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Cusick Family Info

CavanLavey (Cavan)

Hi, I am looking for information on the Cusick Family. My great, great grandfather James Cusick cames from Cavan Ireland. He was born arround 1839, came to New York May 19 1856 on th "Webster" when he was 17. The NY Emigrant Savings Bank records states he came from "Cavan". That is the only information I have. His death certificate has his fathers name as James and mother's name as Mary. I see no reference to any brothers or sister in the US. I did find a "Thomas Cusick" also in the NY Emigrant records and he said he came from Lavey Cavan Ireland. Could this be a brother or cousin. I know Cusick can also be Cusack but the ships "Webster" log has his as Cusick. Could someone please send me in the right direction to look for his family. I figured I would start here . I would be greatfull for any help. Thanks Louise C

IrelandXO member

12 replies

Louise:

The surname was Cusack in Ireland. I checked the 1856 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Cavan. There were 69 Cusack entries with the largest number in Lavey civil parish. There were no James entries but James the elder may have been deceased by 1856.

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/cavan/lavey.htm

I also checked Roots Ireland but could not find a James Cusack baptismal record for 1834-1844 where the father was James Cusack.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, to my knowledge his name was Cusick not Cusack.  I don't know what parish he came from. When I looked into he name "Cusick", there are a few in Canvan.  I have found a Thomas in NY /US and a Margaret  CT./ US who claim to have come from Cavan and the us "Cusick" also. Would you be so kind as to see if you can find any "Cusick's" in Cavan may be another parrish.    Your help would be greatly appreciated. Louise Cortegiano

IrelandXO member

Louise:

There were no Cusick entries for all of Co. Cavan in the 1856 Griffiths survey. All 69 entries were Cusack. You can go to www.askaboutireland.ie and search Griffiths for free. I use Roots Ireland www.rootsireland.ie for Griffiths. Roots is a pay site but if you register, you can view Griffiths for free.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

What if his family never owned any land? What if they were farmers who rented all their life. Up in Down there is a entry for Cusick.  Could they rent in Cavan and own land in Down?  How else could I find out if they lived in Cavan.   Thanks Louise

IrelandXO member

Hi Louise, do not discount variations of names, as they were most likely written down phoenetically.  My husbands family has Cusack, Cusic, Cusac, etc

Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864. You can access the website here:http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm 

You could also try contacting the Cavan Co Library for further assistance.

Cavan Genealogy,
1st floor,
Johnston Central Library,
Farnham Street,
Cavan Town,
County Cavan.
Tel: +353 (0)49 4361094
Fax: +353 (0)49 4331494
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net

 

Cavan Genealogy will for a fee do a family search for you & give you some more answers.  If you cannot read the townlands or names I can help you that, as I most likely will be able to make out the handwriting on the certificates.

You are luck that Lavey has a 1821 Census, look up Cavan Library, under family history & you will see their resources.

Do broaden your search, did anyone else travel with them, perhaps brothers or sisters or in-laws, did anyone else come to stay with them, look up the US Census and see who lives beside them, could be other family members and check all your records, birth, death, wills etc and their grave stones, you may find another name that will give you another clue, enjoy the chase.  

 

Hopefully some day you will come & I can show you around..

Regards Carmel

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, thank you for your help.  I was looking back on some of my notes and a see "Cusick" name in the BALLYHAISE  section.  Is this a parish or a township.  A Margaret Cusick born to Thomas Cusick and Sarah Cusick.  This comes from the Irish birth reords on Ancestory.com.  Could James have family in this section of Cavan. Do I have to contact the parish for info. Thanks Louise

IrelandXO member

Hi again, I also saw where Cusick"s came from Lathermore and Tullyvin.  Are townships or parrishes?  When I look up birth records I see  these towns/parrishes listed Ballyhaise, Tullyvin and Lathermore.  They all have the "Cusick" name listed for birth records and baptismal records.  Could there be any fsmily records for James and Mary Cusick (James's parents) in these towns ? Thans so much for your help. Louise

IrelandXO member

Louise, these places are townlands, (which is a collection of fields, some big and some smaller) though Ballyhaise and Tullyvin, could be described as villages, which means they have a school, post office, pub and church and some houses. Ballyhaise is in the parish of Castletara, Tullyvin is in the parish of Kilsherdany (locally called Kill).     Cavan would be the main town in the county and the records are best accessed there.

