DUNN of Forkhill, Armagh

I am hoping that someone may be able to help with my research of the family of Peter Dunn of Lathbirget and Ann Kelly who married in Forkhill in July 1857.  They had five sons 1. John, 2. Matthew, 3. Richard, 4. Michael, and 5. Hugh, all of whom came to Liverpool.  I believe Peter stayed in Forkhill whilst his two brothers Matthew and Michael both came to Liverpool and set up in the horse business.  Peter Dunn's parents were (I believe) Matthew Dunn of Lathbirget and (Unknown) Murphy

Hi Matthew,

Hopefully you'll see this...

I believe that Peter and Ann's fifth son Hugh is my great granddad. He had a son also called Peter who is my granddad. One of Peters daughters Brenda is my mum. I'm pretty sure all this goes back to Hughie because my mum took us to Forkhill in 2008 when we were visting Ireland to go back to where the family were originally from. You've got a huge amount of relatives originating from Liverpool from Hughie alone! By coincidence the other week I got a picture of Peter marrying my grandmother Sarah in about 1930 and Hugh was in the picture. 

Cheers 

Richard

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for posting this info.  If your Hugh is the Hugh who married Anne Nolan, then we may be cousins, and of the same generation - my Matthew would be your Hughie's elder brother, I think.

I am very interested in the Liverpool story - and if you have any information about that I would very much like to hear it.  From my researches I know that Peter Dunn was one of five sons. His brothers were: Michael, John, Richard and Matthew.  Michael and Matthew came to Liverpool, sometime before 1865, setting up in the horse business around Edge Hill and Tunnel Road.  Later, they were joined by Peter's sons, all of whom worked in the horse business and later for Liverpool Corporation Tramways.

Peter was the only one of five brothers to remain in Ireland, and four of Peter's five sons (Matthew, Dickie, Hughie and John) left Ireland for Liverpool, sometime around the 1880s, to join their uncles, Michael and Matthew, who employed them in the family businesses. They then found work with Liverpool Corporation Tramways, first with horse drawn trams and then with electric trams. One of the brothers looked after the horses for Liverpool Corporation Tramways and made medicine for the horses when they were sick.

My grandmother, Winifred Dunn, daughter of Matthew Dunn (your Hughie's brother) was the first of my Dunn's to be born in England (Liverpool).

This is the information I have on Hughie - does it tally with your's?

Hugh Dunn (son of Peter and Anne Dunn) was born on 28 Jul 1870 in Lathbirget, Forkhill, Newry, County Armagh, Ireland. He was baptized on 29 Jul 1870 in Lathberget, Forkhill, Newry, County Armagh, Ireland. Lived at 11 Bell St in West Derby, Liverpool, England in 1911. In 1930 was living at 11 Bell St, Old Swan, Liverpool 13 (shown in 1930 Kelly's Directory), had 2 sons, Peter and Edward, and 2 daughters, Florence and Lilly.  Lived at 14 Anstey Road in Liverpool, Lancashire, England in 1940. Died on 1 Oct 1940 at the age of 70 at St Vincent's Hospital in Liverpool, England. Buried on 4 Oct 1940 at Yew Tree Cemetery, Liverpool.  Grave 3B398. Hugh was a Tramway Motorman.

Birth record: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur… births_1870/03339/2224029.pdf 

Baptised on 29/07/1870, sponsors were Math Dunn and Mary Dunn. The address on the Baptism record is given as Lathbergit. 

Anne Nolan was born in 1874. She died in 1936 at the age of 62.  Hugh Dunn and Anne Nolan had the following children:

                       i.   Peter Dunn, born 17 Oct 1901, Liverpool, England; married Sarah Maher; died 27 Dec 1956.

                      ii.   Lillie Dunn, born 1901, Liverpool, England; married Jim Hardy.

                     iii.   Annie Florence Dunn, born 20 Feb 1906, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; married Paddy Blackburn.

                     iv.   Edward Dunn was born in 1907 in Liverpool, England.

                      v.   Catherine Dunn was born in 1910 in Liverpool, England.

All the best, Matthew

Hi Matthew

Thanks for the information. Yes Hughie is definitely my great granddad. I've attached that photo of his son Peter and Sarah Maher (my grandparents) on their wedding day. Hugh is to behind to the left of Peter (with the mustache!) and Hughs wife Annie is to the right of the priest. My mum was Brenda Annie Dunn who was born in 1938 (died 2014). She was one of six children they had: Maureen, Sheila, Michael (Fr Matthew), Brenda, Margaret and Eileen. I will try and get a copy of our family tree for more details.

Also attached is a picture of the headstone of Hughie and Annie & Peter and Sarah (and cousin Bernard) from Yewtree cementary in West Derby

Many thanks

Richard

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for the information and the photos.  I would be very interested in any other family information you have from that generation - I don't have any stories or photos of my gt grandfather so everything I've learned has come through censuses and research.  I do know that they lived around West Derby all their life. 

His wife, Rose Bonham (maiden name Hughes) was from Newtownhamilton,  Armagh, Ireland and a widow of 30 when they married.  She had a child,  Mary Elizabeth Bonham who was born abt 1887. Rose's daughter, Mary, (by her first husband) married Joseph Kelly and Father Phil Kelly, a Catholic priest, was her son.

They had four children:  Sally (Sarah) b. 1891 married Austin Lindon in Old Swan, Rose (died as a baby), Winifred (my grandmother) born 1894 in West Derby married Richard 'Dick' Henderson, Matthew b 1897 (died 1917 in French Flanders in WWI), Peter b 1899 - emigrated to America in 1924, lived in Oakland, California.

I have attached a photo which could possibly be John Dunn, the eldest brother - I wonder if you would know if it's actually him?

All the best, Matthew