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Berminghams of Tuam (perhaps Cloonfush)

GalwayTuam (Galway)

My ggg grandfather was Redmond Bermingham (1825-1862) and he married Mary Kennedy (1822-1893) at the Catherdral in Tuam in 1843. I believe that they lived at or near Cloonfush. They emigrated top England with two children (Margaret b 1844 and John b. 1846) where four more children were born (Mary b. 1850, Thomas b. 1855, Ellen b. 1857 and Peter b. 1860).

Redmond and two of his children (John and Mary) died in London, before the family moved (in phases) to the United States.

I believe Redmond's parents were James Bermingham and Bridget Hession.

Does anyone have any information regarding this family?

I visited Ireland in September 2016 and visited Tuam and Cloonfush. There's a quaint cemetery at the end of the Cloonfush road which contains Birmingham and Kenendy graves.

Best,
Dan Birmingham
New York

danbirmingham1…

5 replies

Dan:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Redmond was baptized on June 12, 1823 in Tuam. Father Peter and Mother Bridget Hession. No townland provided. Here is a link to the parish register and you can see the actual baptismal record http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1082

The 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing shows three Berminghams and all lived in Cloonfush.

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/galway/tuam.htm

Roger McDonnell

Name:Redmond BerminghamDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:12-Jun-1823Address:Not RecordedParish/District:TUAMGender:MaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Peter BerminghamMother:Bridget HessionOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Francis Higgins Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bridget Hession 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks, Roger for that very useful information.

I reviewed the 1823 baptism information for Redmond you provided on Ancestry.com (parents Peter Bermingham and Bridget Hession), and the name of the child is listed as "Bernard" on the Ancestry.com site, however in looking at the actual written record, it's difficult to discern whether it's Berard or Redmond.  Very poor handwriting back then!!

I also know that there is a 17 Feb 1825 Tuam baptism for a Redmond Bermingham, child of James Bermingham and Biddy Hession (no townland given).  This is the one I have assumed is my ggg grandfather (although I must admit, I have no basis for that assumption other than seeing that entry years ago).

Interesting that both entries have Bridget as the mother, but a different Bermingham father (James and Peter).  I imagine, (barring a scrivener's error) that it was possible to have two separate Bridget Hessions who happened to marry into the Bermingham family.

By the way, is there a way to search for terms in the baptismal record link you sent me?  I'd love to be able to type in the word "Bermingham" and see what's there.

Best,
Dan

 

danbirmingham1…

My great great gandmother was Bridget Bermingham from Cloonfush. She was born in 1821, and died between 1901 & 1911. Bermingham was her married name, but I'm not sure of her maiden name. She married into the Bermingham family which was already established in Cloonfush. Her daughter was also Bridget, born in 1861, and died in 1925 in Cloonfush. This younger Bridget married my great grandfather John Fleming - he was from the Weirs, just a few miles away. John & Bridget lived in Cloonfush in the Bermingham family house, where my grandfather & father were born. My father Thomas Fleming still lives in Cloonfush, on the road to the graveyard you mention above. 

So hopefully this gives you an insight into why the Bermingham name disappeared from Cloonfush.

I guess this makes us distant cousins!

 

 

IrelandXO member

Dan:

I looked at the June 12, 1823 record and my money is on Redmond but I also can make a case for Bernard. Look at the B in Bermingham and compare to the first letter of Redmond/Bernard. Also look up further in the register on that page and you will see a Rush and a Roach. Look at the Rs in those names and compare to the June 12th baptismal record.

I note that one of the sponsors on the baptismal record was another Bridget Hession so there were a lot of Hessions in the area and ther is a good possibility that two or more Bridget Hessions married a Bermingham.

Can I suggest that you get a short-term subscription to Roots Ireland? That way you can search for all Bermingham/Birmingham baptismal and marriage records in Tuam RC parish and open the records and see the parents and sponsors. I could do this but there are likely a lot of records and my subscription has a limit on how many records I open ( I use Roots for most of the messages I respond to).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi all, interesting post on the Berminghams. I've been doing a bit of digging on them of late.

Just to offer another Bridget into the mix

As far as my research takes me my Great Great Great Grandmother was Bridget Bermingham I presuming from Cloonfush. She married Thomas Lardner in 1809. These Lardners were later living in Cloondarone. Their daughter Bridget married my Great Great Grandfather Michael Shea

I have also found a record of a Thomas Larner marrying a Catherine Bermingham 6th Aug 1809 with witnesses Daniel Parsonty & Mary Lorkin. Whether or not the Bridget & Catherine are the same woman is unclear to me so far.

Also of note with the James Bermingham that married Bridget Hession c 1820.                                                                               Their children were Helen 1822, Mary 1822, Redmond 1823, Edward 1825, Margaret 1827, JOHN 1833, Ellen 1834, Ellen 1837, James 1839 and Honor 1843.

midiesham@gmail.com

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