandparents, some of whom may well have taken part in the battle. 

Our Quinn ancestors were living at Rathnasmolagh near Mullinavat.  Our immigrant ancestor John Quinn was 3 months old at the time of the battle, his sister Margaret was two years old. Living nearby, in Rathlikeen/Rahillakeen were our Fitzgerald ancestors. Richard Fitzgerald (who would marry Margaret Quinn and also emigrate to Jerseyville, Illinois) was five years old at the time of the battle. We do not yet know the names of their parents, but we can imagine how they felt as the rebellion came so close to their isolated rural homes.



The news of this great battle had to bring the families both great hope and terrible fear. Hope for a free Ireland, and fear of British reprisals. From ten miles away they could hear the booms of the cannons. Some may have climbed to the top of Tory Hill, where the smoke from the burning town of Ross could be seen. Eye witness accounts and word of mouth rumors would have soon reached the town of Mullinavat and spread through the countryside. Some of the Irish rebels may have come home to tell the story. The details of the battle were grisly. 

Over 50,000 Irishmen took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798- an attempt to take back control of Ireland from its British oppressors. At the time of the battle of Ross, The United Irishmen had control of County Wexford and had defeated the British garrison at the town of Wexford on Mary 30.  Next they wanted to spread their control to neighboring Kilkenny.

 On June 5, 1798, ten thousand Irishmen advanced on the British garrison at Ross (now New Ross) just across the River Barrow from Kilkenny. An Irish soldier carrying a white flag in an attempt to negotiate a surrender of the 2,000 British troops there was shot down by them. After this atrocity, John Kelly led a charge of 500 of the Irishmen through the Three Bullet Gate of New Ross, aided by a herd of cattle which they drove before them. 


Three Bullet Gate- Philip Hore, History of the Town and County of Wexford. Vol. I Old and New Ross

The British soldiers within the town were well armed with rifles and cannons but the Irish, armed mostly with pikes, still managed to seize most of the town. However British reinforcements arrived forcing them to withdraw. Rather than pursuing the Irish army, the British began a massacre of both trapped Irish rebels and innocent civilians within the town. Irish casualty stations were set on fire, with hundreds of the injured trapped inside and burned alive. Records show that about 2,800 Irish rebels were killed, with a loss of 200 British soldiers. After the battle, most of the dead rebels were thrown into the River Barrow or buried in a mass grave outside of the town walls. 


The Battle of Ross by George Cruikshank 

John Kelly, the brave leader of the attack at Ross, met a horrific end. Wounded during the retreat, he was recuperating in Wexford when he was arrested, dragged from his bed, and sent to trial where he was sentenced to death. He was hung with other rebel leaders on Wexford bridge on June 25, then decapitated with his body thrown into the River Slaney and his head kicked through the streets before being set on a pike for display.

But the United Irishmen did not give up the fight. (See Battle of Vinegar Hill Post)

History of the Three Bullet Gate in New Ross

A famous Irish ballad written by Patrick Joseph McCall is about John Kelly and the Battle of Ross.

"Kelly the Boy From Killane"

Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford is won
And tomorrow the Barrow we will cross
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway to Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men will march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly the boy from Killane



More to read and hear:

Ballad of Kelly the Boy from Killane - Sean Cannon and the Dubliners


New Ross history and Kennedy









Saturday, September 26, 2020

Fitzgerald/Quinn DNA matches - two Fitzgerald siblings married two Quinn Siblings

My ancestry DNA matches led to another discovery.


My ancestor Mary Fitzgerald (1791-1864) married John Quinn (1789-1874) on August 26, 1815. (Records at St. Mary's, Kilkenny City) Witnesses were Richard Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Murphy. The bride's residence was "Rahalickeen" (Rahillakeen)

We have close DNA ties to the descendants of Richard Fitzgerald (1784-1877) who married Margaret Quinn (1787-1873) in February 1812.(Records St. Mary's Kilkenny City) Witnesses were John Power and James Butler.
The brides residence was Ranasmolagh. Parish noted as Kilmacow. (Roth's House Trust Kilkenny)

* Need to check marriages and births for these townlands to search for parents and other siblings*

It appears that Richard Fitzgerald and Mary Fitzgerald were siblings from Rahillakeen  and that John Quinn and Margaret Quinn were siblings from Rathnasmolagh (Kilmacow Parish)
Ranasmolagh and Rahillakeen are adjacent townlands in Dunkitt Civil Parish. The marriages took place in Kilmacow Catholic Parish.