 

Carmel

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Carmel, sorry to be such a pest.  Cavan is also a town besides a county.  Are they one in the same place or the town Cavan is within the Co. Cavan.  Who has the records ....the town or the co. Cavan.  Is their a website for the town Cavan or and address to e-mail to. Thanks once again.   Louise

IrelandXO member

No problem Louise, The Republic of Ireland has 26 counties and Cavan is one of them and the main town is also called Cavan, it is the administrative centre for the county ( not all counties have the main town with the same name but a lot have)

You will access the records through

Cavan Genealogy,
1st floor,
Johnston Central Library,
Farnham Street,
Cavan Town,
County Cavan.
Tel: +353 (0)49 4361094
Fax: +353 (0)49 4331494
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net

 

There is a fee, but do ask them & tell them all you have to get the best results

 

Best Wishes Carmel

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Louis C,

I have a Margaret "Mattie" Cusack (as Mother) mentioned in the "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLDH-DMW : 10 March 2018), Mattie Cusack entry for Anne Littlefield O'Riley, 1888; citing Death, Montrose, Dane Co., Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Historical Society. This was recorded by her first daughter, Mary Ann.

Margaret Cusack married Patrick Littlefield in Ireland. ( No citation). Could be Marguerite (Northern France spelling). 

Their daughter, Ann E. Littlefield  (DOB 10 DEC 1819) came to NY City 17 APR 1841, from Liverpool. "Arrival Date 17 Apr 1841, (Birth Date 1821?, Age 20), Port of Departure Liverpool, England, Port of Arrival New York, New York, USA, Ship Name Oswego"

Ann E. Littlefield shows in the 1850 US census as married to John O'Reilly ( O'Riley in USA), my third great grandfather with a child to be born in 1851, named Mary Ann. 

John O'Reilly reported in his US Civil War discharge record that he was born in Lavey Parish, Cavan, IE.

I have not had any luck finding Margaret Cusack or Patrick Littlefield in Ireland Records. The following is a possible source:

Name: Margaret Cusack, Event Type: Death, Event Date: 4 Jun 1870, Event Place: Ireland, Event Place (Original): Limerick, Ireland, Event Place Note: Longhill, Gender: Female, Age: 71, Marital Status: Widowed, Occupation: Widow Of A Laborer
Birth Year (Estimated): 1799
Citing this Record
"Ireland Deaths, 1864-1870", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGF3-LZX : 5 February 2020), Margaret Cusack, 1870.

I hope to get some guidance on how to proceed with Irish Records. Thank You.

William O'Riley

 

William D Riley

Hi William,  

I will see if I can assist you in any way.  Best way is to move back one step at a time from what you know.  Having said that, records get scarcer as you go back in time.  Civil registration for Catholics started in 1864, before that we have some church records.  1901 & 1911 are the only complete census we have and we have to rely on land records such as Title applotments 1823-1837 & Griffiths Valuations taken between 1847-1864, which means generally that women are missing.  Other than that we rely on headstones, if they existed, survived and were transcribed before they deteriorated. 

So going back from Anne Littlefield O'Riley born in 1819, did she came via Liverpool or did she live in England? Do you know did her parents come with her?   

If her mother married Littlefield, this name would be on the death certificate not Cusack.  I can only find 9 Littlefield baptisms on Rootsireland (church records), 3 marriages, 2 Deaths, 0 Griffiths & Tithe Applotments, no Patricks... this does not mean that he did not exist, but I am wondering were Margaret & Patrick living in Britain.  Have you tracked Ann on all the US census? Does she say she was born in Ireland on them all?  Have you looked at the baptismal records of her children, can you find evidence of any other relatives anywhere.   I was hoping that if her parents remained in Ireland that they would have survived into the time frame of civil registration, I had a quick look at deaths on https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ (free records) but nothing was obvious. Also look at https://genealogy.nationalarchives.ie, look at the will calenders, something may turn up.  If they lived in Northern Ireland you may find some records at PRONI.  

I hope this gives you some idea of how I try to get a little bit further, its not impossible but with a lot of research you should get there particularly as Littlefield is not common in Ireland, do look for other forms of spelling as some records are spelling specific. Best of luck with your research and if you wish to bounce anything of me please do.  

Regards Carmel O'Callaghan

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

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