Hello, I visited Millstreet this September but couldn’t quite catch up with Mr. Radley. My great-grandmother was Bridget Mary Francis Kelleher and was born in Millstreet 1 FEB 1861. Her parents were Timothy Kelleher and Johannah Murphy. She and her husband, David Morrissey (or Morrison) emigrated to the US in 1889. I’d love to make contact with any relatives and to know more about the family. Thanks for any help anyone can provide. [1]
Best wishes,
Michael Morrissey
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The below information is added by the admin to give some context, and to figure out who her family were. Easy enough to track Bridget, but we’re at a bit of a loss to figure out immediate family:
Baptism
Baptism of BRIGIDA (BRIDGET) KELLIHER of DRISANE BEG on 2 February 1860 (born on the 1st) to Timothy Kelliher and Johanna Murphy, by Fr. Thomas Nolan. Sponsored by Denis Murphy and Ellen Kelleher.
Siblings
Baptism of JULIA KELEHER of DRISHANBEG on 2 May 1862, to Timothy Kelleher and Johanna Murphy of Drishanebeg, at Millstreet Church by Fr T. Brosnan. Sponsored by Daniel Murphy and Abigail Shea. see more below:
One ancestry profile lists her siblings as Mary Kelleher (1853–1926), Jeremiah Kelleher, Julia Lucey, Hannah Sweeney Lucey, Norah Kelleher … but with no verification as to this (will try to get verification)
Marriage
Marriage of David Morrissy and Bridget Kelleher, both of 77 Old Georges St, Cork. He a victualler, son of Michael Morrissy (dead), farmer. She the daughter of Timothy Kelleher, a farmer. Witnessed by William Morrissey and Julia Cunningham.
Children
Mary Josephine Morrissey 1884–1897. Born 8 Lavitt’s Lane, Cork
Peter Charles Morrissey 1887–1958. Born 8 Lavitt’s Lane, Cork
Nora Genevieve Morrissey 1889–1967
Henry James Morrissey 1892–1980
Francis Joseph Morrissey 1894–1954
Marguerite Marie Morrissey 1897–1966
Julia Madeline Morrissey 1899–1901
Michael Thomas Morrissey 1900– ???
Esther Eugenia Morrissey 1902–1919
Timothy Vincent Morrissey ????
(note: 1900 census says 9 children, 6 alive; 1910 census says 10 children, 6 alive but there are 10 above)
Emigration to America
David and Bridget moved with their two children Mary and Peter to Massachusetts in 1889.
Her parents and siblings?
No information on what happened to them but this might be it:
I wonder if her father went by the name Thomas in later life? (not a too uncommon thing in those days)
The reason is that a Julia Kelleher of the same age, and from Drishanebeg married a James Kelleher in 1886, her father was Thomas, and mother Johanna. Also confirmation from Julia’s descendants that she had a sister Bridget:
Marriage of JAMES KELLEHER of Carriganima and JULIA KELLEHER of Drishanebeg on 09 March 1886, in Millstreet Church by Fr Arthur S. Griffin. He the son of John and Margaret Kelleher of Carriganima (farmers), she the daughter of Thomas and Johanna Kelleher of Drishanebeg (farmers). Witnessed by John J Murphy and Daniel Murphy [church register].
1901 census: Residents of a house 3 in Drishane Beg (Rathcool, Cork). James and Julia have 7 children:
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelleher | James | 45 | Male | Head of Family Farmer |
Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Julia | 42 | Female | Wife | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | John | 13 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Maggie | 12 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Tom | 10 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Kathleen | 9 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Dan | 7 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | William | 5 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Timothy | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
John (aged 13 in the 1901 census above emigrated to Boston in 1910 with his future wife Margaret Buckley, and they had eight children. He married again and had another child. He died in 1958 in Watertown, Boston. (further details below)
1911 census: Residents of a house 1 in Drishane Beg (Rathcool, Cork). James and Julia have now had 10 children (7 alive):
The father’s absence from the 1911 census might be explained that he was in Boston
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelleher | Julia | 51 | Female | Head of Family Married |
Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Thomas | 20 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Daniel | 17 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | William | 16 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Kelleher | Timothy | 10 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
That Thomas Kelleher died in 1891, aged 85, and Johanna died in 1897 aged 78 [grave]
The Kelleher home at Drishanebeg
TODO: insert notes from Tim
**********
John Kelleher (1887-1958)
John was born on May 27th 1887 at Drishanebeg, son of Julia (Keleher) Keleher and James Kelleher a farmer
See 1901 census above
John emigrated from Queenstown on the SS Zealand and arrived in Boston on April 27th 1910 (mother Julia Kelleher, Drishanebeg). His mother paid for the ticket and his destination was 16 Allen Street, Boston … his father’s house!!! He is 5’8″ tall, fair skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. [a]
He travelled with a Margaret Buckley age 21, from Millstreet; servant, daughter of Margaret Buckley of Killowen, Millstreet. Her destination was her cousin Hannah Kelleher, 384 Malboro St, Boston; 5’6″ tall, brown skin (???), brown hair, blue eyes [a]
Also on board was Patrick Barry of Coolkerane, but maybe that was a coincidence.
John married Margaret Buckley on May 3rd, six days later. They had:
Timothy (September 24th 1910 Boston – 1977)
Julia (January 11th 1912 Boston – 1979)
John 30th May 1913 Boston
Margaret (Jan 22nd 1915 Cambridge – 1989)
Kathleen (Feb 1st 1917 Cambridge – 1979)
James c. Nov 1919 (possibly died young)
Thomas (Dec 3rd 1921 Cambridge – 1997)
William March 10th (1926 Cambridge – 1982)
Margaret died on Dec 7th 1935, 117 Kinnaird St., Cambridge, MA [1]
John married another Irish woman Katherine ? on April 18th 1937, and had
Maureen (March 4th 1939 – 2018) [naturalizaion]
1920: Living in Franklin St., Cambridge, MA. working as a teamster for Teaming Contractors.
1930: Living with the family at Kinnard Street, Cambridge, MA, a freight handler for express.
1940: 194 School Street, Watertown, Middlesex, MA. He was a Freight Handler for a Railway Express. Living with his wife Catherine, and children Thomas, William, and Maureen
John died on January 20th 1958 in Watertown, a former Railroad employee. [anc: 2]
**********
Ancestry
[Bridget Mary Frances Kelleher – (Bobguy85) – good]
[Bridget Mary Frances Kelleher (Charles Morrissey) – more information but does contains inaccuracies with Bridget’s parents]
[Julia Kelleher (Kezox)
My name is Christine Kelleher-Ross! Julia and James were my great grandparents, and their son Thomas was my grandfather who immigrated to New York and then ended up in Cambridge!
Not sure if he lived on Allen Street in Boston with James, his father! I have been told that Thomas my grandfather and I believe John as well had to leave Ireland, as they were supposedly involved with the IRA, not sure if James was, but very well could , which would explain why he left Julia in Ireland. My grandfather Thomas had 3 sons, my dad Thomas Jr was the oldest, then James and John. I don’t recall ever hearing of my great grandfather, James, not sure how well my dad new him! O grew up in Cambridge and my dad was a Cambridge police officer! His mother Mary Josephine MvDonough Kelleher was so proud that he was on the force. Mary met my grandfather here in the states, she immigrated from Galway in 1918. I was very surprised to see this online and see my great grandparents mentioned. I don’t have a lot of info on her siblings, but I did manage to get her parents names. I would love to get any other information if possible.