* need to check census and past residence docs

St. Paul's Church and Bigwood Cemetery are found in Rathnasmolagh, Mullinavat.



Richard Fitzgerald and Margaret Quinn's children were:

John b 1816- children Michael b 1833 and John b 1842
Bridget 1818-1908 m Michael Cleary in McHenry Ill. 1850
Mary Jane 1823-1916 m Martin Fleming in Jerseyville 1854
Richard died 1906 m Ann Long in Jerseyville 1859
children: Maggie b 1865 , Mary b 1870, James b 1872

John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald's children were:
 Ellen b 1816 m John Welch (both from Mullinavat- child Bridget born 25 Jan 1839 in Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish, Mary b 28 feb 1846 bigwood, Mullinavat parish, Peter b 1850, Wm born feb 1 1860 McHenry Ill, Charles, Ellen
Patrick b 1820 m Katherine Joyce
Thomas b 23 dec 1823/7 m Ellen Kinsella 1859 Jerseyville
Margaret b 1824 m James Durney (son of Daniel Durney and Anna Walsh)
Richard b 1830 may 19
john b 1833
mary b 1833 m john cuddihay jerseyville
catherine b 1840 stayed in ireland married patrick flynn died grannagh- granny ferry (Aglish) kilkenny in 1900 - family stayed in granny except catherine who came to Jerseyville to marry




Timeline:
(can get marriages from roths house trust from 1798 on for a fee)


1789- john quinn born  (died march 18, 1874  age 85)
1791- mary fitzgerald quinn born (died nov 7, 1864 age 73)
1815- Aug 26- John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald married Kilmacow Parish, address Rahillakeen, witnesses Richard Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Murphy
1816- Ellen Quinn born
1820-patrick quinn born(died 1886 age 66)
1823- Thomas Quinn born (may be 1827)
1824- Margaret Quinn born
1825- tithe applotment shows a John Quinn in Ballyhomuck
1830-richard quinn born (died 1922 age 91)
1833-john quin born (died 1883 age 50)
1833- Mary Quinn born
1840- Catherine Quinn born








1825 tithe Rathnasmoola -   http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587436/004587436_00214.pdf
Thomas Durney
Edward Poor (Power)
***Wm Dogherty (husband of Eleanor Quinn) married 1810
Patrick Gaul
renting from Major Gahan


1825 tithe Rallikeen
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?county=Kilkenny&parish=Dunkitt&townland=Rallikeen&search=Search
Michael Fitzgerald
Widow Grace, John Grace
Edmd Slone
Wm John Dermody
Widow and John Vereker
Andrew Dwyer
renting from Counselor Dobbyn

1825 tithe ballyhomuck
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?county=Kilkenny&parish=Dunkitt&townland=Ballyhomuck&search=Search
Tom Walsh
John Grace
James Grace
Patrick Fitzgerald
John Quinn
Wm Dogherty (b 1768 d 1852) (husband of Eleanor Quinn b 1790 d aft 1852) both from rathnasmologh
James Butler (wedding witness for Richard Fitzgerald)
George Knowlan
Stephen Halligan
Laurence Newton
Michael Walsh
Patrick Walsh
John Quigly
Renting from counselor dobbyn

Griffiths Ballyhomuck
22 inhabitants including
Edward Grace 48
Peter Doherty 27
Ellen Fitzgerald 10
John Power7-leases to James Ryan, Michael Keefe,
Walsh-Thomas 49, Thos Walsh Jr 49, Catherine Walsh- leases to John Power, Wm 2, John 1, 16, ,6,
James Cleary

Dunkitt Civil Parish-
Fitzgeralds:
Rallikeen- Michael Fitzgerald
Ballyhomuck-Patrick Fitzgerald
Rahard- Patrick Fitzgerald, Grace Fitzgerald
Quinns:
Ballyhomuck- John Quinn
Ballykillaboy- Thomas Quin 30 with house to Elizabeth Gaul, John Quin 30

* check griffiths valuation
look for baptismal sponsors on griffiths

Griffiths (1849-1850)

