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



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.

http://jersey.illinoisgenweb.org/jchistory/JC-Fidelity.htm

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

The Fitzgerald's of Rahillakeen, County Kilkenny

The view from Tory Hill overlooking the surrounding countryside

Map of Rahillakeen and Tory Hill - If you click on the purple squares you can see the nearby townslands, including Rathnasmolagh (Bigwood), where the cemetery is found.

Our family tree-
Nellie Quinn and Thomas Allen (my grandparents)
Thomas Quinn and Ellen Kinsella (my great grandparents)
John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald (my gg grandparents)
So- who were my Fitzgerald ggg grandparents and who were Mary's siblings and family in Ireland?

Photo by P.Meado on findaGrave

According to the headstone, Mary (Fitzgerald) Quinn was 73 years old in 1864, making her birthdate about 1791.

This marriage record shows that John Quin and Mary Fitzgerald from Kilmacow Parish were married on 26 August, 1815. The townland on the record is Rahillakeen. (Usually the bride's home was listed on the marriage records.)
Their witnesses were Richard Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Murphy, and Anne Donovan.
Mary Fitzgerald would have been 24 years old, and John Quin 26. Here is the original record from St. Mary's Church, Kilkenny City. (1)

There is another Fitzgerald born in Rahillakeen and buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville. Richard M. Fitzgerald's headstone says that he was born in Rahillakeen, Parish Mullinavat, in Co. Kilkenny Ireland. (2) There are no birth and death dates, but it says that his wife was Mary Powers, born in Kilcolm, Parish Glenmore, County Kilkenny. Mary Powers Fitzgerald died 7 Aug. 1891, age 55, so she was born about 1836. The 1880 census for Jerseyville shows Mary age 44 (born about 1837) wife of Richard Fitzgerald age 55.  If this is correct, Richard M. Fitzgerald would have been born about 1825.  The census shows both Richard and Mary born in Ireland. (2) But this Richard, although from Rahillakeen, is too young to be the Richard who stood up at Mary Fitzgerald Quinn's wedding in 1815. Did he have a father or uncle named Richard Fitzgerald?

Photo by P.Meadow on FindaGrave

Several family stories say that Richard's father was Thomas Fitzgerald, who died of typhus in Ireland. His wife, Mary Dougherty Fitzgerald then brought the children to America, landing in New Orleans before traveling to Illinois. There is a headstone at St. Francis Xavier that reads "Mary, wife of Thomas Fitzgerald, died Aug. 10, 1851, aged 51 years." This stone is near the headstone of James C. Fitzgerald (brother of Richard M. Fitzgerald) so it seems likely that this could be the grave of his mother.

Photo by P.Meado on FindaGrave

 Rahillakeen is a tiny townland encompassing about 390 acres- a little over half a square mile of land. It lies at the foot of Tory Hill (pictured above) and is in Mullinavat Catholic Parish. Unfortunately, the records for the parish are only available from (dates)

However, there are two records for this time period in Rahillakeen that give us evidence of Fitzgerald families in that townland- the 1825 Tithe Applotment and the 1853 Griffith's Valuation. The townland of Rahillakeen straddles two civil parishes- Dunkitt Civil Parish and Rossinan Civil Parish- so records are found in both areas. As you can see from the records, the same people farmed land in both formal civil parishes; this was a tiny neighborhood that happened to straddle a border.

The Rossinan Rahillakeen Tithe (1825) shows the landowner as Michael Dobbyn, Esq. Renting land there were: Michael Fitzgerald (6 acres) John and Edward Grace (72 acres,) John Grace (2 acres,) Martin Walsh (6 acres) John Murphy (17 acres) Wm Dermody and Toby Veriker.
1825 Tithe Rahillakeen, Rossinan Civil Parish

The Rossinan Rahillakeen Griffiths (1853) shows: Patrick Fitzgerald, Edward and John Grace, John Murphy, and Martin Walsh sharing 67 acres of land, with Thomas Power renting a garden from Edward and John Grace. Mary Fitzgerald rented 10 acres, Michael Walsh 6, Catherine Murphy 25, and John Murphy 3.
1853 Griffiths Rahillakeen Rossinan Civil Parish


