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Looking for information on the PECKHAM family from the city of Limerick circa 1844.  Honora PECKHAM was listed as the baptismal sponsor for Thomas SHANAHAN, son of Thomas Shanahan and Bridget Luby aka LOOBY, who was baptised in the vestry of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, in the city of Limerick in 1844 by the Rev. George Butler.  I can find little info on the PECKHAM family in Ireland at all, much less in Limerick.  The Irish Family History Foundation (rootsireland.ie) listed only one alternate spelling for PECKHAM, and gives it as PECKHAN.  Are there other alternative spellings that I should be looking at?  

Any help much appreciated!

Kathy Rhodes

longlocks

Friday 11th Jul 2014, 08:19PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Kathy,  is  it  possible  the  name  was  Beckham.  I  came  across  a  Beckham  as  a  Godparent  while  doing  my  own  Family  tree  in  the  parish  of  Cappamore  co  Limerick.    Also  there  were  four  families  of  Beckhams  in  Co  Limerick  in  the  Tithes  1830s     Y  ou  will  be  able  to  access  this  at  www.titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie    Best  of  luck,  let  me  know  how  you  get  on.

    God  bless  and  kindest  regards.

    Christina  Vol,  Irelandxo. 

     

     

     

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 13th Jul 2014, 06:21PM
  • Hi Christina,

    Thanks for the suggestion!  I've been pulling out my hair on this one and never thought to consider that the "P" might have been mistranscribed as a "B"!  I'll check out the Beckham's right away.  Again thanks for the timely and useful suggestion!  Much Appreciated!

    Best Regards,

    Kathy

    longlocks

    Monday 14th Jul 2014, 12:57PM
  • Kathy

             Pickham is a name in Doon Co. Limerick up to mid 1800's . Doon and Cappamore are neighbouring parishes and Beckham could easily be phonetically interchanged as would Peckham

    Seamus

    www.paxad.ie/clansearch

    Thursday 7th Aug 2014, 10:54PM
  • I just re-consulted the baptismal information and the spelling used there was PECKAM (not PECKHAM as I erroneously stated in my original query) so given that the Irish Family History Foundation records show that one of the variants of the surname PICKHAM is Peckam (just as it is spelled on the baptismal cert), that would likely make more sense than Beckham, although I suppose to be thorough I'm going to have to check them all out.  Sigh...Irish spelling is such fun!! 

    But I find it very interesting to know that the surname Pickham is found in the parish of Doon, because I know there are a fairly good number of Shanahan families in that parish as well, so thank you Seamus for the input!  Much appreciated!

    Happy Hunting!

    Kathy

    longlocks

    Friday 8th Aug 2014, 03:28PM
  • there is a marriage of a

    Thomas Shannahan & Mary Luby, Year 1833,

    Powerstown, Co tipperary.

     

    Regards

    John.

    oconnelljohn1

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 12:13AM
  • John, 

    Yes, the 13 Oct 1833 Marriage in the RC parish of Powerstown, Co Tipperary is the correct marriage record for my GGGGrandparents.  The witnesses to that marriage were John Luby and Bridget Connors.  The couple's first child, Denis Shanahan was baptised in the same parish on 24 Aug 1834; sponsor Rev. Edmund Maher and Brigid Connors.  It is my assumption that the marriage witness Bridget Connors and baptismal sponsor Brigid Connors are the same person despite her given name [Bridget/Brigid] being spelled two different ways.  

    Although I must say I find it very interesting that you have given the name as Thomas ShaNNahan (two N's) and his wife's first name as Mary because the Irish Family History Foundation (http://www.rootsireland.ie) gives the spelling of Thomas' surname as Shanahan (only 1 "N") and gives his wife's first name as Bridget, not Mary.  Interesting because Rootsireland.ie is a transcription only site, so one cannot compare their data with the originals for any errors.  However, my cousins and I contracted Catriona Crowe in Limerick to investigate for us and she too confirms the same spellings as Rootsireland and that the mother's name was Bridget rather than Mary.  However, because I wasn't sure if Catriona actually had access to the original entry, I also contacted the parish priest in Powerstown and he too, after consulting his original parish records confirms that the wife's name was Bridget Luby, not Mary as you have stated.  

