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Cleary and Cusick Brady Reilly

CavanDrumgoon (Cavan)

Seeking info on my gggrandmother ELIZABETH CLEARY, abt 1838 to 1912. Elizabeth told my grandmother she was from Cootehill. However, the genealogy office there couldn't find any info on her. She married OWEN CUSICK, abt 1831-1904 who owned a farm in Carsan, Ematris, Monaghan. These two towns are very close. Their first daughter, Mary 1858, was born Rockcorry. Perhaps Catherine 1862. Owen and Elizabeth were married Roman Catholic 11 Jan 1857 in Ematris, Monaghan.

Elizabeth's parents were JAMES CLEARY, abt 1818-1912, and MARY DOCHERTY. I am not sure of the spelling. They also had a daughter Brigeta 1840.

Owen Cusick's mother was MARY BRADY abt 1805-17 Dec 1874. Mary's parents were OWEN BRADY 1778-bef 1874 and ROSE REILLY, 1780-bef 1874. Owen had a brother Matthew.

I know all these families are in the Cootehill, Dartry, Monaghan area, but cannot find any confirmation. I have a letter from a family member who mentioned, in 1943, Owen and Elizabeth died at 96 and 94 years of age, and owned a large farm.

I have been to the Latter Day Saints library in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA and the National Library in Dublin. I have researched all the usual records, such as Tithe, Griffiths, Spinning Wheel, etc. and any site I can find on the internet.

I have been researching my family for 52 years, including my ggrandparents, Patrick Kelly and Mary Devanny. This has been my life's work and I am grateful for any information you might help me find.

Thank you   Margaret Kelly Schwartz

 

magaidh

9 replies

Hi Margaret, which genealogy office did you try?

Regards Carmel O'Callaghan

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Margaret:

I reviewed the 1901 and 1911 census records and found two possible records. There was only one elderly Owen Cusack in Co. Cavan. (No Owen Cusick). He lived in Pottle townland which is a few miles south of Cootehill on the R191. The 1901 and 1911 census records for Owen and his family are below. The only inconsistency is that Owen was a widower so his wife would have died before 1901. Possibly family lore was incorrect regarding how long Elizabeth lived. One other thing to note: In the 1911 census a granddaughter Elizabeth is listed. Possibly, she was named after her grandmother.

Hope this helps.

 

Roger McDonnell

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cavan/Clonervy/Postle/1060114/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Cavan/Clonervy/Pottle/320473/

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Carmel. I went to the Genealogy Office in Cootehill and had them search their records for Elizabeth Cleary 1838 who told my grandmother she was from Cootehill. Thanks

magaidh

Thank you Roger. However, this could not have been my Owen Cusack. I have Elizabeth Cleary's death certificate stating she died 17 May 1912, although you are correct about the longevity.

If they died as late as 1904 and 1913, why can't I find them on the 1901 and 1911 census?

Thanks again  Margaret

magaidh

Margaret:

I did a number of searches with no success. I checked for all Owen Cusack/Cusick in all of Ireland for 1901 and all Elizabeth Cusack/Cusick in both the 1901 and 1911 census for all of Ireland with no success. I even looked at anyone named Owen in the 1901 census for Monaghan with the thought that his surname was badly misspelled when the census was transcribed. There were over 1200 Owens but no match. I also looked for anyone named Own in Monaghan or Cavan with no success.

Sorry, I did not find your family.

Roger McDonnell  

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Margaret,

There is no Genealogy office in Cootehill, there is one in Cavan, would you contct who ever you spoke to to get a copy as I think, if we concentrate on that one, we can rule it in or out as a red herring, now I did find a Elizabeth Mccleary aged 88 in Monaghan in 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Monaghan/Monaghan_Rura…

but this is the wrong surname

There is a maraige for elizabeth mcleery in 1858 , but did not find a corresponding marriage for owen, would he have married twice, both women with same first name, mortality amoung women was low.  regards Carmel

  • nameElizabeth Mccleery
  • event typeMarriage
  • event date1858
  • event placeCootehill, Ireland
  • registration quarter and year1858
  • registration districtCootehill
  • age
  • birth year (estimated)
  • mother's maiden name
  • volume number4
  • page number393
  • gs film number101247
  • digital folder number004195893
Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger:

Thank you for all your hard work. I did re-read my notes and they are accurate except it was not Owen and Eliz. Cleary, but Elizabeth's parents who lived to be quite old.

James CLEARY abt 1818-bef 1912 and Mary DOCHERTY abt 1818-bef 1912. Their death years are confirmed by Owen and Eliz. marriage license. The letter came from Ellen Cusick who was talking about her CLEARY grandparents.

Symon(Simon,Simeon) Cusick's father was John CUSICK. Although the standard spelling is Cusack, all my certificates show the name as Cusick.

Symon's father was John CUSICK abt 1780-bef 1872. I have certificates showing his mother as Bridget RACHON. I have yet to find this name anywhere. I know my ggrandmother Elizabeth Cusick, married to Patrick Kelly, spoke Gaelic so I think this is a translation problem. Have you seen this name anywhere?

Thank you so very much. It is very kind of you to devote your time to such an important subject.

Margaret

 

 

magaidh

Margaret:

Not familiar with Rachon having Gaelic origins. Based on my quick review on the Internet, the name appears to be French.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Carmel:

In 1988 or 1989, I was on a holiday to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. My daughter and I drove to Cootehill to get Elizabeth's birth certificate. I don't remember doing a lot of driving around, but I did inquire about the Genealogy Office in the Cootehill church. The office was filled with many books on Co. Cavan and other genealogy material. The lady charged me $35 and told me to return in two hours. When we returned, she said she had gone through all their books for several years on either side of 1838 and that she found no record for the birth of Elizabeth Cleary in those time frames. I have a marriage license for Elizabeth Cleary and Owen Cusick. They were married 11 Jan 1857, Ematris, Co. Monaghan. My map shows me Cootehill is across the border from Co. Monaghan, so I like to think they met in church. They both died in Glasgow, Scotland in 1904 and 1912. It seems I should be able to find a birth certificate for Elizabeth. As of now, I don't know the town she was born, just the area. Being Roman Catholic, I don't think Cleary would have Mc in front of it, do you?

Owen and Elizabeth's daughter, Mary, 11 Nov 1857, was born Rockcorry, Ematris, Monaghan and in later years, Owen owned a farm in Carsan, Ematris, Monaghan.. I assume Elizabeth moved to Ematris after she and Owen married. However, she always said she was from Cootehill. What a mystery. What church would be across the border in Monaghan? Oh, how I yearn to be back in Ireland.

I want to thank you for all your hard work and perhaps you will find something in the future.

Margaret

magaidh

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