The Dunkitt Rahillakeen Tithe (1825) shows the same landowner- Michael Dobbyn- with farmers Michael Fitzgerald (8 acres) Widow Grace (50 acres) John Grace (12 acres) and Slone, Dermody, Vereker and Dwyer.
1825 Tithe Rahillakeen Dunkitt Civil Parish

The Dunkitt Rahillakeen Griffiths (1853) shows (same landowner- Reps. of M. Dobbin Esq.) Patrick Fitzgerald, Edward and John Grace, John Murphy and Martin Walsh again share land together- this piece is 128 acres. Mary Fitzgerald rented 29 acres, and sublet houses to Robert Wall and Michael Dermody. Matthias Grace had a house, and again we see Murphys (Catherine Murphy had 49 acres) Verekers, and Dwyers.
1853 Rahillakeen Griffiths- Dunkitt Civil Parish

So- in 1825 the only Fitzgerald in Rahillakeen was Michael Fitzgerald, while int 1853 we find Patrick Fitzgerald and Mary Fitzgerald.

However, by 1853, we believe it was highly likely that our Fitzgerald family may have already left for America. So- the 1825 Michael Fitzgerald is likely a relative- but what relation was he to Mary Fitzgerald (Quinn) born 1791? Her father or her brother? What relation was he to Richard Fitzgerald, who stood up at her wedding? What relation was he to the supposed Thomas Fitzgerald, the husband of Mary (supposed Doherty) and father of Richard M. Fitzgerald, born about 1829? No Thomas Fitzgerald or Richard Fitzgerald shows in Rahillakeen in 1825- unless Michael Fitzgerald was the father, the head of family in the record. Without church baptismal records it is hard to know.


Another area mentioned in family stories is Ballyhomuck. This tiny townland adjoins Rahillakeen to the east. In the 1853 Griffith's we find an Ellen Fitzgerald leasing 10 acres of land from M. Dobbin, the local landowner. Peter Doherty was leasing 27 acres of farmland and there are other familiar family names here; Thomas Lahy (21 acres) John and Patrick Power, Michael Keefe, James Keily, Edward Grace (48 acres.)



Finally, there is neighboring Rahard townland. In the 1825 Tithe book we see John and Philip Fitzgerald. Their neighbors are Rich and Phillip Kelly.
 In the 1853 Griffith's there were 3 Fitzgerald farmers in Rahard renting land from Rev. James Hobson.
John Fitzgerald-19 acres
Patrick Fitzgerald- 7 acres
James Fitzgerald 11 acres

However, later birth records which ARE available led me to one more adjoining townland- Bigwood- also known as Rathnasmolagh.


Sources:

Headstones- St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Jerseyville, Illinois (from FindaGrave)

1- National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 05028 / 04 Ancestry.com. Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

2-Year: 1880; Census Place: Otter Creek, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 216; Page: 104B; Enumeration District: 099

John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald of Rathnasmolagh- also known as Bigwood

Bigwood in a townsland to the east of the Blackwater River, between the towns of Mullinavat and Kilmacow. It contains about 336 acres- about half a square mile and is situated just southeast of Tory Mountain. Bigwood is very close to Rathlikeen (Rahillakeen)- the reported townsland of Mary Fitzgerald on her marriage record, and just south of the famous local landmark of Tory Hill. The town of Mullinavat lies just a few miles northwest and the town of Kilmacow just a few miles southwest, across the Blackwater River. There is a Cemetery at Rathnasmolagh, Mullinavat, called Bigwood Cemetery/St. Paul's Church Cemetery.

During the times of the Cromwell reformation, Catholicism was outlawed, and the people had to worship in the country side at mass bushes and other hidden places. In about 1784, a Catholic Chapel was built at Bigwood, which was in use until about 1834, when a new Catholic church was built.

Map of Rathnasmolagh- Bigwood

The children of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald were born before the records are available from Mullinavat Parish. ( Most Records available after 1843)
However, their eldest daughter, Ellen Quinn married John Welsh (Walsh) in Mullinavat Parish is 1839. There is a record of her marriage and the baptisms of some of her children.

