There have been a few queries about the CUNNINGHAM family of Sligo recently, the names seem very familiar... but then this is Ireland... so I'll add my contribution in the hope that we can establish some actual family connections somewhere:-
I know very little about this CUNNINGHAM family, it's been a block for me for a long while, so any clues at all would be helpful.
Thomas CUNNINGHAM
born. c.1809 based on his age given at the time of his death.
died. 15 July 1877 in Rathlee, County Sligo, aged 68.
buried. Kilglass Cemetery, County Sligo.
The witness at his death was Sarah CUNNINGHAM, believed to be his wife who may have been formerly Sarah KILCULLEN. No details of their marriage or Sarah's birth or death are known.
Thomas CUNNINGHAM was a Coastguard boatman who served at various locations in his lifetime including: Ballina, Sligo (1839-1842), Mullaghmore, Sligo (1842-1844), Larne, Antrim (1844-1856), and Rathlee, Sligo (1856+).
In 1877, Thomas CUNNINGHAM, a "retired Coastguard boatman" of Rathlee, was received by the parish priest, John GRIFFIN, at Easky Church, near Rathlee, whereby he "abjured heresy" and professed his solemn Catholic faith. This note was inserted in the "baptism" records of Easky Church and suggests that Thomas CUNNINGHAM renounced his previous faith (or lack) and became a Catholic in his final days.
His only known child was:-
John KILCULLEN, born Patrick John CUNNINGHAM (1850-1916) at Larne, who joined the Royal Navy as an underage boy in 1864, with his father's permission, at Rathlee. John eventually deserted from the Navy in 1876, in Sydney NSW, changed his name, settled in Australia and thereafter claimed his parents were named Thomas KILCULLEN and Sarah CUNNINGHAM.
John KILCULLEN and his wife Jane SANDS married in Queensland in 1882 and had children:-
Janet Morrison KILCULLEN (1883-1969), named after Jane's mother.
Thomas John KILCULLEN (1885-1953)
Robert Sands KILCULLEN (1886-1888), named after Jane's father.
Ethel Sarah KILCULLEN (1887-1928)
Francis James KILCULLEN (1889-1977)
Frances Virginia KILCULLEN (1889-1961)
Elizabeth Alice KILCULLEN (1892-1981)
William Bernard KILCULLEN (1893-1964)
Allan Norman KILCULLEN (1896-1980)
Alexander Robert KILCULLEN (1899-1979)
Any information on the CUNNINGHAM and/or possible KILCULLEN connections to my family in Ireland would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Marc