Dunkitt Civil Parish

Rahillakeen (reps mi dobbin esq)
map with links to Griffiths and Census-https://www.townlands.ie/kilkenny/ida/rossinan/rahillakeen/

128 together-
John Murphy, Edward Grace, John Grace, Martin Walsh, Patrick Fitzgerald
Mary Fitzgerald had 29 acres and leased to Robert Wall and Michael Dermody
Catherine Murphy had 49 acres and leased a house to anastasia walsh and a house and garden to john vereker,
michael walsh 18
mathias grace- garden
patrick dwyer- house and garden
patrick dermody 2
john hynes 2

rathnasmolagh
 reps bers gahan, sir j newport, thomas hunt
together-65 acres- edward power
patrick walsh- house from edward power and peter doherty
together- 36 acres- edward power and john durney
vacant land, houses- edward power and john durney
ellen walsh and john walsh- house and garden from edward power and peter doherty
john durney- 67 acres from reps gahan, newport, and hunt esq
john durney from morgan esq- 4 acres
john quin from john power- house and garden
mark frisby from john durney- house and garden
peter doherty 67 acres
peter doherty and edward power leased to: michael dwyer, richard corcoran and john power (wedding witness for richard fitzgerald)
john nowlan 2
thomas halligan 48
patrick hanlon leased to patrick walsh, maurice murphy, peter moore
Richard Doherty 3 acres, lease house and garden to Richard Ftizgerald next to the RC Chapel and National school
John Durney leased to James Keily and Walter Delahunty

Ballyhomuck-
map with links to Griffiths and Census - https://www.townlands.ie/kilkenny/ida/dunkitt/rossinan/ballyhomuck/

renting from reps mi dobbin esq= most very poor- only a few acres or only a house and garden
Fitzgerald- Ellen (house and land) 10
Grace- Edward 48
Power- Patrick (house)
Butler- Edward (house and land) Michael 2
Walsh- Thomas, Thomas Jr, John, Wm, Catherine, Patrick
Nicholas Vereker
James Cleary
John Nowlan
James Tobin
Peter Doherty
Thomas Lahy
Michael Corcoran

Ballykeoghan
Patrick power 35
Thomas Walsh 81, john walsh 35

Ballykillaboy
map with links to Griffiths and Census
https://www.townlands.ie/kilkenny/ida/rossinan/ballykillaboy/

Thomas Quin (#4 ABCaD) and John Quin (#5 ABa) lived next to each other, each renting 30 acres from the representatives of Beresford Gahan and Thomas Boyee, esq.
Thomas Quin subleased a house and garden to Elizabeth Gaul (likely a relative.)
John Quin subleased a house and garden to Thomas Murphy (likely a relative)

John Quin's land at #5 B was a large piece that bordered the road and the town of Ballykillaboy, which at the time of Griffith's had a dozen or so homes, and a section of woodland. Today this is just east of the M9. #5A bordered a stream and the townland of Ballyhomuck.

Thomas Quin's land at #4A was next to John's land at #5A. His land at #4 B was just across the road from John's in the town of Ballykillaboy. His other lands were adjacent to John's.

(If Visiting now stop at Irish's bar, on R448- the old main road between waterford and Dublin. It is said to be one of the best in sw ireland!)




Neighbors included:
James Kinsella 21, renting house to john phelan
Alice Kinsella 33, renting house to Patrick Walsh
Gaul-  Mary 14
Michael Ryan 69, renting house to Bridget Walsh
Patrick Malone 31, renting house to Stephen Gaul
James (30) and Michael Hennessy (30) (#1,2,3 on map)
Also small holders- Dalton, McDonnel, Brett, Lewis, Neill, Grant


St Francis Cemetery Fitzgeralds

DNA match via ctkirbach's account- JB (john f bertman) DK (david kirbach), LK
No kinsellas or allens/sweeneys in tree so dna match must be fitzgeralds

Richard M Fitzgerald born Rahillakeen, parish mullinavat, county kilkenny
and wife-Mary Powers born in Kilcolm, parish glenmore died august 1891 age 55 (born 1836)

From Kerkman family tree- c keller
Richard M Fitzgerald b Jan 1829 Rahilakeen, parish mullinavat
died oct 15 1906 Jersey County
son of Thomas Fitzgerald b abt 1809 Kilkenny d 10 Aug 1851 Jerseyville
and Mary Tracy b 1800 d 1851