10 Feb 1839- Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish- marriage of John Walsh and Ellen Quin- both from Bigwood- witnesses Thomas Fitzgerald and Bridget Fitzgerald

Two of their children are recorded as being born in Bigwood * Note the date of Bridget's birth!

25 January 1839- Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish, Kilkenny-baptism of Bridget Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Ellen Quin, sponsors William Walsh and Anastatia Doherty.

28 Feb 1846- Bigwood, Mullinavat Parish- baptism of Maria (Mary) Walsh-father John Walsh, mother Ellen Quinn- sponsors Thomas Fitzgerald, Anne Cleary

The 1825 Tithe of Rathnasmolagh (Bigwood) shows lands rented from landowner Major Graham.

Thomas Durney 40

Edward Poor (Power) 40

William Dogherty 40

Patrick Gaul 40

The 1853 Griffiths shows the land rented from Sir J Newport and Thomas Hunt Esq.

Edward Power 65 acres subletting to Patrick Walsh

Edward Power and John Durney 36 acres

John Durney 71 acres

Peter Doherty, John and Edward Power, Patrick Walsh 67 acres

Richard Fitzgerald subletting a house and garden from Richard Doherty

John Quin subletting a house and garden from John Power

Ellen Walsh and John Walsh subletting houses and gardens from Edward Power and Peter Doherty

Emigration to Illinois was established early in Bigwood with John Sutton emigrating to McHenry, Illinois in 1836, later followed by hundreds of neighbors and relatives from Kilkenny. Indeed it is to McHenry, Illinois, that John Walsh Welch) and Ellen Quinn Welch move. They are shown on there on the 1880 census. 

The other Quinn children- Patrick, Thomas (my great grandfather) Richard, John, Mary, and Margaret emigrated with their parents, John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald to Jersey County Illinois.

combine below with Fitzgeralds of Rahillakeen


Thomas Quinn's parents were John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald.


I found a marriage record for John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald who were married on August 26, 1815, at St. Mary's Church in Kilkenny City.

This shows their home as Rahalickeen. (Marriages usually took place and were recorded by the bride's home.) Their witnesses were Richard Fitzgerald, Elisabeth Murphy, and Katherine Donavan.

According to their gravestone, John would have been about 26 and Mary about 24 in 1815.

Rahillakeen sits at the western base of Tory Hill and is between the towns of Mullinavat and Kilmacow, to the east of the Blackwater River. It is a small townsland encompassing just over 390 acres of land.

Map of Rahillakeen

There are two parts of Rahillakeen townsland. One is in Dunkitt Civil Parish and one is in Rossinan Civil Parish.

At the time of the Griffith's Valuation, there were several Fitzgerald families in th Rahillakeen, which straddled Dunkitt and Rossinan Civil parish and bordered on Rathnasmolagh and Rahard townlands.

Rahillakeen in Dunkitt Civil Parish

Fitzgerald Patrick 128 acres with Edward and John Grace, John Murphy, and Martin Walsh (Reps Michael Dobbin Esq)

Fitzgerald Mary 28 acres (Dobbin)

Grace Matthias (garden)

In neighboring Rathnasmolagh townland:

Fitzgerald Richard (house and garden from Richard Doherty)

Durney John 67 acres from Reps of Sir John Newport and Thomas Hunt

Power John

Quin John (sublet from John Power)

 Rahillakeen in Rossinan Civil Parish

Fitzgerald Mary 10 acres (M Dobbin Esq)

Fitzgerald Patrick- with Edward and John Grace, John Murphy, and Martin Walsh 67 acres (M Dobbin Esq) 

Power, Thomas (sublet a garden from Edward and John Grace)

In neighboring Rahard townland we find:

Fitzgerald John 19 acres (Rev James  Hobson)

Fitzgerald Patrick 7 acres (same)

Fitzgerald James 11 acres (same)

The catholic parish for Rahillakeen is either Mullinavat or Kilmacow

We can get Catholic Parish records for Mullinavat from May 1843 and from Kilmacow from June 1858, unless we pay for a transcript from the Rothe House Trust which has baptisms from 1836 - 1899 and marriages from 1798-1853. Not much use to us; we need records before that date to prove our ancestors.

