Hello Phly,
Thanks for your reply on Ireland XO about my Gleesons in the area. I have been in contact with a “cousin”, David Gleeson, from Pillmore. We only correspond by mail, so it takes a while for us to compare notes. He and I share almost identical DNA, but cannot find our connection.
His family goes back to a David Gleeson in Clonpriest (b. 1808) m. Eliza Betty Cunnigham. His brother, William Gleeson (1805-1900) m. Ellen Griffin. David’s son, Michael Gleeson (1832-1916) m. Nancy Walsh, daughter of William Walsh and Ellen Condon. Other names in the family are: Staughton, O’Connor, Murphy, McCarthy, Motherway, and Sullivan. Michael and Nancy’s daughter, Mary Gleeson (1868-1946) m. Edmond Irwin.
For a time, I thought my family descended from James Gleeson and Margaret Colbert, but, on my great-grandfather Patrick’s marriage certificate, it lists his parents as James Gleeson and Margaret Connors. It is not the original document, so it may be a transcription error. My great-grandfather, Patrick was born in Ireland about 1852 and came to Canada in 1862 as a child. Who he came with is a mystery. I did find records for James and Margaret Colbert in the Fermoy Poor Union after 1862, so he must not have come to Canada with his parents.
I have written to David Gleeson in Pillmore trying to set a time for us to meet, but I have not yet heard fback rom him. We plan on staying at the Castle Farm B&B in Castkemartyr the evening of April 5, 2020 on our way to. Dublin the next day.
Thank you for your offer to meet. I will wait to see if I hear from David and let you know if a meeting could be arranged.
Paddy Gleason
