Peter Chrisom / Cresham / Chrisham
- Born
- 28 Jan 1823
- Died
- 3 Jan 1893
- Gender
- Male
- Place of migration
- Migrated to/Born in USA
*** UPDATED 7 MAY 2025 ***
After my dad's dad's people immigrated to the Boston, Massachusetts, USA area in the 1870s-1880s, they eventually settled on spelling their surname as "Chrisom."
But, before that, it appears most often as "Cresham" while they lived in the UK - and, perhaps as "Chrisham" in Mayo.
Working backwards: my gg-grandfather, Peter Chrisom, died in Quincy, Massachusetts on 03 January 1893. His age at death was recorded as "69 years, 11 months, 5 days" on Quincy's civil Death Register - so, I backed into his DOB based on this information.
His parents' names were recorded on the Register as John Chrisom and Bridget Cavanaugh, both born in Ireland.
Peter married Margaret Burke in 1851, while they both lived in West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
Peter and Margaret had 11 known children - 10 of whom were born in Staffordshire. The outlier was their daughter Bridget ... and, I finally found her RC baptismal record a few years back!
From the Parish Register, Diocese of Tuam, RC Parish of Kilmaine, County Mayo: Bridget CRUSHIM, of Peter (Crushim) and Peggy Burke. Witnesses: William Finegan and Catharine Gaynard. No townland listed for this entry.
Not long ago, I also FINALLY located an 1888 US Immigration filing for Peter "Chrisolm": living in Quincy, occupation Laborer, born in mid 1820s in the Parish of "Shrool" (Shrule), County Mayo. There are no other gents with the forename of Peter with any remotely similar surnames listed in the Quincy City Directory during that timeframe, so this has to be our Peter.
Further, Ancestry shows a listing in the Tithe Applotments in the mid 1820s for a John "Chrisham", residing in the Cahernabrock Townland, Shrule, Mayo. Since Peter's father was shown as John on his death register entry, I'm pretty sure I've confirmed his townland of origin. (Interestingly, there are also some Cavanagh families listed on the same page of the Tithe Applotments, which syncs with Peter's mother's surname).
However, by the time of the compilation of Griffith's Valuation in Mayo, there are no Chrisham families listed in Cahernabrock. There are persons with similar surnames listed in townlands close to Tuam in Galway, so it's possible the extended family members moved there ... ?
Anyway, after finding the new information relating to Bridget's baptism in the Kilmaine RC Parish Register, and Peter showing an origin in Cahernabrock, Shrule, I'm thrilled to finally trace the origin of my direct paternal line to a specific area in Ireland.
I would welcome any and all assistance with finding out more about this line - especially if the folks with similar surnames found later near Tuam turn out to be my ancestors as well.
Thank you all!
