Hennessy - Tullamore

[nell1850]

My great grandmother was Rose Hennessy. I believe that she born around 1852. She worked in service in Balbriggan, Dublin and married Peter Fedigan, also in service, in Sept 1877. Rose's marriage cert gives her parish as Tullamore. Her father was William Hennessy, a farmer. I am aware that Hennessy is a common name in Offaly and I don't know where to start looking for the family there. Can anyone suggest a good starting point?
Many thanks

[shanew147]

For records before the start of full civil registration you need to check which parish records are available. To do this you need to know they family religion as well as which parish the family lived in.

see : Introduction to Irish Records

Some records for Co. Offaly are available as transcripts on the pay-website of the Irish Family History Foundation at http://www.rootsireland.ie/


Shane

[nell1850]

Thank you and Happy New Year to you. I know the  family was Catholic but can't pinpoint them geographically. I'll have to do some more homework!

MOD: I've had a closer look at the marriage cert and it says that they were married in Tullamore Church by the priest Matthew Gaffney. If there is anyone who can advise on the history of local churches, would this be the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore?

[shanew147]

There's seems to be just one parish covering Tullamore and the ecclesiastical directory of Thom's 1877 shows Matthew Gaffney listed as one of the Curates. The PP was V. Rev. John McAlroy, and the other curates are Joseph Flood and Patk. Leonard.

The name of the church is not mentioned, but based on the directory details there should be just one parish church in the town at that time. Based on the OSI maps from the 1890s I'd say that the church was St. Mary's - see : St. Mary's, Tullamore  (select the 25" option to see the c1890 map)

The location of the church on the 1890s map fits with the location of modern day Church of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady. It's website (see : link) describes the address as the same basic location of Chapel Street/Harbour Street. There have been several churches on the same site since the early 1800s, and the current church was rebuilt after a fire in the 1980s.


Shane

[nell1850]

Hi Shane
Thank you so much - that's really helpful.
Best wishes
Nell

[AJO]

I dont know if this has come up in your search but I have James Waudesford Hennessy in my family tree.. Happy to send you my tree that I have done up if it is a relation..

In 1862 John Quigley a store keeper and Isabella Neely had a daughter Jane Maria Quigley born in Tanalgh, Derry, Ireland.

Jane Migrated to Australia on the 15 June 1881 as a 16 year old on the Scottish Knight. The vessel landed in Townsville and took 3months with 292 people on board. Jane’s fare was a fully paid fare.

Jane met James Waudesford Hennessy who was born in Conahy Kilkenny Ireland, his parents Patrick Waudesford Hennessy a carpenter and Alice Josephine Haydon.

Jane and James married on the 1st June 1883 at Burke, on Richmond Downs. Jane was a servant at Richmond Downs and James a Carpenter.

A daughter was born at Richmond Downs on 29th March 1884, Alicia Josephine Hennessy.

James passed away in July 1884, leaving behind his new born baby who was only a couple of months old.
 
On the 4th Nov 1885 Jane married Robert Skien who was a butcher and one month later their first daughter Annie Isabella Skien was born, 16th Dec 1885.

[nell1850]

Thanks for your interest AJO and yours is a very interesting story but I don't think there is a link as I haven't traced my family to Kilkenny or Australia (but I live in hope  ).
All the best
Nell