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Stokes, Cussen, Burke, and McDonald - looking for family in Askeaton and Rathkeale

LimerickRathkeale (Limerick)

With $10 in her pocket, Ellen immigrated to NYC on December 23, 1909 at age 24. Her 10-year old nephew, Marys son, traveled her.

Greetings from southern California,

My great-grand parents were Martin Stokes and Mary Cussen.

Martin was born in 1839 and died between Jul-Sep 1884.

Mary Cussen was born on June 7, 1846 and died on Feb 6, 1927 in Rathkeale. She is buried at Nantinan, LImerick County.

Martin and Marymarried on January 15, 1839. I believed they married in Askeaton or Rathkeale.
Their marriagewas a controversial because Martin was Protestant and Mary was Catholic. I was told their familiesdis-inherited them, and they eventually moved into the Rathkeale Workhouse.

Martin and Mary had three children: John, Mary, and Ellen (Helen). Ellen is my grand mother.

  • John was born on May 9, 1876 in Askeaton. He stayed in Ireland. I think he was in the Army, stationed in Liverpool, and fought in the Boar War. I think he was in the "trenches" of World War I.
  • Mary was born on May 15, 1879 in Askeaton. She immigrated to NYC around 1905.
  • Ellen Josephinewas born in Rathkeale Workhouseon May 6, 1883. By the 1970s the workhouse was the Shannon Meat Factory.

The 1901 censes show Helenwas 17. She could read and write. She was a servant, living w/Joseph and Mary Lyons. Joseph was a Vet Surgeon. My great-grand mother, Mary Stokes (Cussen), was 53, a widow, and living in Rathkeale.

Mary Cussens parents were:

  • Michael Cussen (b. May 29, 1815) I think he was a linen weaver.
  • Mary McDonald (b. Between 1818 and 1826) from Askeaton
  • I believe Michaels father is John Cussen (b. Abt 1791) and his wife's name wasEllen.

Martin Stokes parents were:

  • John Stokes (unknown birth/death information). I think he was a cobbler.
  • Mary Burke (unknown birth/death information)

If you have additional information about this family, please share.
Thank you for any help/insight your can provide.

Annemarie

amd1901@gmail.com

5 replies

Dear Annemarie:

 

Many thanks for your query to Ireland Reaching Out and welcome!

 

We have several volunteers who may be able to assist you and I will draw their attention to this post.

The very best of luck to you in the Ironman race and a very safe journey to you!

All the best,

 

Jane.

jhalloranryan@…

Dear AnneMarie:

Jennifer is sitting with me here so I will reply with her comments. 

She hasn't ignored the query but has been making inquiries on your behalf and is intending on visiting some of the named families to gather information. 

If you would like to contact her directly, you can do so at:  killeedy1@irelandxo.com.

All the best,

 

Jane  (with Jennie)

jhalloranryan@…

I have been revisiting your request for information on the Cussen-Stokes family and wonder how far you have managed to get. There are new records being posted almost daily now and the National Library of Ireland is great, especially for graveyards and death information. I notice that you have some incorrect info in your message like you show Martin married 1839 but the marriage was actually in 1873; the transcript is partly in latin but the civil records show married in Rathkeale Vol 15 Page 323 FHL 101252. I did agree with the children John and Mary but so far I have not made any trace of Helen Josephine or of their mother being in the workhouse. However I will keep looking but it is feasible because her husband dies in the year 1884 – Mary must have been pregnant at the time if Helen was born in 1885,the mother would probably have had no income, already had two children and she would have used the workhouse to stay while the child was born (this is only my guess) Workhouse details are just beginning to filter through to the relevant records offices, many were destroyed because of the callous behaviour inside these places.

Also as you have probably found, their are numerous Michael Stokes and many from Rathkeale area but your gt grandpa was very young to die.

Am fascinated  tto hear of any further information that you might have and will continue to peruse data at various times

Jennifer Jean     Volunteer Irelandxo

killeedy1@irelandxo.com

 

Killeedy1 LimerickIrelandXO Volunteer

Jennifer Jean ... You have made my day!!!  Thank you for revisiting my request and for your insight.  Yes, since the original post  I learned Martin Stokes m. Mary Cussin on September 16, 1873. Re: Martin's death, Una Costello, a genealogist in Dublin, said his death records show he died in the Limerick Workhouse on July 4, 1884, and he died from inflammation of the lungs.  Re: Helen's birth, I have a long-form copy of her birth certificate, which shows she was born in the Rathkeale Workhouse. I visited Ireland last summer and met a Priest @ St. Mary's Church in Rathkeale. His records show Martin and Mary had a fourth child, Bridget (b 12/12/1881 & d 18/12/1881). Records also show that Mary Stokes and Bridget were buried @ an abandoned church in Nantinen.  I also learned that Helen sailed to NY with John O'Grady Jr., her nephew.  He is Mary's son.  On a side note: John O'Grady Jr's son was Colonel John O’Grady who became a POW/MIA during the Vietnam War. Senator I'd love to find more information on Martin/Mary's son John.  It's like he disappeared. I'd love to know if he had children. If so, did they have children that I could meet?

 

 

amd1901@gmail.com

Hello Jennifer Jean and thank you so much for revisiting my request.  You made my day.  It's heartwarming to know someone else cares about my Irish roots.  I see other posts were done in 2017, but for some crazy reason I never saw them till now.  Since my original post, I've learn a bit more. For example I did find the correct wedding date for Martin/Mary, and I received a long-form birth certificate for Helen Josephine (my grandmother), confirming she was born @ the Rathkeale workhouse. The records @ St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rathkeale show Martin/Mary had a daughter (Bridget) who died within a week of birth. She and her mother Mary are buried at an abandoned church in Nantinen. While Martin's death records (found in Limerick District Registration Volume 5, page 241, FHL Film #101592) show he died in the Limerick Workhouse on July 4, 1884, caused by inflammation of the lungs.  I also discovered that Helen sailed to NYC with her sister Mary's son, John Martin O'Grady Jr. I don't know what happened to John Sr., nor have I found the marriage record for Mary/John Sr. But I found many O'Grady's buried at St. Mary's Church in Rathkeale.  An interesting note: My Dad use to tell stories of John Jr. becaming a powerful Unionist in NYC who had a backdoor key to the White House. And his son, John Francis O'Grady, fought in Vietnam and became a POW/MIA soilder. His story was featured in Look Magazine. Howard Hughes and Ross Perot led support to find answers to his case, which still has not been solved. This link shares more details: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/back-to-vietnam-1.3732191 ... Since that first post I've also comprised an extensive database of Stokes from that Askeaton/Rathkeale area.  If you'd like I can share the data with you.  The hope is to find other family connections, but none have been found ... so far.  I wonder if Martin/Mary had siblings? I wonder if Martin had a brother named Michael who immigrated to Australia. In Nantanin church records I found Michael Stokes's children's baptisms. One child was named Martin. Plus, I'd deeply love to find out what happened to my great uncle John, Helen/Mary's brother.  I'd especially like to know if he had children/grand-children. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again for eveything you do. You're AMAZING!!!!

 

amd1901@gmail.com

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