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Incorrect information about St John Thornhill (1798-1873 in previous post

CorkKildorrery (Cork)

I wish to correct the previous post about St John Thornhill of Kildorrery. Apparently, it is highly unlikely that he was born in England as I thought, but in Ireland and before 1798 (date taken from his death record, age at the time of his death was given as 75). However, he did marry Elizabeth Courtney in 1817 and had seven children. He was also the landlord of properties in Kildorrery and tenant of properties in Kildorrery and Farahy. 

 

Thank you for your help.

 

Margaret

 

margaret.lloyd…

6 replies

Margaret I have a John Thornhill in my family tree who married an O'Rourke from Sunville, Ardpatrick. George Quain.
georgequain@ho…IrelandXO Volunteer
Hi Quinn, I was wondering if you would so good as to tell me the name of the O'Rourke who married John Thornhill and if you have any dates that would be most helpful. many thanks Margaret PS Wishing you a great new year
margaret.lloyd…
Hi Margaret As you know at this stage my family tree has the original John Thornhill married to Anne Creanbury but I note that the last child that I have for her is born in 1815 she may have died ----that leaves the possibility that he married Elizabeth Courtney in 1817 none of that family would be in my family tree as they would have been down from the first wife Anne Creanbury. That gives you food for thought ???.
georgequain@ho…IrelandXO Volunteer

The John Thornhill who married Anne Creanbury and lived in Ballyriggan was not (closely) related to the Thornhills of Kildorrery. I am descended from the Ballyriggan Thornhills (through my mother). By coincidence we lived in Kildorrery parish where the local pharmacist was John Thornhill - but we were not related

John Pyne

Thanks John for reaching out. I have at least two branches of Thornhills on my tree. Anne Creanbury is my 1st cousin's three times removed's wife's great grandmother. I've added a relationship tree which shows how I am related to Anne.

The challenge is that there are quite a few John Thornhills and I have no information about St John Thornhill who is my direct relative, but have no information regarding his birth or his parents. Some trees have him born in England, and despite developing a very large tree of the Thornhills in England this proved not to be the case. (My tree shrunk by about 200 people!). I know the Thornhill originally came out from England possibly during the reign of Henry VIII.

Take care,

Best wishes

Margaret

margaret.lloyd…

Anne Creanbury (b about 1765) was married to John Thornhill (born about 1776 in Ardpatrick, County Limerick). We know that her mother (also Anne) lived with them in Ballyriggan, so I’m guessing that her mother was born about 1735. The name Creanbury is a corruption of Cronsberry and/or Cronenberger, and this family was part of the group of German Palatine refugees that came to Rathkeale in County Limerick in 1709-12. The first of that name in Ireland seems to have been Heinrich Cronenberger. He may be the father or grandfather of the mother Anne Creanbury.

As far as I can tell the Palatines in Ballyriggan seem to have come from Rathkeale to Ballyriggan a couple of decades later. (There were several Palatine families living in that townland).

So, the mother Anne Creanbury may have been born in Rathkeale?

I don’t live in Ireland anymore, but I’ll be there in a few months and I’m planning to take a trip to the Irish Palatine Heritage Centre in Rathkeale. I think they may have better records there than are visible online.

As for the origins of the Thornhill name in Ireland our family thinks they came with the Cromwellian army. Cromwell's soldiers landed in Ireland in 1649. Land confiscated from the indigenous Irish was given to Cromwell's soldiers in lieu of pay.

https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/cromwell_settlement.htm

John Pyne

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