Johannah O'Mara

Johannah O'Mara, my Great Great Grandmother, was born in Ireland. Family history says County Cork. Acccording to the US Census records, she immigrated in Abt. 1840. She would have been with her mother at that age. I recently uncovered records that indicate (her own self report in the 1910 Census) that she had 5 children, 3 still living. No one in our family seems to have known that there were more than the 3 living children.

So, was her maiden name Shay and she married an O'Mara first . . . having and losing 2 children - or did she marry Stephano Denaro and lose 2 children that we have no records for.

According to her death Certificate, her mother's name was Johannah Shay. Her father is listed as DKN. My Great Grandfather filed the DC . . . and I am  almost certain he would have listed the name of her father, had he known it or had the father come to America. I am guessing that her mother brought her to America alone. I am not sure and I have found no real records.

Johannah O'Mara came to Charleston, SC and in Abt. 1867-68 married Stephano/Stephen Denaro, an Italian immigrant who was born c. 1839, Genoa, Italy and fled the Gerabaldi Rebellion. He had fought in many battles there before coming to America, and then became a Blockade Runner during the Civil War. His ship, "The Bird" was later listed for sale in the local Charleston Newspapers.

They moved to and lived on Wadmalaw Island near Charleston where their children were born and raised.

They were both devout Catholics and raised their children in the Catholic faith. She is buried in St. Lawarence Catholic Cemetery in Charleston, SC, USA