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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Westmeath => Topic started by: rhutchins on Wednesday 31 December 14 17:54 GMT (UK)
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I am looking for information on my great great grandparents, Patrick Keenahan (b. abt 1825) and Bridget Rabbitt (b. abt 1825). My great grandfather, Lawrence Keenan, was born to them in 1842 in Rosemount, Westmeath. They emigrated to America c. 1850 and Patrick and Bridget died on board the ship, leaving Lawrence an orphan. He lived with relatives in New York state (maybe Catherine Rabbitt Garrity). Any information on these families will be most appreciated.
Robin
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this site might be able to help you
http://www.rosemount.ie/community.php
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Thanks!
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have you looked here ? assuming they were Catholics click on baptisms or marriages
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0946
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All I could find is the baptism of Lawrence which took place on 13 August 1842 in Tubber (also documented as Tubber & Rosemount) RC parish, parents given as Pat Keenahan and Biddy Rabbit, the sponsors were Lawrence Keenahan and Anastasia Newl? (left page, 11th entry down from top):
http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000635225#page/85/mode/1up
In the above record, there is no mention of the specific address Rosemount (the village just NE of Moate) and the RC parish would cover a much wider area straddling 2 counties - comprising the civil parishes of Kilcumreragh (south County Westmeath) and Kilmanaghan (north County Offaly / King's County).
So just to be clear about location for folk reading your topic, do you have them living in Rosemount from another source?
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The surname is common enough for the area, so just to note this speculative possibility for Bridget Rabbit, it is a baptism that took place on 18 May 1827 in Tubber RC parish, parents given as John (Rabbit) & Anne Claven/Clavin?, the sponsors were John Hadergin? & Mary Carroll (left page, 6th entry up from bottom):
http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000635225#page/18/mode/1up
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Again the surname is common enough for the area and there is no guarantee that the Keenaghans were historically from Tubber RC parish, but just to note the following speculative possibilities:
1. a baptism on 28 May 1825 of Pat Ceenaghan, parents Martin (Ceenaghan) & Dorothy ? (Eagan?), sponsors Michael Ceenaghan & Mary Fegarty? (right page, 2nd entry down from top):
http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000635225#page/8/mode/1up
2. a baptism on 23 April 1826 of Pat Ceenighan, parents John (Ceenighan) & Anne? Loughery, sponsors Pat Cunningham & Mary Huse? (right page, 10th entry down from top):
http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000635225#page/13/mode/1up
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Thank you for your replies. My original post was in 2014 and since that time I have learned a bit about the Keenahans and Rabbits. I have the same baptismal certificate for Lawrence Keenahan, b 13 Aug 1842. His gravestone says that he was born in Rosemount, Westmeath.
I also have the same baptismal record for Bridget Rabbit, b 18 May 1827. Through a DNA contact I was given "A Pre-Famine Survey of Kilcrumreragh; a unique social document of Rosemount, 1834." In it I confirmed details of the John Rabbit and Ann Clavin family, p. 81.
I am very fortunate to now know as much as I do but I have not determined Patrick Keenahan's family as there are many Pat Keenahan (Ceenaghan etc.) to choose from. I don't know if I will ever unravel that family.
Again, thank you for all your attention and work on my original plea.
Robin Burns Hutchins