Kate LORTON- found then lost

[aghadowey]

Francis Dempsey (d.1892) & Sarah "Sally" Hunter (d.1912) lived at Mullaghinch in Aghadowey Parish, County Londonderry, Ireland. Children: Patrick Joseph, Agnes, Frederick James, Mary, Anne, Anna Margaret Jane, Catherine Rose, Sarah, Francis James.

Colonel Patrick Joseph Dempsey (1849-1916) was a medical doctor in the R.A.M.C. He retired back home in Aghadowey where he built a large house. He died unmarried leaving the house along with a wonderful Will leaving bequests to many family members. Unfortunately most of the money he intended to give away seems to have been spent building the house.

Ballymoney Free Press, 1 Dec.1932: Mr. R. A. Corscadden (Messrs. Greer, Hamilton … heard in Dublin, before Mr. Justice Johnston, on 7th inst. By his will testator left all his property to his sister, Kate Lorton, for life, subject to an annuity to his sister Anna, and after the death of Kate to the eldest son of Francis Dempsey, of Drumail, and failing male issue to the eldest surviving son of John Ignatius Dempsey, J.P., of Ballynagarvey, for his life, and after his death to his eldest son then surviving. Kate Lorton died in 1917; Patrick Gerard Dempsey, the eldest son …

Sister Anna was unmarried and kept house for the Colonel. She died in 1919.

Catherine Rose “Kate” Dempsey (born 9 Feb.1869 Mullahinch) seems to have married a Mr. Lorton and died in 1917 according to above newspaper snippet. I've looked in vital records for Ireland, England/Wales and Scotland and haven't found her marriage or death.

Since I can only see the above snippet I'm not sure what brought this legal challenge about in 1932.

The last mention I have of her at home is in 1882. Can anyone find what happened to her?

[mckha489]

Here you go for the rest of the article anyway

[aghadowey]

Well, that is certainly helpful. Thank you so much. I think, after reading the whole article, that Col. Dempsey's sisters Agnes & Sarah from my list might be the Sarah Agnes mentioned. I know that 'Sarah' never married (I'm told she had become a nun) and died 1941 in Nazareth House, Derry.
Found another note I had written after talking to an elderly relative that said one of the daughters [of Francis and Sarah] was married and living in London in 1916 [Kate?].
Francis Dempsey Will, written day before he died in 1892, mentioned daughter 'Kate Dempsey' so it looks as though she married after that.

[Sinann]

Looking at the report of Patrick’s funeral in 1916, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers but only one (Miss Dempsey) is a chief mourner. The other three must have been out of the country.

[Wexflyer]

Looking at the report of Patrick’s funeral in 1916, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers but only one (Miss Dempsey) is a chief mourner. The other three must have been out of the country.

Not unusual to have only a single chief mourner??

[Wexflyer]

What on earth is the Marquis of Aghadowey doing posting in the "Beginners" board?

What hope do the rest of us have?

[aghadowey]

Isn't there only one chief mourner??

No, newspaper reports often mention 'chief mourners.'

Looking at the report of Patrick’s funeral in 1916, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers but only one (Miss Dempsey) is a chief mourner. The other three must have been out of the country.

There were two brothers that I know of- Frederick James (d.1918 New York, unm.) & Francis James (d.aged 11 weeks).
As to two surviving sisters- Sarah Agnes/Sarah/Agnes died 1941 and Annie (who kept house for him) died in 1919. I don't know what happened to Mary after 1892 but Kate is supposed to have died in 1917 which means at least 3 surviving sisters and I suspect there was only one brother still alive.

[aghadowey]

What on earth is the Marquis of Aghadowey doing posting in the "Beginners" board?

What hope do the rest of us have?

I posted here for the simple reason that I have no idea where Kate Dempsey might turn up.

[Sinann]

Looking at the report of Patrick’s funeral in 1916, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers but only one (Miss Dempsey) is a chief mourner. The other three must have been out of the country.

Isn't there only one chief mourner??

No, there can be loads. In this case, only one sibling but there was also an Uncle and some cousins.