In 1901 there was still one Fitzgerald family in Rahillakeen; Michael age 40 and his sisters Honoria 45 and Johanna 35. By 1911 only Michael Fitzgerald is left.

Rathnasmolagh still has a Durney family; Thomas age 60, wife Margaret, and children John 26, James 23, Michael 22 Kate 19 and Andrew 17.

Family Overview- John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald

Parents:
John Quinn b 18 March 1789 Rathnasmolagh, Kilkenny
died 18 March 1874 Jersey County
married 26 Aug 1815, Kilmacow Parish
Mary Fitzgerald b abt 1791 Rahillakeen d 7 Nov 1864 Jerseyville


Likely siblings (DNA)
Richard Fitzgerald (1784-1877) who married
Margaret Quinn  of Rathnasmolagh(1787-1873) in Feb. 1812 in Kilmacow Parish

Children:
1-Ellen b 1816/18 Mullinavat d 2 March 1900 McHenry Ill, married John Welch b 1816 Mullinavat.  dtr Bridget b 25 Jan 1839 Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish, Mary b 28 Feb 1846 Bigwood, Mullinavat Parish,  Peter Welch b 1850 Bigwood, Wm Welch b 1860 McHenry, Charles, Ellen

2- Patrick b abt 1820 d 19 apr 1886 jerseyville
3- Thomas b 23 dec 1823/7 d1 jan 1906 jville married ellen kinsella 1859
4- margaret b 1824/36 d 1898 married James Durney jville 1861
5- richard b 19 may 1830 d 1922 jville
6- john b abt 1833 d 1883
7- mary b 1833 d 1917 m john cudihee 1864 jville
8- catherine b 1840 d 1900 Grannagh Ferry Kilkenny m Patrick Flynn 12 June 1857, Bishops Hall, Kilmacow Parish and later Cappagh, Kilmacow parish

Friends
Richard Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Murphy, Anne Donovan (marriage witn 1815)
Philip Walsh, Bridget Power (witn Catherine Quinn and Patrick Flynn 1857
Stephen Gaule and Edmund Gaule of Ballykillaboy and Ellen Kent dtr of Thomas Kent of Cappagh- bapt of John Flynn p July 1860 at Kilmacow church

1825 tithe Rathnasmoola
Thomas Durney
Edward Poor (Power)
Wm Dogherty (husband of Eleanor Quinn- married 1810)
Patrick Gaul

1825 tithe Rallikeen
Michael Fitzgerald
Widow Grace, John Grace
Slone, Dermody, Vereker, Dwyer

1835 tithe Ballyhomuck
Tom Walsh
John Grace
James Grace
Patrick Fitzgerald
John Quinn
Wm Dogherty (b 1768 d 1852- husband of Eleanor Quinn- both from rathnasmologh
James Butler (wedding witness for Richard Fitzgerald
Knowlan, Halligan, Newton, Patrick and Michael Walsh, Quigly

Griffiths Ballyhomuck
Edward Grace 48
Peter Doherty 27
Ellen Fitzgerald 10
John Power
Walsh- Thomas, Catherine
James Cleary

Dunkitt civil parish
Fitzgeralds- Rallikeen- Michael Fitzgerald, Bally homuck Patk Fitzgerald, Rahard- Patk Fitzgerald, Grace Fitzgerald

Quinns- Ballyhomuck John Quinn, Ballykillaboy Thomas Quinn with house to Elizabeth Gaul and John Quinn

Places to Visit
St Paul's Church Bigwood

Very Rev. Liam Barron P.P. (1970)

Address: Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny

Phone: 051 898108

A St. Francis Xavier Cemetery Walk in Jerseyville - the Quinn's- Generation 1

 

You need exercise- you know you do! During this pandemic, a walk through the St. Francis Xavier Church Cemetery would be a great place to go walk! You are at no risk of catching the corona virus as you explore the markers of our relatives who rest in peace there. 