1854- jan 4- married Mary Powers in Jerseyville
Lived in Otter Creek, Jersey County

From Kirbach-Bertman family tree- ckirbach (dna matches)
Catherine Fitzgerald b 25 June 1836 kilkenny d 10 aug 1877 jerseyville
dtr of thomas Fitzgerald and Mary Tracy
married Henry Massey 1854 in st. louis

from mabus/rehkop family tree- michele mabus
James C. Fitzgerald b july 1830 mullinavat parish d july 1912 jerseyville
son of Thomas Fitzgerald b abt 1789 d abt 1845 (possibly of typhoid fever) in ireland and Mary Murphy Tracy Dougherty b 1797 ireland d 10 aug 1851 jerseyville

James C Fitzgerald married Mary Elizabeth Keefe in Alton
other children of thomas fitzgerald and mary are listed as
Michael b 1 may 1834 ireland
Catherine b 26 june 1837 m Henry Massey
John Sean b 1838 ireland

so- thomas fitzgerald and mary (murphy tracy dougherty)
lived in rahillakeen, mullinavat parish  and had
richard m fitzgerald 1829
james c fitzgerald 1834 (pictures)
Catherine fitzgerald (massey) 1837 (pictures)
John Fitzgerald 1838 (must have died?)
Thomas Fitzgerald died about 1845 in ireland. Mary is shown in Griffiths (1849-1850) as having 29 acres in Rahillakeen.  Mary emigrated to jersey county with her children and died there in 1851

check mullinavat parish for death records

notice on ancestry message board 
Knox Family tree- James Wyman
Looking for information on Michael Doherty (1826-1906), who left New Ross, Co. Wexford in 1849, coming to McHenry, IL, (50 miles northwest of Chicago), USA. Michael Doherty was from Townland of Rathnasmolagh, County Kilkenny, west of New Ross. His parents were William Doherty and Eleanor Quin, who are buried in Big Wood Cemetery, Co. Kilkenny. Michael had a twin brother James and another brother Thomas who came to McHenry, also sailing from New Ross, Co. Wexford. Six other brothers unaccounted for and may have remained in Ireland. A sister Mary married Edmund Knox in Ireland, probably in Big Wood or Mullinavat.

Grave of Wm Doherty (1768-1852)at Bigwood Cemetery- erected by Thomas Walsh, ggrandson of Sean Doherty in 2000. In 1826, Wm Doherty was the only Doherty in Rathnasmolagh. Wife Eleanor Quin b abt 1790, died aft 1852 in Rathnasmolagh.

scan0583

Dtr Mary Doherty b 1814 m Edmond Knox 10 feb 1834 in St Beacon's, Mullinavat. In 1851 they left Waterford for America, with Mary's brother, James Doherty. In June 1851 they arrived at Buffalo, NY. They settled in McHenry Ill where Mary died in 1874.

Peter Doherty married Margaret Power bef 1843.

Michael Doherty (1826-1906) left New Ross, Ireland on 15 Apr 1849, arriving in Buffalo on 10 June 1850. Michael worked on the farm of John Fitzgerald in 1850. He married Mary Knox in McHenry Ill in 1851.

James Doherty (1826-1911) arrived in McHenry abt 1851.

Thomas Doherty (1829-1859) born Rathnasmolagh, died McHenry Ill.

Edward Doherty?

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Places: Parishes of Interest in the Ossory Diocese- Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Kilmacow, Owning and Templeorum, Slieveroe, and Windgap parishes


Parishes of Interest in the Ossory Diocese- Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Kilmacow, Owning and Templeorum, Slieveroe, and Windgap parishes

Kilkenny Roman Catholic parishes

Individual Parishes near our known ancestors

It appears that our known ancestors came from the southernmost part of Ossary Diocese- the parishes of Carrigeen and Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Kilmacow, Owning and Templeorum, Glenmore, and Slieverue. One related Jersey County family came from Windgap. Their post town would have been Waterford City.


https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/County_Kilkenny_Civil_Parishes
A list of civil parish names within each catholic parish

Location of Chapels in each parish:
link to 1837 maps and current google map

https://www.swilson.info/rcparishlink.php?seldioceseid=0&selrcparid=481&parl=1&lmode=map&anch=0&bsrch=
this site has maps and a link to each parish registry for births, deaths, marriages
https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0995


