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John Keogh born ~1797 in Tipperary

Holycross (Tipperary)

I am trying to find the family of John Keogh, who joined  the 28th Foot Soldiers, 2nd Battalion on the 23rd Oct 1816, in Athlone Co Westmeath, aged 19. His birthplace was given as Holycross Tipperary and he was described as a labourer. His unit was in NSW from 1835 to 1842 and he left the army there in 1840 and settled in NSW, as did many soldiers. John died in 1850 and left some property to a brother, Denis who I think had migrated to Australia from Tipperary in 1841. He left a widow in NSW, Johanna and it seems likely that he was married when he arrived in NSW.

Can anyone suggest sources which might give clues to his family in Holycross.

With thanks

Margaret

margvk06@gmail.com

2 replies

Margaret:

The RC records for Holycross parish start in 1835.

I also looked at the 1834 Tithe listings for the parish and did not see any Keogh records.

The 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Holycross civil parish shows two Keogh records: a John Keogh in Whitefort townland and a Patrick Keogh in Grange townland.  https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/tipperary/holycross.htm

I located a Thomas Keough in Whitefort townland in the 1901 census 

 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Holycross/Wh…

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger for your reply. Your finds are tantalising and I will give them further thought.

I note that his native place was given as "Parish of Holycross, in or near the town of Thurles". He joined the 28th Foot Regiment in Athlone Co Westmeath. From my initial searches for Athlone, I found a site which stated that in ancient times, Athlone was known as Keogh's country. I wonder why he joined in Athlone. Was it because there were no closer depots to Holycross, or because he had family in Athlone?  I suppose it might be impossible to find out.

Margaret

margvk06@gmail.com

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