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!!!