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Claffey/Claffy

Hello All!

I am interested in finding out more about Claffey/Claffy's from Westmeath if possible. My g-g-grandfather was James Claffey born about 1823. He emigrated to America as a young man (by 1850 US census records show him living in Virginia). I have found a personal ad from the Irish American Weekly dated December 22, 1877 which reads as follows:

Information Wanted

Westmeath

Of James Claffey, a native of Cloughanshaw or Streamstown, Horseleap Parish, co. Westmeath, Ireland. When last heard from he was in Fort Motte, Orangeburgh Co., S.C. Any intelligence of him will be thankfully received by Anne Claffey, Cloughanshaw, Streamstown, co. Westmeath, Ireland.

My sister visited Horseleap recently and find a few grave sites for Claffey's in the cemetery but there is little to link our g-g-grandfather to anyone other than the Anne Claffey who posted the enquirey I shared above.

I also know that he married Eliza McKenna who was from Five Mile Town, Tyrone, Ireland.

Any historicalinformation about this family would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks kindly,

Jim Claffy

Houston, TX

IrelandXO member

13 replies

Jim:

The spelling of the townland is Cloghanaskaw in Ardlurcher parish.

I checked the Tithe listings www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie There are Claffy records in Ardlurcher parish but no Claffeys. None of the Claffys were in Cloghanaskaw.

I checked the 1854 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Ardlurcher parish and there were no Claffey/Claffys listed.

The Catholic Church in the area was Clara/Horseleap. Later this summer the National Library of Ireland plans to put the RC parish registers for free searching.

I checked the 1901 census for Cloghanaskaw and there was a 56 year old Annie Claffy probably the same Anne Claffey who posted the above notice. She died in 1906. Hard to tell her relationship to James possibly a sister in law?

Roger McDonnell

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Westmeath/Streamstown/…

First name(s) Anne
Last name Claffy
Birth year 1845
Age at death 61
Registered year 1906
Registered quarter/year Apr - Jun 1906
Registration district Mullingar
Volume 3
Page 180
Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

Thanks very much for the useful information (and links)!

The spelling of the name (Claffy vs. Claffey) is something that I have come to view as unimportant.  Early records for my g-g-grandfather show it spelled both ways.  Mostly "Claffey" but sometimes "Claffy".  All of his children spelled the name without the 'e' though.

I notice that there is also a townland called "Cloghan" in King's county.  I wonder how it relates to Cloghanaskaw.  Also, I wonder why it was spelled the way it was in the newspaper ad?

Moate is another place that I have seen as the origin of James Henry Claffey, my g-g-grandfather.  I will further check the National Archives (to which you linked) for more links there as well.

The Annie Claffy you located appears to have been born in 1845.  My g-g-grandfather was born in 1823 so the chance of her being a sister-in-law is remote.  Perhaps a niece?

Thanks again for taking the time to help me piece this puzzle together, it is much appreciated.

Regards,

Jim Claffy

IrelandXO member

Headstone in Kilbeggan cemetery;

Paddy Claffey; Cumminstown Kilbeggan; 29/10/1922-10/6/2000

wife-Anne (nee Bracken); 20/1/1927-20/2/2001

==================================

Jack Mc Donald

www.genealogylaois.com

IrelandXO member

Ferbane cemetery;

John Claffey; Ballyvora Ferbane; 4/5/1967 (61)

sons-Sean; 6/11/1958 ( 2 and a half)

James; 28/4/1958 (4 months)

wife-Madge; 11/9/1982 (65)

-----

William Claffey; Main st Ferbane; 

wife-Mary;

son-Martin;

daughters-Margaret

Katie-14/3/1983

her brother-John; 31/12/1987

-----------

Thomas Claffey; Main st Ferbane; 13/10/1980 (77)

wife-Molly; 25/4/1958

erected by the Flynn family.

=======================================

Jack Mc Donald

www.genealogylaois.com

IrelandXO member

Mucklagh cemetery;

Thomas Claffey; Mucklagh; 21/10/1996 (56)

-------------------

Frank Claffey; Mucklagh; 22/4/1981 (98)

wife-Mary; 12/4/1983 (82)

son-Frank; 17/8/1989 (64)

---------

Anne Claffey; Mucklagh; 11/5/1991 (44)

===============================

Jack Mc Donald

www.genealogylaois.com

IrelandXO member

Jim:

The reason I suggested a sister in law was tthe annotation on the 1901 census that she was a widow. If she married a brother of James she could have been 10 or more years younger than her husband. A niece is also possible.

The spelling of the townland is likely do to the following. Annie mailed a letter to the Irish American Weekly. She likely spelled Cloghan as Cloughan and her "K" likely looked like and "H" to the paper.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

Your explanation for the mis-spelling of Cloghanskaw is certainly plausible.  For some reason I thought the folks at the Irish American Weekly were familiar enough with Ireland to get all these things straight.  But I suppose that is not necessarily the case.

You are also correct in allowing for the possibility of this Annie Claffy as the sister-in-law of my g-g-grandfather.  I am wondering though if this Annie Claffy is different from the one who posted the ad in the Irish American Weekly.  Perhaps related (i.e. her daughter) though since they seem to be from the same place.  The reason being that my g-g-grandfather died in 1873, roughly four years prior to the ad being placed.  I assume that Anne Claffey posted the ad because she had not heard from him in a long time.  This leads me to believe she knew him personally before he left for America.  The Annie you found was born in 1845, just five years before he was known to be living in America.  So she would have been a very young girl when he left Ireland.  Of course, that does not preclude her from wanting to find her relative so perhaps I should open my mind a bit.  :)  The ad posted in the Irish American Weekly is the most solid piece of evidence I have found so far and placing him in Cloghanskaw is something I need to look into diligently.  Many of the accounts from others put his place of birth in Moate though so it is possible that more of his family is from that area.

Thanks again for your time and willingness to help me try and figure it all out.  The information you have found is very helpful indeed!

Best,

Jim

IrelandXO member

Jim:

Cloghanaskaw and Moate are about 12 kilometers apart. Not very far.

Have you considered DNA testing for genealogy purposes? Since you are a Claffy the Y-DNA test is available and also the Family Finder (autosomal) test which looks for distant cousins on your maternal and paternal lines.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

Is that the test that Ancestry.com (AncestryDNA) offers?

Thanks,

Jim

IrelandXO member

Jim:

Ancestry does the autosomal (Family Finder) test. Family Tree DNA does the autosomal and also the Y-DNA test.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks, Roger.  I will look into it.

Jim

IrelandXO member

Jim Claffy, You posted a good while ago. I just am seeing this because I got interested in my Irish ancestors because I have a niece vacationing there. Anne Claffy is Anne Claffey Darby of Fort Motte SC. She was the sister to Robert Claffy the son of James. he died in Fort Motte in 1897 at the age of 56 of a heart attack. I hope you may see this or others kin to me. If you like further information.

 

David McDougall

Dalzell, SC 

davidmcdougall

To Jim Claffy and family, Anne of Fort Motte SC must have been named for this Anne Claffy of Ireland and probably his sister.

davidmcdougall

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