It is a wonderful way to reconnect with our ancestral families. There is an "Irish Section" of the cemetery (see location) where you can find many of our early relatives.

                                      photos by P. Meado findagrave 47252942

Grave #1-The first one is easy to find- a large red granite memorial tablet marked QUINN!

This is the memorial of John Quinn and his wife Mary Fitzgerald Quinn- the progenitors of our Quinn family from Ireland, and aptly marked "Father and Mother

Grave #2- Harder to spot will be their original graves.

John Quinn's burial was performed by Father Harty who was kind enough to leave us the information that John Quinn was originally from Mullinavat, in County Kilkenny, and that he was 85 years old when he died in 1874. To date I have not found a church record for the burial of Mary Fitzgerald Quinn in Jerseyville.

The large memorial stone also records their sons; Patrick, John, and Richard- all born in Mullinavat, Kilkenny.

Patrick Quinn - died April 17, 1886 aged 66 (born 1820)

John Quinn died Feb 16, 1883 aged 50 (born 1833)

Richard Quinn died Sept 15, 1922 aged 91 (born 17 May 1830)

Grave # 3- The next son can be found near this tall marker.

This is the grave of Thomas Quinn, the father of Nellie Quinn Allen  (1822-1906) (born 23 Dec 1822 Kilkenny died 1 Jan 1906 aged 83)

                                 Photos by Connie Clark findagrave 47521997

and his wife, Ellen Kinsella Quinn, the mother of Nellie Quinn Allen (1835-1903) (born 1834 Mooncoin Parish Kilkenny died April 2, 1902, aged 67)

Grave # 4- harder to find- Margaret Quinn- the daughter of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald who married James Durney.

"Photo by Find A Grave Contributor Diane & John (#46842343)"

Grave #5- Mary Quinn - the daughter of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald who married John Cuddihee

(The last daughter, Ellen Quinn Welch (born 1816 Mullinavat, married John Welch in Mullinavat, emigrated in 1856, died 1900) will not be found in Jerseyville; she was buried in McHenry Illinois.)

Next: Quinns- generation 2

Quinn's in Ireland- Mullinavat Parish, Kilkenny

  Mullinavat Parish, Kilkenny

Cousin Margie Allen's notebook, which had many notes from Aunt Helen Allen, told us that John Quinn (my 2nd great-grandfather-born 1789 Kilkenny, died 1874 Jerseyville) may have come from "Mullminot" Parish. However, there does not appear to be any place of this name; as stories are passed down from generation to generation, many of these unfamiliar place names evolved with the telling. It seems most likely that the Quinn's came from Mullinavat Parish in Kilkenny.

Mullinavat (Muileann an Bhata) refers to "The Mill of the Stick." Local tradition says the name came from an ancient mill which had access over the Glendonnel River, by means of a log across the 
river. 

            
  


                                  Mullinavat in the 1800's

In 1801, Mullinavat had 35 houses and 158 inhabitants. By 1871 there were 531 people living there. A writer of the time gives us a description of Mullinavat in 1884. He describes a village at the base of a hill, with one street. Most of the houses had slate roofs, and the town was "clean, healthy, and flourishing." The town boasted a railway station, which took passengers to Waterford (8 miles away) and Kilkenny City (23 miles away.) The surrounding countryside was known for good farmlands for both pasture and crops. The River Nore (Black River) ran through the area, which was known for good trout fishing. There was a mill (which the village was the namesake of) on the river.

 Until 1842, Mullinavat Parish was part of Kilmacow Parish. It lay within the Ossory Diocese. The old parish church at Kilbeacon was used until 1830. In 1880 there were two Catholic priests, and a teaching convent- Saint Josephs- managed by "Miss Aylward."
Children in the town now attend St. Beacon's National School. Prior to the opening of this in 1992, girls had attended St. Brigid's Convent Girls National school, which had been in place for 112 years. (abt 1882) and boys attended St. Patrick's Boys National School

 In 1880, the village supported several grocers and a baker and there were a number of shops in the village where our ancestors likely came to buy goods;  boot makers, tailors, dressmakers. A smith was open to help farmers with tools, wheels, and implements, and a carpenter and mason worked from the village. There was a hotel in the village, as well as several "spirit dealers." The postal service as located in nearby Waterford City.