Mooncoin Chapels-
 Mooncoin in Mooncoin, Licketstown in Portnascully, Tubrid (Kilnaspic) (look up each chapel for pictures and history)
Civil parishes- aglish, ballytarsney, burnchurch, clonmore, pollrone, portnascully, rathkieran, tubbrid

Kilmacow Chapels- 4.6 km east of Mooncoin
Mullinavat Church in Mullinavat, Kilmacow in Kilmacow, Hill
 (civil parishes Dunkitt, Gaulskill, Kilbeacon, Killahy (Knocktopher), Kilmacow, Rossinan, Ullid
Mullinavat Chapels- 9 km NE of Mooncoin
Mullinavat Church (civil parish Kilbeacon)

Templeorum Chapels- 7 km NW of Mooncoin
Owning, Templeorum, and Pilltown (civil parishes- Fiddown, Kilkieran, Muckalee, Owning, Tibberaghny, Whitechurch

Slieveroe (Glenmore) Chapels- 10 km E of Mooncoin
Glenmore chapel (civil parish kilcoan, kilmakevogue)

Windgap Chapels- 6 km NW of Templeorum
Kilmacolivert
Windgap (civil parishes killamery and tullahought)

In Waterford and Lismore Parish, directly across the River Suir from Mooncoin is: Portlaw and Ballyduff Parish - chapels Ballyduff West and Coolfin (due to the close pronunciation of Ballyduff and Garryduff and the proximity to Mooncoin and Polerone, this parish should be researched )









Sources:
http://pwaldron.info/ACE/2016/parishregisters/

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/digital-book-collection/digital-books-by-subject/church-history/carrigan-history-and-anti/

https://ossory.ie/diocese/history/

http://www.mooncoinparish.ie/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ossory

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/County_Kilkenny_Civil_Parishes

Quinn Blog- The farm at Fidelity in 1880

                              
                            
The farm of Charles Brooks -Township 8 Range 11, one and a half miles north east of Jerseyville (1872)


 In 1880, Nellie Quinn, the youngest of her family, was eight years old. She lived with her parents, Thomas Quinn (age 53), and Ellen Kinsella Quinn (age 45) on a farm near Fidelity, in Jersey County, Illinois.  Her closest siblings in age were her three older brothers; Thomas 9, John 11, and Richard 13. She also had four older sisters; Katie 14, Bridget 16, Maggie 18, and Mary 20.

An agricultural census, taken in 1880, tells us something about the farm where Nellie grew up.  Her father rented 120 acres of farmland, which was valued at $6000. He owned farm implements valued at $125. An agricultural revolution had taken place during the post civil war period; horse power was now harnessed to farm tools to assist in plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. Thomas Quinn had seven horses on his farm.

John F. Chapman plowing his fields- Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County

His main crop was corn; he raised 3000 bushels that year on 60 acres of land. Corn was a labor intensive crop; the cornstalks were chopped down one at a time, then stacked in teepee like shocks to dry. At harvest time a field would be covered with hundreds of these. After the stalks were dry, the family would have pitched in to shuck the corn. Some of the corn would be used fresh, but most would be taken to the corn crib to dry. The stalks and leaves were used for feed for animals as well. A welcomed innovation was the development of a machine that cut and bundled the corn stalks, and later a hand powered husking machine-stalks of corn were fed into the machine which separated the ears and shredded the stalks for fodder. The ears were then fed into husking rollers and the kernels removed.

James B. Fitzgerald's corn and wheat crops- Township 8 Range 11, Jersey County
Thomas also raised other crops- he grew 900 bushels of wheat that year, on 50 acres of land,  and 400 bushels of oats on 10 acres. By the 1880's horse drawn grain drills allowed seeds to be planted in furrows, greatly increasing the acreage a farmer could plant from the days when furrows were dug and planted by hand. Horse drawn cultivators kept weeds down during the season. At harvest time families and neighbors worked together to cut bundles of wheat, and set them in shocks to dry. Later they would be taken in wagons to be threshed to separate the grain from the stalk, and set out so the wind would blow away the chaff. Again, in time, machines helped with this laborious task. Hay was mowed down with hand sickles and later with horse drawn rakes.

