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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Mayo => Topic started by: Ebch on Friday 11 December 09 18:35 GMT (UK)
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My mother used to say we were distant relatives of Gene Tunney - champion boxer. I found in her papers a photo of Maeve Tunney - an old lady in a long black dress, shawl and white bonnet sitting outside a white cottage. On the back my mother at some time had written Maeve Tunny, aged 106. Died 108 years R.I.P.
I wonder was she from the Kiltimagh area?
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Do you know approx she would have died?
How old is the photo and approx age in it?
Would you think Tunney was her married or maiden name?
Ger
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Best thing Ger is to post the photo :) I am dragging my mind back over 50 years! The only thing I remember is being told that at the time she was the oldest lady in Ireland. The back of the photo is the postcard type with a number 9829 on the top right. I've searched the 1911 census to no avail. I wonder if Maeve was a pet name for her? There are about 10 Tunney/Tunny females between 67 and 84 in Mayo so if she was one of these she would have died anytime between 1935 and 1954 though I tend to the earlier dates. I don't know whether she was married as 'Maeve" (lovely name) does not come up on any searches I have done.
Any help will be most welcome :)
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Duh :'( I must have been having a senior moment! The writing on the back says Maeve Tunny aged 106 (and died aged 108) So the photo was taken after 1902 (postcard type photo) Her death therefore could have been anytime from 1904. She should be in the 1901 Irish Census but I cannot access it.
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Hi
You might like to have a look at thhe Leitrim-Roscommon site -
The 1901 census for some counties have been put on here.
When you find the 1901 search page -
Select county Mayo and just put Tunney in the 'Head of Household surname'.
Then select county Mayo again but just put Tunney in 'Other Enumerators in Household' i.e. living in someone else's house.
Hopefully you should have all the Tunneys in Mayo in 1901 - and you may get some clues - Maeve might have been a pet name as I couldn't see anyone of that name.
I believe the 1901 census of Ireland is due to go on line early next year.
http://www.leitrim-roscommon.com/index.shtml
Hope this helps and Good Luck.
Regards
Neptune
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Thanks for that Neptune - For a start I have narrowed it down to 6 female Tunney/Tunney who were 70 or over in 1901. Do you know of a site where I can check deaths so I can eliminate these?
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Civil registration index (up to 1958) is online (free)-
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;t=searchable;c=1408347
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Thank you Aghadowey - that was quick :) Going to start now - never mind the ironing!
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:( well I searched 797 Tunny/Tunney deaths and the oldest female I could find was Margaret Tunny from Westport who died in 1923 aged 97. I wonder if the story of 'Maeve' Tunney and her age just grew and grew? Whatever she looked a lovely lady :)
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hi I am also a distant relative of Gene tunney - quite a few generations down the line infact. Have you ever heard of the nixon family county mayo Ireland or Staffordshire?
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:)