    Thomas Shanahan and Bridget Luby's second child (my GGGrandfather) Michael Shanahan was baptised in Holycross RC Parish in Co Tipperary on 14 Jan 1838 only on this record his mother's name is recorded as Bridget LOOBY rather than LUBY and lists only one sponsor by the name of Mary Looby.  

    Their third child Margaret "Maggie" Anne Shanahan was baptised 3 Sep 1841 in St. Patrick's RC Church in the city of Limerick.  Her record is found under the spelling Margret ShaNNahan and her godparents were Thomas and Catherine Burch.  

    Their fourth child, Thomas Shanahan was baptised 10 Feb 1844 also in St. Patrick's RC Church in Limerick; his record is found like Maggie's under the spelling Thomas ShaNNahan and Bridget LOOBEY; with his godparents listed as Patt Fox and Honora Peckam.  Both Maggie and Thomas were baptised by the Rev. George Butler.  George Butler at that time (1841-1844 was not the priest at St. Patrick's but rather the curate).  

    These four Shanahan children were left orphaned when their parents Thomas and Bridget Luby Shanahan died during the famine.  Our 'family tale' passed down for so long, says that the children were left in care of a grandparent (unknown if it was Thiomas Shanahan's mother or Bridget Luby's mother) and that the youngest son Thomas Shanahan drowned as a child in a river near their home (we assume in the River Shannon since they were living in Limerick).  

    Where did you find the marriage record stating that Thomas ShaNNahan married MARY Luby in 1833 in Powerstown?  Thought I'd covered all the bases here, but if you found a record under Mary Luby, rather than Bridget Luby, I'd love to know what the source actually is.  

    Thanks for you help!

    Kathy

    longlocks

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 08:24AM
  • it was on the roots ireland site i found the marriage.

    on roots Ireland, select Marriage

    Sirname Leave Blank,

    First Name %%%% 3 percentage Signs only

    Sirename Shanahan,

    First Name Thomas & select Search,

    It will reveal the Wifes Name.

    oconnelljohn1

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 01:28PM
  • Yes, John, what you say is correct regarding using the percentage signs.  However, it reveals the name as Thomas Shanahan (one N not two) and the wife's name is Bridget Luby not Mary Luby as you stated in your original message.  Thanks very much for the tip on using the percentage signs, that is a very handy thing to know!  Did you know that entering a ZERO for the percentage signs does the same thing?  And are you aware that you can intelligently guess (by simple process of elimination of stepping through the alphabet) and guessing given names withOUT using any of your free searches up?

    Free Tutorial Here.  

     

    longlocks

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 04:04PM
  • i see you have, Tuogh in your Parish List,

    tuogh Civil Parish is a townland In Adare Parish, west of of the Vilage,

    Drehidtarsna Civil Parish is on the east side of Adare Parish,

    Add Adare & Drehidtarsna to your parish list.

    John.

     

    oconnelljohn1

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 04:18PM
  • look uo on Line,

    Adare Parish Townlands & select,

    Diocesan heritage Project - Adare Parish,

    Scroll down to see the list of Parishes.

    John.

    oconnelljohn1

    Tuesday 12th Aug 2014, 04:27PM
  • The Pickhams of Limerick/Tipperary are in my tree!  I just received confirmation from my 4th Great Grandfather's death certificate (upstate NY).   It's such a relatively small family in Ireland and elsewhere that I'm trying to make a spreadsheet and log everyone in and then try and sort them out as best I can.  The first "Pickham" I can find is William b. 1796 in Country Wexford (Enniscorthy Parish) of Richard Pickham and Anne Shallow.  The baptism is labeled as "Spurious", which, I believe means he was illegitimate.  After that, every other "Pickham" I can find is from Limerick/Tipperary.  My William of Gortavalla b. abt 1816 married Ellen Morrison of Moher in 1846 and they were in Black Brook, NY by 1848 with either a brother or cousin, John Pickham and Catherine (?)Murphy.  

