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Thomas Clifford, Shoemaker, Kilmeedy, Limerick circa 1851

LimerickFeenagh Kilmeedy (Limerick)

Greetings from Australia,

Searching for information on Thomas Clifford, Shoemaker and his wife Margaret Fitzgerald, who resided in Kilmeedy, Limerick.

I found an “Extract from census return of 1851” showing Catherine Clifford (1846) with parents Thomas (Shoemaker) and Margaret Clifford/Fitzgerald; see attachment. I can’t find much information about the origins of this extract document but it appears to be dated “11.3.16” which I take to be 11 March 1916 – is this correct?

Can I assume from this extract that daughter Catherine was born in 1846 and was the only surviving child to this couple by 1851? No marriage record has been found for Thomas Clifford (born ~1817) to Margaret Fitzgerald (born ~1823).

The online Catholic baptism registers for Feenagh (including Kilmeedy) start in 1854. By scrolling through the registers, I have found two baptisms for this family  - Michael Clifford in 1855 and Margaret Clifford in 1861. There was definitely a Thomas born ~1853. Were the baptism and marriage records for Feenagh prior to 1854 lost or would baptisms have been held elsewhere such as in nearby Dromcollogher? With one birth in 1845 (Catherine) then Thomas ~1853, Michael in 1855 and Margaret in 1861, there’s obviously plenty of room for more siblings but where to look?

I have death records for Thomas Clifford and his wife Margaret Fitzgerald (both in 1877) and son Thomas Clifford born ~1853 for marriage (to Catherine/Kate Collins in 1876) as well as subsequent generations through census data and Irish Civil Records, it’s just these earlier records that have me stumped!

Thanks, Alan Denham

aldenham@telstra.com

4 replies

Alan:

Catherine Clifford Keane filed for the Old Age Pension on March 11 1916  (as you correctly surmised). You had to be 70 to receive the pension. Since she did not have proof of baptism, the 1851 census was searched. The 1821-1851 censuses were fully available in 1916. They were not destroyed until the Public Records Office fire in 1922. I can't tell from the form if they found the record for her family and it proved her age.

The subscription site Roots Ireland indicates that they have baptismal records back to 1832 and marriages starting 1850. I did a search for Feenagh/Kilmeedy parish and found one Clifford baptismal record in 1840 (for a different Clifford family) and the next Clifford record was for Catherine's brother Patrick who was baptized March 17 1851. I also found the other brother Michael baptized June 23 1853.

Likely there is a gap in records for the 1840s which includes Catherine's baptism.  ( I'm sure Catherine checked with the parish office in 1916 when she was filing for the Old Age pension since a baptismal record would have been conclusive proof of her age. Since a record was not available, she had to get the 1851 census.)

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

 

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for the information Roger. So that would explain why only Catherine is listed on this extract as it was for her pension claim. It also explains the name Keane appearing on the extract being her married name. Knowing that, I was able to find her marriage on Irish Civil Records…..she married Michael Keane in Feenagh in 1884.

You mention finding Michael baptized on June 23, 1853. This of course precedes the online Catholic registers available. I found the attached record for the baptism of Michael on September 30th, 1855 on the Feenagh Catholic register (top entry left hand corner). I guess it’s possible that the first Michael died and the next born boy, a couple of years later, was then named Michael. However, according to Thomas Clifford’s marriage record (also attached) he was 21 on marrying in 1876, so born around 1855. He remarried in 1899 but his age is given as “Full age” so no help there. Census data for 1901 shows him as 46 so consistent with his marriage record for birth in 1855. In 1911 he is 56, so again, consistent with a birth around 1855. I’ve scanned the Catholic baptism register from the start in August 1854 up to 1861 when Margaret Clifford was baptised but no baptism for Thomas. Could one of the Michael’s be Thomas? Would seem odd!

Thanks very much. Alan

aldenham@telstra.com

Alan:

Sorry, I made a mistake the 1853 baptism was for Thomas not Michael.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

That's a good mistake Roger! That baptism date fits fairly well with the marriage record and census data, Many thanks,

aldenham@telstra.com

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