Tonry/Tonra

Hodgdon:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I checked the online Irish phone book and there were no listings for Tonry in Drumfin. Hopefully, someone will see your post and comment.

Roger McDonnell

Thank you for checking, Roger. 

Hi,

 

My grandfather was a tonra from lower carrigans, just up the road from drumming. I am sure there must be a connection between the tonra in the area but proving it is difficult but maybe combining our resources is the answer.

 

Brian fairley

Hello Brian, 

What was your grandfather's name? I would be happy to share with you all the Tonra/Tonry information I have compiled so far. 

Regards, 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

 

Philip,

 

My grandfather was Tim Tonra, his father was Michael, if you have access to Ancestry my tree is online there (Tonra and Coyle). Alternatively I could try to email a copy to you.

 

Brian

 Brian,
I tried searching for your family tree but was unsuccessful. I'm not very good using Ancestry's search features. Perhaps you could send me your user name?

My Ancestry tree is under the name Stephen Hodgdon (user name: DanceWithGoats) and the name of the tree is Export-Bloodtgree.

I have several Michael Tonra/Tonry's in my tree, but I don't think I have a Timothy.

- Stephen

Hi again,

 

I have set up an invite on Ancestry for you to access my tree, you should get an email with a link to it. If you click on the bar with your tree name one of the options is sharing put my email adress in there, brianwfairley@hotmail.co.uk, and I should get a link to your tree.

My great grandfather Michael was married to Ann Finegan, they had 7  children, Dan, John, Thomas, Tim, Lizzie, James and Michael. If you type Elizabeth Tonra Carrigans Police into google you will get a link to a photo of her.. I have gone over to Ireland twice looking for info, there is a family in Lower Carrigans,called Kerins, where the husband seems to know a lot about the local history and the people. Unfortunately I missed him both times but his wife was helpful. The local school building which our relatives would have attended is still there. I have managed to trace back a few relatives 3 generations from my G Grandad but i am struggling from there, also having difficulty with his siblings. 

I know from speaking to Mrs Kerins that there are a number on Tonras Tonrys still at Drumfin, indeed I spoke to one them last time I was over.#

 

Brian

 

 

Brian,

Thank you for sharing your family tree. I have shared mine with you as well via email. Let me know if you didn't receive it.

At one point I had your John Mullin and Sabina Burke in my family tree when I first starting constructing it. I believe they were linked to one of the Michael Tonras in my family lineage. But I recently received new information from a newly discovered relative in Ireland that convinced me that the Mullin/Burke connection was incorrectly linked to my relative.

I suspect our Tonra families are still linked somehow due to the proximity of their homes. We probably need to trace it back another generation or two.

I also have a Kerins in my family tree. What is your connection to that name?

Also, have you looked at the Griffith's Valuation to see if you could find your Tonra ancestors there? That might help us close the loop as well.

Stephen

Hi ya hodgdon

I am tonry from drumfin who u looking for

Hi,

 

I am also looking fot info on Tonras from Lower Carrigans. My great grandfather Michael Tonra was married to Ann Finegan, they had 7  children, Dan, John, Thomas, Tim, Lizzie, James and Michael. I am having difficulty tracing back beyond great grandparents and would appriciate any insights you can provide

 

regards

 

Brian

Hello Tonry,

My grandmother, Mary Ellen Tonry, grew up in Drumfin in a house on the main road through town. Her father was William Tonry, who married Anne McDermott.

He had a shop and small farm. The shop was in his cottage, inside the front door.  He also had a travelling shop too (donkey & cart).  And he carried milk for local farmers to the local creamery in nearby Riverstown. They also took in lodgers who slept in the half story upsairs - apparently their was a school master who lodged with them for years.  

The cottage was adjacent or perhaps even connected to his cousin's family, James Tonry. The two families did not get along and they even had a violent battle over a wall or shed that William built. William left the shop to his daughter, Lizzie Anne.

The cottage no longer stands today; just the wall that William built to separate them. I have a lot more information, but I'll stop here for now to see if you recognize any of the family members that I or Brian mentioned. Brian and I think are families are linked somewhere a few more generations back, but we haven't been able to uncover the connection yet.

Thanks for getting in touch.

Stephen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, my great grandfather, John Tonry, was born in Drumfin in 1849. He came over from Ireland in 1869 and had a livery business, John Tonry Boarding, Hacks and Livery, in Winthrop, MA and died in 1926.  Around 1874 he married Fanny Sheekey from Roscommon. They had 12 children, including my grandfather, John Tonry (1876-1946), who married Mary Elizabeth Shields, and had 7 children, including my father, Edward Thomas Tonry (1913-2006), who married Catherine D. Stopar in 1945 and had 2 children.                                

My great-great grandfather father was Steven Tonry (1813-1908), who was a horse trader in Drumfin.  He married Sarah McDermott of (Riverstown), and they had 6 children: John, Michael, Lizzie, Maryann, Ellen and Sarah and Stephen.

Steven's father was Stephen Tonry. He is shown as a "bootmaker in Dublin born 1790 from Belfast"  He married Mary Welch of Carrowhill and had 6 children: John, William, Patrick, James, Ann and Stephen.

I'd love to find out if any of my family is still living in Ireland.

Dolores

 

 

 

 

Dolores,

In my family tree I have a Steven (Stephen) Tonry married to Sarah McDermott, and they had the same six children (John, Michael, Lizzie, Maryann, Ellen and Sarah, but no younger Stephen). He is my 3rd great-uncle. 