Bassett names the local farmers, including some names that are familiar; Aylwards, Costelloes, Fitzgerald (Thomas- from Fahy), Gauls, Grace (Edmund from Ballyhomuch and Edward and John from Rahillaken, Keefs, Powers, and Walshes.

Sources:
Kilkenny City and County Guide and Directory by George Henry Bassett, 1884-P 274-277

http://mullinavat.com/history.html

St. Beacon's Church in Mullinavat has a cemetery, with an older graveyard from Kilbeacon just across the road. Here are some photos of the cemetery.

Video of St.Beacon's Church Mullinavat

St Beacons Mullinavat Cemetery

Mullinavat Church Cemetery

                                   Mullinavat Today

The current village (which includes a modern bridge across the river) is on the road between Waterford and Dublin. Today's Mullinavat offers three pubs- including the famous  "Rising Sun" which is also an Inn. The Rising Sun Guesthouse, a beautiful stone structure, was built in 1644 during Cromwell's occupation and known as "The Rising Sun Alehouse." There are also three BnB's- Glenraha Farmhouse, Reade's Farmhouse, and Tory View.

Rising Sun Inn at Mullinavat

                                      Nearby Sights

The Dolmans- standing stones and a capstone dating back to 200 B.C.

The Three Friars- three ancient stones named after three friars murdered by Cromwell in 1651

Poulanassy Waterfall  

Tory Hill- rising nearly one thousand feet above the surrounding countryside, Tory Hill has views of 5 counties (Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and Carlow) from its summit.

 Looking on the map for Tory Hill I found "Rathlikeen"- this is a place I have been trying to find since seeing it on an early church record showing that John Quinn married Mary Fitzgerald of  "Rathlikeen" (also known as Rahillakeen) in 1815.


You can see a gallery of pictures from Mullinavat at here:
                        Photos from Mullinavat

You can read some local histories and folk stories from Mullinavat here:Mullinavat Convent Local History Collection

You can find Mullinavat, and take a tour through the town and countryside on Google Maps!

Quinn Blog Post 5- Richard Quinn and a new discovery

Richard Quinn was the key to a couple of important discoveries. These came in a very roundabout way from another Quinn researcher I ran into online; Ed Besterfeldt.

From our family history, and from the headstone, we knew that John Quinn had a wife named "Mary," who died on the 7th of November 1864, at age 73, putting her birth year at about 1791.

I saw that Ed had contributed Richard Quinn's death certificate on Ancestry.com. This held a very important piece of information- the proof of his mother's maiden name.

Richard Quinn son of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald

When I contacted Ed, he advised me that he was a descendant of Richard's sister, Catherine.

But there was no record of a Catherine Quinn in Aunt Helen's notebook- this was news to me! 

Ed informed me that Catherine married Patrick Flynn in Kilkenny, and never came to America. They lived in Kilmacow Parish, Kilkenny, and had three daughters; Catherine, Ellen, and Margaret. Their daughter Catherine Flynn came to America, where she married his great-grandfather, Edward Besterfeldt, in 1889 in Jerseyville. Their daughter Ellen "Nellie" Flynn also came to Jerseyville, where she married John Durney.

After some research, I realized that Nellie Flynn and John Durney were not strangers who just happened to meet after she immigrated. They were cousins!

Nellie Flynn -daughter of Catherine Quinn and Patrick Flynn- was the granddaughter of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald.

John Durney -son of Margaret Quinn (Catherine's sister) and James Durney- was the grandson of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald.

This would make Richard Quinn (death certificate above) the uncle of Nellie Flynn Durney. (You might notice that the informant on his death was listed as Mayme Durney. This was one of Nellie's two daughters.)

John Durney died before the June 1900 census- he shares a headstone at St. Francis with his parents- James Durney born 1829 died 1890 and Margaret (Quinn) born 1824 died 1898.

John Durney b 1863 d 1900 - husband of Nellie Flynn Durney- buried with his parents- James Durney b 1829 d 1890 and Margaret (Quinn) Durney born 1824 died 1898.

