Many thanks, LH and Kiltaglassan!! Both are possible. This baby Thomas Keane may be my maternal great grandfather, whose daughter, my grandmother, was also named Margaret, as was my mother (her daughter).
His father was said to have survived the whaling accident, but developed a respiratory infection as a result, which led to comprised health and early death. There is a question mark over his occupation, which is listed as farmer. But he wouldn't have been able to continue whaling after his accident, and may have grown some food, as did most county folk.
