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Seeking information for Donaghey/Thomson/Keenan

AntrimBelfast (Antrim)

Hello,

I am seeking information on a Catherine Donaghey. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1903 and married an Allan Thomson in 1904. Her sister Martha followed in 1904 with a nephew by the name of Thomas Keenan, age 7 at the time. They do show up in the Irish census of 1901. He is listed as "nephew" on the census. I am trying to determine his parents names and what happened after he arrived. It is my belief, Catherine may have changed his name to Thomson and raised him with her husband as their own. I found a birth record for a Thomas Keenan b. 1897 in Belfast, parents: James and Mary Ellen Donaghey, but I can't connect the dots to Martha and Catherine with this. On Catherine's application for naturalization she lists Carrisfergus as home in Ireland. Any leads or information will be greatly appreciated. Thomas is my Maternal Grandfather.

Thank you!

Virginia Walsh

IrelandXO member

4 replies

Can’t see any birth for a Catherine D in Carrickfergus in the statutory records. This might be her birth in Belfast though, on 27.8.1870, to Phillip Donaghey and Catherine Graffan or Griffin:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

Note that she was a twin with Martha. That first Martha died 7.4.1871.

2nd Martha b 1875:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1875/03083/2130129.pdf

The birth on 1.7.1897 is for Thomas Keenan, whose parents were James Keenan and Mary Ellen Donaghy. So presumably Mary Ellen was Catherine and Martha’s sister.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

Here's James & Mary's marriage:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I can hardly believe it's been nearly a year since my post! Life has a way of getting in the way. My sincerest appreciation for the response, apologies for the lateness, I thought I responded.

I am still trying to piece this together and find the true identity of my Grandfather. I haven't had much luck with Ancestry DNA or Gedmatch. My Grandfather listed his birth place in the Census of 1925 as Quincy, Mass, and thereafter Northern Ireland. To confuse things even more, I recently found a death index listing his mother as Catherine Keenan. The birth date was exactly one year difference to the birth record I found with Mary Ellen Donaghey and James Keenan as parents.  Something tells me he may not have known the full truth and through the years found bits of information himself. I have also questions about the census of 1901, He is listed as "Nephew", but the relationship to the ""head" should have been "Grandson" if my theory is correct, but then it could have been an error, maybe the younger Catherine was filling in the information?  I also have not been able to locate a birth record for Mary Ellen with the same parents as Catherine and Martha.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I am also researching my Walsh/Burke side from Mayo/Galway, but I am just so drawn to discover the truth about my Grandfather Thomas Thomson from Northern Ireland. I feel so close yet so far.

Thank you for all you do in this Forum. It is such a wonderful resource.

Sincerely,

Ginny Walsh

IrelandXO member

Sorry I can’t add much to the earlier information I found. Philip Donaghey looks to have died 11.8.1877 aged 40, in Belfast.  I can’t see a Mary Ellen birth either. You could try the baptism records for St Peter’s in case her birth was omitted from the statutory records or its misfiled.

Regarding the accuracy of information on the death certificate, mistakes were quite common on death certificates. People often just guessed the information.

I agree that nephew should really be grandson on the 1901 census. But again mistakes were common and it may be that Catherine filled it out, as you say.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Elwyn,

Thank you for your quick response. Thank you for the death certificate lead. I will definitely look for that baptismal record. I hope to get to Ireland some day. Maybe find the graves of Catherine and Philip. Thanks for all your help.

Warm regards,

Ginny Walsh

IrelandXO member

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