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!