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Looking for William and Margaret Leary - parents of Mary (Maria) Leary born about 1840

CorkKildorrery (Cork)

I will be visiting Kildorrery on 13 June 2018 to see where my ancestors lived and I am seeking details about the Mary Leary (my great grandmother) who sailed for Australia aboard the "Patrician" that arrived in Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia 31 Oct 1854. The ship's records state that she was from Doneraile, aged 18, a farm servant, her parents William and Margaret Leary were deceased, she could read and write, her health was good, and that her Australian contact was her stepmother, Mary Leary in Dapto New South Wales. Also aboard was another girl from Doneraile named Hannah Spettigue, farm servant aged 20 whose parent Phillip and Mary were living in Doneraile and Hannah had an aunt Bridgit Leary in Dapto who was probably known if not related to Mary.

I believe that Mary's father is the William Leary that was a tenant dairy farmer in Carhoo in 1834 and in 1850 was the occupier of a house and land in Townland Carhoo. He may be the William Leary who married Margaret Fouhy in Kildorrery on 18 Apr 1833 and he may be the father of the Mary, daughter of William Leary and Margaret Frahir who was baptised at Kildorrery 19 March 1837.

I do have other details so I am hoping someone may be able to contact me who could possibly assist me in my quest for further information.

Regards,

Gwen Smith

gsm66622@bigpo…

4 replies

Hi Gwen

Assuming Mary was born in Doneraile, here is the only birth/baptisms 1836 + - 10 years with parents William & Margaret from www.rootsireland.ie/:

Name:Mary LearyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:24-Aug-1836Address:RossaParish/District:DONERAILEGender:FemaleCountyCo. Cork
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:William LearyMother:Margaret KennyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Timothy Quinlan Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Linchan 
Notes:

CELEB:[HENRY POWER].

This one has mother's surname similar to Fuohy

Name:Mary LearyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:10-Jul-1836Address:BallyhoolyParish/District:CASTLETOWNROCHEGender:FemaleCountyCo. Cork
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:William LearyMother:Margaret FoleyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Simon Flynn Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Foley 
Notes:

PRIEST: D.FOLEY

Col

 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi ColCaff,

Thank you so much for your quick response.  It is very much appreciated.  The first Mary Leary sounds the most promising as the story passed down through the family was that Mary's mother's maiden name may have been Kerring.  Kenny is quite close especially if it was written when first seen and it is certainly closer than Fouhy or Foley.  Also it would tie in with the age of Mary (18) when she arrived in Australia in 1854. On her death certificate, she was listed as Maria Leary, however I believe she was always called Mary. 

I have subsequently searched on Ancestry.com for any marriage between William Leary and Margaret Kenny but to no avail.  Nor have I found a date of death for either William or Margaret both of whom would have been deceased prior to when Mary left Ireland.  As Mary had claimed to have a stepmother named Mary Leary in Australia I looked for and found a marriage in Buttevant of a William Leary from Doneraile to a Mary (surname indecipherable for me) on 24 Feb 1838 so, if it is the same William, it would suggest that either he did not marry Margaret Kenny or that she had died sometime in the two years since her daughter Mary was born.

Could I again ask you to kindly check further for me please to see if you can find any trace of a marriage between William and Margaret Kenny or perhaps any record of their deaths?  Many thanks for your excellent work and regards.

Cheers,

Gwen

gsm66622@bigpo…

No luck with the marriage or deaths on rootsireland I'm afraid Gwen, but if you haven't already you might try www.irishgenealogy.ie/ for the marriage.

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Col,

My search continues.  I have found on irishgenealogy (I hadn't tried and I love it) where a William Leary married  Bridget Divane in Doneraile 24 November 1836 to further complicate my search.  It looks like he may not have married Margaret Kenny and he may not be the William Leary in Carhoo either.  I shall keep looking and ... who knows?  Meanwhile you have my enduring gratitude and I may call on your expertise yet again. Cheers,

Gwen

gsm66622@bigpo…

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