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Francis Cassidy b 1847 - Makenny and/or Drumbinnion

TyroneKilskeery (Tyrone)

Hello to all. I am delighted this website exists.

I personally have no connections with Ireland but my husband does. I am "doing" the family tree and trying to find out about the Cassidys of Makenny. I have been there (last year) to see where the farmstead was - only a few bricks left sadly.

The person I am trying to find is Francis Cassidy who was born in 1847 at Makenny or Drumbinnion (I have not located Drumbinnion and cannot find it as a Parish.

The new records which have come online do not show him born in Makenny in 1846 - 1848 (as far as I can read them!)

I have the baptism of some of his children in Kilskeery Parish - the children's entries are in latin but it can been seen that Francis wife was Honora McQuaid. I have no marriage for them and I don't know where Honora (variously appearing as "Nora" and probably mistranscribed on one of the children's marriage certificates as "Nottie" came from.

I have the 1901 census for the Cassidys in Makenny or Drumbinnion - the 1901 census Francis Cassidy did not fill in himself as he said he could not read or write.

The 1911 census he filled in with a very accomplished hand and beautiful writing - he filled it in in Gaelic (my husband transcribed for me!).

He did not make a Will that was acceptable for Probate - my mother-in-law kept a newspaper cutting about this and she also had to attend the hearing because, although not originally a Cassidy herself, she had been married to one of Francis Cassidy's grandsons.

Griffiths Valuation doesn't mean a lot to me - i.e. cannot understand it very well. I know from it that the Cassidys did not own their farm and had a landlord. Whilst in Ireland last year we did find a lady who was related to the family, a descendant. She knew where the farm was and showed us the remains of it - at the same time there was a rather lovely reunion of Cassidys at a Hotel in Irvinestown (they were so kind to us and took photographs for us). My husband's side of the family moved to Down as his grandfather set up a drapery business in Rathfriland, Down. This business was later run by my husband's father but he died, suddenly, age 42ish, whilst serving a customer and the business was sold quite soon after.

I would be incredibly grateful for any help as I am totally unable to go further with this part of the Family Tree. I do wonder under which parish Drumbinnion comes. I would be grateful for any crumbs of information. Sue

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Re: Francis Cassidy

Sue, Drumbinnion is a townland of the civil parish of Kilskeery in County Tyrone in what is now Northern Ireland and so is Makenny both townlands of Kilskeery Co. Tyrone

Mallow CorkIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Sue

I am looking for Catherine Cassidy who originated in Makenny and think Francis might be her father. Catherine was born around 1866 and is my great grandmother 

I have come across the 1901 census but Catherine does not appear on this but I think she would have been married by then. She married a James Mcgrade and went to live at Effernan Glebe Trillick

Very best wishes

Angeka Townsend

Cooneen49

Hello Angeka, It sounds very much as if this the same family that I am researching - in fact I am positive it is.   I have Catherine married to a McGrade with 14 children!   I am struggling with this family but did use a researcher to get baptismal information.   As you say "Nottie" must be a mistranscription of "Nora" BUT on my husband's grandfather's birth certificate (he was a brother of Catherine) the name "Nottie" appears as his mother.   I have, on the original baptisms her name as Honora which would normally be shortened to Nora.   I think the best thing I can do is make you a guest on my ancestry.co Tree - I probably won't be able to use this website again because I forgot my password and have been given a temporary one which will last 24 hours only.   Can you reply to me on jc43@btinternet.com and I can then give you access to Tree.

So glad you contacted me - when we went to Makenny last year, the lady who showed us around and who was extremely nice, was a Corry - that was her married name - I have a feeling she may have been a McGrade before her marriage.   I know she mentioned there was a relative in ?Canada, ?USA.   I have a horrible suspicion you probably know as much as I do about this family - they are not easy to glean information about.   Look forward to hearing from you.   Sue Cassidy

IrelandXO member
IrelandXO member

I wonder if anyone could help me - I am researching the Cassidys of Drumbinnion, Kilskeery and Makenny of same place.

I have managed to go back a coupld of further generations - I have found from Griffiths Valuation a few Cassidys in Cabra, Sloy, Makenny, Ballyvarrell,  Cavanamarrow, Sloy and Drumsonas, Ballyvarrell.   To say I am bewildered would be an understatement.   Are the above all in the Kilskeery Parish/Diocese does anyone know please?   I have a map but it is not showing all of them - also I thought Makenny was a home and it would appear it is in Ballyvarrell.   Have been to Makenny but never heard of Ballyvarrell????  Help if possible would be very gratefrully received.   Sue

IrelandXO member

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