Kenna / McKenna family — County Clare — emigrated to Bathurst Australia 1840s
I am researching the Kenna (also McKenna / Kinna / MacCionaoith) family of County Clare in connection with AUD $132,000 in unclaimed funds held by the NSW Government that legally belongs to their Irish descendants.
Richard Kenna Snr was born in County Clare circa 1818 and emigrated to Australia, becoming a prominent publican in Bathurst NSW. He died in 1879. His Australian line is now completely extinct.
His two siblings who remained in Ireland are the legal beneficiaries:
- Michael Kenna — born approximately 1815–1835, County Clare
- Margaret Kenna — born approximately 1815–1835, County Clare — married a Mr Cox
A third sibling, Daniel James (Locksley) Kenna, also emigrated to Australia.
The Clare origin was confirmed by Dr Anne Cunningham of the Australian Catholic Historical Society from letters by Monsignor Flanagan. The specific parish or townland is unknown.
Full background on the family is documented here: ozvta.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kenna-Richard-r-notes-1762022.pdf
The case was also publicly reported in the Western Advocate (Bathurst) on 16 September 2013 under the title "Revealed: $132,000 Estate that Remains Unclaimed."
If anyone has information on a Kenna or McKenna family in County Clare with a son Richard who emigrated to Australia in the early-to-mid 1800s, I would be very grateful to hear from you. I am acting pro bono — no fee, no commission.
Rich Williams — The Free Billion Dollar Man — freebilliondollarman@gmail.com