Nellie (Flynn) Durney is shown on the 1900 census as a 34 year old widow, mother of three children, two of whom were living; Marguerite age 10 (born in Missouri) and Mary age 5 (also born in Missouri.) This census shows that she immigrated in  1880. Nellie is keeping house for her uncle- Richard Quinn.

The census (which is not always accurate!) shows Richard Quinn age 65, born in Ireland in March, 1835, and immigrating in 1880. He was working as a teamster, as was his son, Richard, age 40.

The 1910 census shows Nellie still living with her uncle Richard Quinn, who is now 80 years old, as well as a widowed aunt, Mary Cuddihee, age 78. This would be Richard's sister Mary Quinn, who married John Cuddihey of Garryduff, Ireland, in 1864 in Jerseyville.

Mary Quinn Cuddihey (daughter of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald) would pass away in January 1917 and is buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville with her husband John.

John Cuddihee b 1830 d 1899 and Mary (Quinn) Cuddihee b 1833 d 1917 and their son John 

The 1920 census shows Richard Quinn now age 86 (you can see that the records are not always quite accurate!) and that he is a widower who immigrated in 1845 and was naturalized in 1850. Richard is the owner of the home. Nellie (Flynn) Durney is now 53 years old. Her daughter Mayme Durney is 24, and working as a saleswoman in a dry goods store.

Richard passed away in September of 1922. His age on the death certificate is 91 years- birthdate shown as 19 May 1830. He was buried at St. Francis Cemetery  with his parents, John Quinn and Mary (Fitzgerald) and three of his brothers. (You have seen that headstone in a previous post)

The 1930 and 1940 census show Nellie (Flynn) Durney still living in the house - at 405 Hollow Avenue in Jerseyville.

I think I have found this address on Google Maps- is anyone there familiar with this address? Perhaps you can send me a picture of the house there for this blog? Do you know who lives there now- or is the house long gone? I need some local sleuths to fill in for me there! Thanks!

Nellie (Flynn) Durney, granddaughter of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald, passed away on January 15, 1951, and is buried at St. Francis cemetery. There is no picture of her headstone on findagrave.

Can anyone there please find Nellie's headstone at the cemetery and email me a picture to add to this blog?

Quinn Blog- Post 4- Headstones at St. Francis- Fitzgerald Family

If you live in Jerseyville, chances are you know some Fitzgeralds. You may want to get to know them better, because chances are you are related to them!

St. Francis Cemetery is hopping (well not literally) with Fitzgeralds. There seem to be several families. I looked for the older couples who would have come from Ireland to see if there were any hints.

Thomas Fitzgerald and wife Mary-born 1800 died 1851.

Richard Fitzgerald born 1835 died Oct 15, 1906

James C. Fitzgerald born 1830 died 1912 and wife Mary Keefe born 1835 died 1907. Here I found what I was looking for-

James C. Fitzgerald was born in "Mulliravat" (Mullinavat) Kilkenny. His wife Mary was born in "Winesap" (Windgap) Kilkenny. You can see how these place names that were passed down through the generations became slightly confused over time.

Richard M. Fitzgerald born in Rahillakeen Parish, Mullinavat, Kilkenny and his wife Mary Powers, born in Kilcolm Parish, Glenmore, Kilkenny. No birth or death date is given for Richard, but Mary died August 7, 1851 or 1891, at age 55 years, 7 months, and 26 days. 

This stone contains an important clue. There is a church record from St Mary's in Kilkenny City for August 26, 1815, with the marriage of John Quin and Mary Fitzgerald. The bride's townsland is noted as Rahalickeen (Rahilikeen) and the witnesses for the wedding were Richard Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Murphy and Kathrine Donovan.

Nearby are the children of Richard M. Fitzgerald and Mary Powers- Bridget, Annie, James, Richard, and Michael.

Catherine Fitzgerald (Massey) was born June 26, 1837, in Kilkenny and was married to Henry Clay Massey, born 1828 in America.

Nancy Grace Fitzpatrick (Powers) was born 1839 and died 1894.

