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Michael Sullivan and Catherine Casey

CorkRoss (Cork)

I am searching for the family of Michael Sullivan, born around 1851 and Catherine Casey, born around 1846. They were reportedly married on February 17, 1874 in Cork & Ross, Bantry Parish. My great grandfather, Daniel B. Sullivan born approximately 1877-79 in Sungrum shows Michael and Catherine as his parents in his marriage certificate.

All of my research shows children of Michael Sullivan and Catherine Casey being born well prior to the 1874 marriage date. My assumption is that there must coincidentially two Michael and Catherines. Children's names include Catherine, Ellen, Timothy, Patrick, Michael, Cornelius, James, Andrew and Honora.

My information shows Michael and Daniel B Sullivan (son) emigrating to America in 1880 and settling in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Census records show Michael residing at Bell Street in North Brookfield until his death on March 12, 1936. His daughter Catherine, reportedly born in 1881 in Massachusetts. The 1900 census shows Michael as a widow living with his daughter Catherine and brother Daniel at the Bell Street address. In 1900 Michael is 49, Catherine 19 and Daniel 60 (emigrated in 1865).

Michael's son, Daniel B Sullivan (my great grandfather) had six children with Helen Dunn Sullivan: Helen, Daniel, Paul, Agnes, John, and Mary. My Grandfather Paul, had three daughters, Marilyn, Kathleen and Ellen. Marilyn Sullivan Schmitt was my mother.

My search is twofold:

I'm looking for Michael Sullivan and Catherine Casey's roots, including their ancesters, and their children born in Ireland.

I'm also looking to connect with the descendants of Daniel B Sullivan and Helen Dunn Sullivan in America. Although it appears that each of their children settled in New England, I don't have a lot of detailed information. What I do have is:

Helen Gertrude Sullivan married Alta Prophet and had three children; John, Margaret and David. David married Barbara Faris and had three children; Michael, Matthew and William. I have spoken with Michael Prophet and his wife Margaret McCarthy Prophet who live in Iowa.

Daniel B Sullivan, Jr. married Minna Schrickram and had two children; Bernard and Dana. I haven't been able to find Bernard, Dana or their families.

Paul T. Sullivan, my grandfather married Vivian Bourdeau. I have detailed information about Paul, Vivian and their children.

Agnes Sullivan married Wilbur Buck and had two children; Patty and Shelly. I don't have any information about Agnes, Wilbur or their children.

John Sullivan married Mary Sullivanand had three children; John, Maureen, and Carolyn. I don't have any information about John, Mary or their children.

Mary M Sullivan, born around 1920, was unmarried to the best of my knowlege.

thank you in advance for any help you may provide.

I am willing to share any information I have regarding the families.

Kevin Schmitt

kws2311

5 replies

Kevin:

I went to www.irishgenealogy.ie which is a free Irish government site which has records for the Diocese of Cork and Ross. 

I found an 1853 marriage in the Cork South parish between a Michael Sullivan and a Catherine Casey. Perhaps this is the other couple that you referenced.

I also found a February 17, 1874 marriage in Bantry for Michael Sullivan and Catherine Casey. Michael was shown as coming from Drimoleague  and Catherine from Caheranacerin. ( I will look up where this townland was located).

I also found three baptismal records in the Drimoleague RC church for children born to Michael Sullivan and Catherine or Kate Casey:

Anne May 27, 1875

Daniel February 23, 1877  NOTE father and son shown as O'Sullivan

Hanora April 8, 1879

Perhaps the mother died giving birth to Hanora or sometime after. Michael and Daniel emigrated and maybe the sisters stayed with family in Cork.

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

kevin:

The townland for Catherine Casey was likely Cahernacrin in Kilmocomoge civil parish.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger. Keep in touch Kevin and let us know how the research is going!

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

IrelandXO member

Clare and Roger,

Thank you so much for working with me on this.

I continue to chase my family both in Ireland and in America.

Roger's comments were helpful.

A few points of clarification:

I have an obsure death record for a Kate Sullivan in North Brookfield, Massachusetts in August, 1881.

This coincides with the year Catherine Sullivan (Michael Sullivan's daughter) was born in North Brookfield.

We're following up with the local people to determine whether this Kate was married to Michael at the time of her death.

So, it appears that Catherine did in fact emigrate to the US.

Regarding Catherine and Michael's children:

Assuming the 1874 marriage date that Roger identifies is the correct one, then only Anne, Daniel and Hanora would have birth dates following the wedding.  All other children reportedly from Catherine Casey and Michael Sullivan must be from another couple (coincidentally).

I'll keep looking.

kws2311

I just wanted to update this post.

I'm still chasing the Sullivans in Cork County and North Brookfield, MA

It appears that I've found the family in Angram, Drimoleague, Cork County in the early to mid 1800s,

Michael Sullivan was born in Angram on 6 Jan 1851, and Catheine Casey was born  on 14 JUN 1852 in Cahernacrin, Bantry, Ireland.

Michael's parents were Andrew Sullivan (born 1810?) and Catherine Brien (born 1813?) both in County Cork.

The family appears in the Griffiths Valuation records in 1836/7 in Angram.

I haven't found a birth record for Andrew in 1810 due to limitationns on Church records for Drimoleague and Drinagh for that period.  

On the other end of the spectrum, it appears the family emigated to North Brookfield, MA in August 1881 (naturalization records for my great grandfather, Daniel B. Sullivan (Michael's son).  Michael's wife Catherine Casey died in North Brookfield around the same time that they emigrated and daughter Katherine's birth.  There's some confusion about what month Katherine's birth and emigration occurred.  

I'd love to find an obituary for Katherine (Kate) Sullivan (Michael's daughter) who died in 1958 and is buried in St Joseph's cemetary in North Brookfield, MA.

kws2311

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