    There is a Honora Pickham who married a John Dwyer in 1849 in Limerick City.  This could be the same Honora who was the sponsor for Thomas Shanahan.  

    My Pickhams actually switched to "Peckham" in the late 1800s, which threw me off for a while, but they were definitely "Pickhams" to start!!

    Hope you've found some answers since you first posted!!

    Best, 

    Annie

    Annie H

    Saturday 18th Feb 2017, 02:35PM
  • Thanks everyone who has contributed to this posting.

    Just one piece of information I have for you which may be of interest.

    When I was working in the USA during college during the 1980's I worked with a guy who was for a time a personal assistant to Gregory Peck, the movie star.  He told me that Gregory Peck's real name was "Peckum" and that it was Irish - and that was from the mouth of Gregory Peck himself.  

    Reviewing the notes above, it seems the Peckum family are quiet small - so you would seem to almost certainly be related.  

    Best Wishes,

    Mike Feerick
    Chairman
    Ireland XO

    Mike Feerick

    Sunday 19th Feb 2017, 01:21PM
  • Headstones for the Pickhams, can be found in Towerhill graveyard Cappamore Co Limerick.

    Can be accessed on  www.historicgraves.ie 

    Christina.

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 20th Feb 2017, 08:40AM
  • Gregory Peckum eh?  His real first name was Eldred....no wonder he dropped it and used Gregory!  

    I tried to check out your story but ran into a BIG road block.  Gregory Peck's dad (Gregory Pearl Peck aka Doc Peck) was born the year his father (Samuel Peck) mysteriously disappeared/drowned? and the Peck[um] trail ends there somewhere in New York state.  Call me suspicious but I've run across this sort of tale more times than I can count; sounds like somebody "made up" a husband and "killed" him off right quick to cover an indiscretion.  As to whether or not Peck[um] is a truly Irish surname, I haven't yet determined, but the actor Eldred Gregory Peck can claim Irish Heritage through his father's maternal line as his grandmother Catherine "Kate" Ashe Peck Gilpin hails from Co Kerry.  

     

    Kathy

     

    longlocks

    Thursday 23rd Feb 2017, 01:20PM
  • Thank you Christina - I think that Pickham family buried at Tower Hill may be my William Pickham's direct family (the grave is missing a William).  As a guess, it's either that family, or William Pickham and Mary Griffin who had a William in 1816 - which lines up with my William to went to upstate NY around 1846/47.  Both families are from Gortavalla, as is my William.  I don't think they're all one in the same, as there were at least 2 Williams in the Tithe Applotments for that area (I believe) but I haven't ruled that out.  I really wish poor Mrs Pickham was named on the grave.  The father of my William was definitely also William from the info. on his death certificate, but again, no name for his mother.   

    As far as Gregory Peck goes, I also arrived at the same conclusion about his Irish Heritage being from his paternal grandmother as well.  Upstate NY did have quite a few "Peckham" families (British heritage, I discovered).  I had gone down a few rabbit holes as I mentioned above that my Pickhams changed the spelling to Peckham, for whatever reason, so that threw me off for a while.  I think the upstate NY Peckhams all branch off of the Peckhams of Rhode Island who came to America from Kent, England in the 1600s.  

    Best, 

    Annie 

     

    Annie H

    Thursday 23rd Feb 2017, 10:47PM
  • Hi Annie/Kathy,

    It is great to see the expertise developing on the Peckum family line. Well done. With regards to Gregory Peck, there is the possibility that in error, he thought that he was an Irish Peckum. The chap I spoke with the quoted him that time seemed to believe the actor was convinced of that Peckum was Irish.

    Either way, it would be great if you could add what Peckum profiles you have to the XO Chronicles Ancestor Profiles. so others can add to what we know in time.

    Many thanks,

    Mike

    Mike Feerick

    Saturday 25th Feb 2017, 01:00PM

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