John and Johanna Fitzgerald

Johanna Fitzgerald Lahey, born on Christmas day in 1820, in Slieverue, Kilkenny, wife of Thomas Lahey, born October 18, 1811 in Slieverue, Kilkenny. This family came from a different townsland than the other Fitzgeralds, and according to an ancestor's notes, immigrated to Illinois via New Orleans, with their four eldest children.

Bridget Durney Fitzgerald, b 1866 died 1964, wife of John E Fitzgerald and daughter of Michael and Hannah Welsh Durney.

Well...which Fitzgeralds are related to our Mary Fitzgerald who married John Quinn? There are so many of them!!!

Quinn Blog- post 3-Headstones at St. Francis- Quinn Family

St. Francis Xavier's Cemetery 

If you are lucky enough to live in Jerseyville, you can take a walk through this lovely cemetery to find your ancestor's graves. I was thankful to be able to use "findagrave.com" to find pictures of my ancestor's headstones.

Here is my grandmother, Nellie Quinn (Allen,) with my grandfather, Thomas Allen, my aunt, Margaret Allen, and a cousin, Sandra who died very young. (Daughter of my uncle, Richard Allen.)

Nellie Quinn (Allen) photo by P. Meado, findagrave

From family records, I know that Nellie Quinn (Allen) was born 12 February, 1872, in Fidelity, Jersey County, and died 13 June, 1955, in Jerseyville.

Next, I found her parents, Thomas Quinn and Ellen Kinsella.

Quinn memorial- photo by Connie Clark, findagrave

Gravestone for Thomas Quinn, born 1823 Ireland died 1906 Jersey County

Gravestone for Ellen Kinsella (Quinn) b 1834 died 1903 Jersey County.

Again, family histories fill in the gap and tell us that Thomas Quinn was born 23 December, 1823 in Ireland (thought to be Kilkenny) and Ellen Kinsella was born 15 January, 1834 (also thought to be in Kilkenny.) I know that their children were all born in America, so I went on to look for Thomas Quinn's parents- my grandmother's grandparents. Perhaps that would give me a hint of where they came from?

John Quinn memorial- photo by P. Meado, findagrave

Here is John Quinn, my great-great grandfather. According to the stone, he died 18 March 1874, aged 85. That would put his birth about 1789.
His wife, Mary, died 17 November, 1864. She was 73. That would put her birth about 1791. I was to learn the Mary's maiden name was Fitzgerald via the death certificate of their son, Richard.

Three sons are buried here as well:
Patrick, who died 7 April, 1885 age 66, making his birth date about 1820.
John, who died 16 February, 1883, age 50, putting his birth date about 1833.
and Richard, who died 15 September 1922, at age 91,  making his birth date about 1831.

I know from family history that Thomas had sisters as well:
Margaret Quinn, born about 1824, who married James Durney.
Mary Quinn, born about  1840, who married John Cuddihey.
Ellen Quinn, birth date uncertain and death unknown
From an online researcher (and distant cousin) I learned that there was another daughter, Catherine Quinn, born about 1840, who married Patrick Flynn in 1857 and stayed in Ireland (see separate post with the information about Catherine)

Margaret Quinn (Durney) born 1824 died 1898 and husband James Durney b 1829 died 1890 with their son John. Interesting that they are buried with Martin and Rebecca Casey- something to look into further. Photo by Find A Grave Contributor Diane & John (#46842343)

John Cuddihee born 1830 died 1898 and Mary, his wife, born 1833 died 1917, and their son John. Photo by Find A Grave Contributor Diane & John (#46842343)

(I could not find Ellen Quinn - will have to keep searching for her!)

So- here are the gravestones- but none of these mention Ireland or Kilkenny!

So, I branched out a bit..... and finally found something more specific! Thomas Cuddahee was born in Garriduff, in County Kilkenny.

Thomas Cuddahee was born in Gariduff, Kilkenny - died 1873

Here is a Casey connection- John Casey and Bridget Walsh were from Parish Mullinavat, (Kilkenny) Ireland. So- another headstone hint as to our Kilkenny ancestors!