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Searching for Devery family

OffalyClonmacnoise (Offaly)

I posted information about my great great grandmother Bridget Mary Devery in the IrelandXO ancester database last year. I am still unsure where the family came from in Kings County. Bridget's parents Patrick Devery (b.1815), wife Bridget (b.1817) and children Thomas (b.1835), Catherine (b.1837), Marie (b.1838), Ann (b. 1844) and one infant sailed from Plymouth England in the Duke of Northumberland to Hobart Australia in 1856. Passenger records showed they came from Clanloyne in Kings County which most probably was Clonlyon. Bridget senior's maiden name is recorded as Classey but it may have been Claffey which seemed more common in that area. Patrick was an agricultural labourer, his wife Bridget a laundress and two of the older daughters were dairywomen. In Griffith's valuation there is a Patrick Devery occupying land in Clonlyon, Clonmacnoise in 1854.

I am wondering if there would still be marriage or baptismal records existing in Clonlyon or nearby. Any information would be much appreciated.

Steve McKelvey 

Oxford, New Zealand                                              

Edward_Barker

4 replies

Steve:

Patrick Devery and Bridget Claffy married February 18 1833 in Clonmacnois Michael Burke and Thomas Claffy were the witnesses based on information in the subscription site Roots Ireland. I also located five baptismal reocrds for Thomas 1834 Mary 1836 Catherine 1838 Bridget 1841 John May 12 1854 NOTE: I'm suspect about 1854. I didn't see the record on the register for 1854 or 1844 so I suspect there was a transcription errot by Roots Ireland related to the year.

Here is the 19th century parish register for Clonmacnois up to 1880 so you can look for John and the correct year. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0156 ; Baptismal records start in 1826 so you won't find a record for Patrick or Bridget if they were baptized in that parish.

The Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Offaly was published in 1853 so the survey was probably in 1852. There are many Deverys in the parish and four Patrick's including the one in Clonlyon. One caution. An agricultural labourer would not normally have been listed in the Griffiths. Only those leasing land.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks very much Roger for your reply to my query. You have filled in that gaps that confirm where the Devery family came from. Having a name and a place incorrectly recorded or unable to be read has made research difficult until now. I have travelled to Tasmania researching this family and found they remained close together in the centre of Hobart. Most are buried in the nearby Cornelian Bay Cemetery. Would the church that Patrick Devery and Bridget Claffy married in be still standing? Do you know what it's name may have been? Images I have searched look to be newer buildings.

Regards

Steve McKelvey

Edward_Barker

Steve:

See the end of the second paragraph at this link  https://www.johngrenham.com/records/lewis.php?civilparishid=1985&civilp…; In 1837 there were two chapels one in Shannonbridge and the other in Clonfanlagh.  This link  https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/14805003/sa…; indicates that the current church building in Shannonbridge goes back to 1865.

You can e-mail the parish at clon,acnoisparish@gmail.com and they may be able to tell you about the conidition of the orgiginal chapels in the parish.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

I have a number of Devery surnames in my family tree from Clonmacnoise on ancestry.com, Conran Family, which is publicly available.  I presume there is a connection and the tree may be helpful to you.  If you do not have access to Ancestry.com, let me know.

Patrick Conran, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

pmconran1982@g…

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