A hay wagon on the farm of Josiah Vaughn -Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County

Needless to say, Thomas could not do all of this by himself.  His sons, John and Richard, were only 11 and 13 years old. The extended family surely helped and neighbors likely exchanged work, especially at harvest time, but still, the work load was staggering. The agricultural census shows that Thomas paid $350 that year to hire laborers to help with the farm work. All in all, including personal consumption, the farm was able to produce $1600 worth of goods that year.

Besides the field crops, Thomas seemed to have focused on raising hogs. He raised 75 that year. It seems from the drawings of Jersey County farms that the breed of choice for this area was the Poland China Hog. They look huge in the pictures! Those which were not sold would have been butchered in the fall for meat and lard, which was used for cooking, and soap making.

Henry Christopher's Poland China Hogs - Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County

The family also kept three milk cows, which had given birth to three calves that year. Two additional cows had been sold. All of the milk had been used for their personal consumption- not surprising in a family with eight children! Ellen and her daughters had been very busy with the churn- they estimated making 250 pounds of butter that year. They also kept a flock of chickens and estimated a production of 100 dozen eggs. A kitchen vegetable garden was certainly a large factor in their daily diet, although not mentioned in the census. Thomas did mention that he had cut 15 cords of wood, which was certainly used for heating and cooking their meals.

Cows owned by Silas Bates- Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County

The town of Fidelity in Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County, Illinois

All of the above drawings are from : "Atlas map of Jersey County, Illinois, compiled, drawn, and published from personal examinations and surveys" published by Andreas, Lyter, and Co. 1872

To see many more drawings (zoomable) and read more about Jersey County in 1872 go to the free online link for this book:

Atlas of Jersey County Illinois 1872

To read more about the agricultural census go to:

Agricultural Census

Here is the 1880 Agricultural Census for Fidelity, Jersey County, showing the data for Thomas Quinn.







Fidelity, Jersey County, Illinois-home of Nellie Quinn



Mary Quinn, Thomas Robert Quinn, and Nellie Quinn circa 1885

My mother always said that the Quinn family came from Fidelity, which is a small village about 10 miles east of Jerseyville. When Nellie Quinn was beginning her teen years, in 1885, "going to town" meant visiting the local the village of Fidelity, which had about 200 residents. The family would have visited the post office in town to send their letters back to relatives in Ireland. The women of the family would have spent time in the general store, run by Mr. Lesem, where they could choose cloth for their dresses, and look at various items for sale. A Quaker gentleman, Mr. Mercer, was the local tailor for men's clothing. There was a grocery store run by Mr. Graham, for buying the few things that the family did not produce on their own.

Nellie's father would have gone to town for farming needs; Mr. Bringherst was the local blacksmith who would have mended tools, made horseshoes, and other metal items. Of prime importance to farm families was the local flour mill, run by the Miner family. The town boasted a railroad depot and the St. Louis, Jerseyville, and Springfield railroad ran through town.

Nellie would have attended the local school house in Fidelity, which was a two story building with a steeple built in 1866. The primary department was on the first floor, and the older students had classes on the second floor. Mr. Cornelius Roach was the principal for the school in 1885, and Nellie's eldest sister Mary was the primary teacher. Just like my mother, Nellie likely had her own sister Mary for a teacher when she was young. Nellie's brother Richard was also a teacher in Jersey County. Nellie herself would teach in rural Jersey County schools for nearly twenty years.

Richard Quinn


The closest village was Piasa, in Macoupin County, which was 5 miles away.

There were three protestant churches in Fidelity, but no Catholic church. The Quinn family would have had to travel 10 miles to Jerseyville to attend mass at St. Francis Xavier church. Surely the Sunday trip to Jerseyville was an event looked forward to every week by the hard working Quinn family. This welcomed day of rest provided for a leisurely ride to town for worship and fellowship. Once a week the family could reunite with their many relatives in the area, and meet up with old friends. The young people of the family must have enjoyed dressing their best to socialize with other young people in the congregation, and picnics and family dinners would have provided a bounty of enjoyment for all.


From History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois, Springfield, IL: Continental Historical Co., 1885, pp. 411 – 432

The History of County Kilkenny- our Ancient Ancestors

This website has a concise overall history- just follow the links. Ancient Kilkenny- The Kings of Osraighe, Brian Boru and the Viking Invade...