Patrick McCaffrey & Mary Freehill

[paul__barrett]

Hi I'm from Sydney Australia. I'm trying to get more info on my GGGrandfather Patrick McCaffrey and his wife Mary Freehill. Patrick was born circa 1810 and died in Mucklagh 1 Aug 1902. Mary was born circa 1824 (possibly Snugsborough or Carromore) and died 26 Nov 1900 in Mucklagh. We don't have a marriage date but know they had the following children, .. Mary b1855, Thomas b1859, John b1860, Patrick b1864, James b1866, Catherine b1868, Mick b1872, Anne & Bridget. There is possibly one other child not yet discovered.
Would love to trace my GGGrandparents McCaffrey & Freehill history/family.
Of the children we know Mary married James Clarke and took family to NY USA. Patrick went to NY USA where he married Mary Sheridan and had a family including Monsignor John McCaffrey (chaplain of Sing Sing Prison). James (my GGrandfather) migrated to Sydney, married Mary Eileen Mealey and had a family. We think Bridget married a John McManus (but not 100% sure). The others we assume stayed in Ireland.
Re my GGGrandfather (Patrick McCaffrey) we believe he had a brother named James.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Frustrated by not being able to find the McCaffrey/Freehill families beyond my GGGrandparents.
Cheers ......Paul Barrett

[aghadowey]

To start with, here's Patrick in 1901 census living with son Thomas-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cavan/Ballyconnell/Mucklagh/1056798

[aghadowey]

Are you sure about the children's birthdates? Found marriage in LDS database but it's 1866-
11 January 1866 Bawnboy, Bally Connell, Cavan, Ireland: Patrick Mccaffrey, single, son of Owen Mccaffrey, to Mary Freehill, single, daughter of Bernard Freehill.

Searching LDS database (www.familysearch.org) for children brings up the following records (note Pat born 1864 before the 1866 married. Also, Mary born 2 months before Catherine)-
Children:
1. Pat Mccaffrey born 4 March 1864 Ballyconnell Co. Cavan (page 42 in civil register), parents- Pat Mccaffrey & Mary Freehil
2. James Mccaffrey born 31 January 1866 Ballyconnell Co.Cavan (page 55 in civil register), parents- Patt Mccaffrey & Mary Freehill
3. Anne Mccaffrey born 15 November 1866 Killashandra Co. Cavan (page 108 in civil register) parents- Patt Mccaffrey & Mary Frehill
4. Mary Mc Caffrey born 8 October 1868 Killeshandra Co. Cavan, parents- Patt Mc Caffrey & Mary Freehill
5. Catherine Mc Caffrey born 22 December 1868 Ballyconnell Co. Cavan, parents- Patrick Mc Caffrey & Mary Freehill
6. Michael Mccaffrey born 11 October 1872 Co. Cavan, parents- Patrick Mc Caffrey & Mary Freehill
7. Eliza Mccaffrey born 10 March 1873 Ireland, parents- Patt Mccaffrey & Mary Anne Freehill Mccaffrey
8. Eugene Mccaffrey born 13 January 1877 Killeshandra Co. Cavan, parents- Patt Mccaffrey & Mary Freehill

[paul__barrett]

Thankyou for your response. I am aware of the census detail you mention.
Re the birthdates and the marriage you mention on Jan 11 1866. Cavan Genealogy Centre ruled out this marriage as being relevant on the basis that church and civil records for Co Cavan identified 2 households with the abovenamed parents. One family lived in Killeshandra and the other in Kildallan. My Patrick McCaffrey and Mary Freehill are recorded as living in Mucklagh in the same period as the Killeshandra Patrick McCaffrey and Mary Freehill. The Centre found some birth records for the Mucklagh McCaffrey/Freehill couple. ie Pat 4 Mar 1864, Catherine 22 December 1868,James 21 Jan 1866 and Michael 11 Oct 1872. The other dates we have pieced together from various sources (eg death records, marriage records, census records. etc) .......
I have a copy of Pat McCaffrey's NY death certificate and it confirms his birthdate as 4 Mar 1864. Cavan Gen Centre estimate our McCaffrey/Freehill marriage probably took place in the late 1850's prior to records being kept.
Major frustration..............but I'll keep on hoping
Thankyou once again .............. Kind regards .... Paul Barrett