Thomas Bailey

The earliest records we have show that the Baileys came from the Abbeville townland near Lorrha, a village in the North Riding of County Tipperary in Ireland. There are many versions of the "Bailey" name found while doing genealogy research; Bayly, Bayley, Baily, Bailie, Bealy, Baly, Baylee, etc.

There are seven Bailey graves in the Church of Ireland Cemetery (St Ruadan's Abbey) on the south end of Lorrha.  Among these graves is a Lindsay grave. Bridget Bailey married John Lindsay.  The following is a transcription from the gravestone. Erected by Benjamin Lindsay, a pensioner of the G.P.O., in memory of his grandfather Benjamin Bailey of Abbeyville, died 1818 aged 76 years.  Also his father John Lindsay of Birr died 1861 aged 82 years.  Also his mother Bridget Lindsay nee Bailey of Abbeyville died 1878 aged 92 years.  Also the above named Benjamin Lindsay, Whiteford, Birr died Feby 12th 1890 aged 80 years.These gravestones date from 1770 to 1890 and are very badly deteriorated.

The Thomas Bailey family arrived in the U.S. in 1851 towards the end of the great Potato Famine in Ireland. Thomas, wife Jane Maquire and six sons and daughters, Benjamin, George, Elizabeth, Thomas, Marcella Jane and Andrew settled in Iowa near their relatives the John Lindsay family. The Lindsay's had settled in Iowa in 1851.

Thomas died August 10th a few months after arriving. He is buried in the Lindsay Family plot in the Zion Cemetery near Colesburg, Iowa. The family moved to Zumbro township, Wabasha County, Minnesota around 1856.

Thomas is my 3rd Great Grandfather.