I suspect we share these same family members in our ancestry, but my records show that Steven's father was named Michael Tonry, not Stephen, and was married to Martha Walsh, which sounds kind of close to Mary Welch. However, my records could be wrong. 

Stephen

 

 

 

To Dolores Graves,

Hi Dolores, I' thrilled to make your accquaintence.  My nane is John Mc Donagh  and we certainly are related. My late mother 1902--1995  was Elizabeth Tonry from Drumfin and I often heard the story of her uncle whom she never met and  who "went to America" in 1869. Mother was a schoolteacher who taught in a neighbouring parish unti her retirement in 1967.

She was one of ten children, six boys and four girls. As she lived all of her life with us (my wife and family she passed on a great deal of history about the Tonry family of Drumfin. Recently I started researching the amazing story of Professor William P Tonrywhich I only learned of quite recently. (You can google all this and it really is facinating)   The said William P. also must have been an earlier family member.

You still have lots of relatives living in this area of County Sligo I'm not too keen on posting too much information on a public board but you can Email me at the following address mcdonaghjohnj@gmail.com

Cheers John. 

Hi John,

 

I spotted your reply to Dolores and wonder if you have any information on the Tonras from up the road at Lower Carrigans where my relatives lived. My great grandfather Michael Tonra was married to Ann Finegan, they had 8  children, Dan, John, Thomas, Tim, Lizzie, Mary, James and Michael. I am having difficulty tracing back beyond great grandparents and would appriciate any insights you can provide. His parents were James Tonra and Eleanora Mullen but that is as far back as I can get, if you have anything further I would be grateful.

 

Thanks

 

Brian

Brian

I'll have a look through my various collections but I'm not hopeful. I gained more info from Dolore's post than I've got in the last number of years, I do know that the "Carrigans Tonrys" were not related to the "Drumfin Tonrys" ---Well certainly not closely related.  If I find anything of intrest I'll post it 

John 

Ytto

To doloros
stephen Tonra the horse and cattle dealer of Drumfin was my great grand father and I am a direct decendent.Many times I heard the story of John's departure to America and . Ended up in Boston where he had alivery yard..He would be my great grand uncle.I have more history on him that I do not want to post on a public board.I can be contacted at stephentonra@gmail.com

Are you referring to Stephen "Breddie" Tonra born in 1901? Or perhaps Stephen Tonra born in 1827 and who married Sarah McDermott? 

  - Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

Stephen H
Old Stephen the horse dealer I am 83 yrs.old.He was my Great Grand Father. He was the father of John who eloped to U S A without letting him know.when old Stephen returned late from a fairhe learned of his sons departure and he followed him to Port of Cork to learn that the Tender Ship had left and John was gone.he never returned.The old Stephen was very annoyed. .Stephen (Breddie) was my uncle You must be my distant cousin as is John J M Donagh

p.s. in addition to my last post I should have Stephen born in 1827.he was married to Sarah McDermott.
The latter Sarah was born in theTownlandof Ougham Riverstown Co Sligo.years later my father Michael Tonry purchased the farm from the McDermotts and I was trrared.Soested there. my father Michael was son ofmichael Drumfin who was brother of John who went to America about 1847
My nephew also Michael Tonry now resides at the home of his great great grandmother saah McDermott.So Stephen this is history of nearly 200 . it andpass it on

Your "old" Stephen Tonra was my 3rd great uncle. His brother, James, was my great-great-grandfather. 

If my ancestry research is correct, your great uncle John died in East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, which is not far from where I currently live. I have a picture of his livery stable in Winthrop, Massachussetts, taken in 1907. 

I also have a letter written by your other great uncle (and John's brother), Bernard Leo Tonry. He describes how his father, Michael Tonry, lived in farm cottage in Drumfin adjoining another cottage owned by his cousin and my great grandfather, William Tonry. I would be happy to send it to you if you haven't seen it. 

- Stephen Hodgdon
 

 

 

 

Stephen H.
I would be delighted to get a copy of that letter. Email me stephentonrs@gmail.com.I see from your last post that you decended from William s side of the family.can you tell me what was Williams relationship to Old Stephen the dealer.I can only trace back to old Stephen.i would love to find out what year was the little farm decided and the cousins fell out and the wall was built by the Williamites ? Was it before or after Old Stephens time.i don't know.who were Williams siblings an what we're their parents name?.Ben Tonry was my uncle and of course he would have been anephew of John the livery man in Boston.y email is stephentonra@gmail.com
I delighted to have gained your acqua tance.I hope you can help me when the family split up.By the way where does Dolores Graves fit in
Regards Stephen Tonra Forest View,Boyle, co Ros common
I
I

Hello to all the relatives I never knew I had!  This is Dolores Graves, nee Tonry, and I can't believe what I've started and learned from my post last year!  Unfortunately, my brother Ed Tonry is the geneologist in the family.  My head starts swimming at about 2 generations back, lol.  But it is very good to know that I come by my love of horses honestly.  My dad, Edward Thomas Tonry, was born in East Jaffrey, where his grandfather John died.  My brother will be interested in this. 

In response to Stephen Tonra, I and the great-granddaughter of John Tonry, who apparently upped and left Ireland without telling anyone.  I apologize to his relations for that gross bearch of manners, although I am glad he came to America.  But then again, I've had the great pleasure of visiting Ireland twice, and wouldn't mind that much if he had stayed there, either.  I hope to visit again (after all this COVID 19 mess is in the past), and perhaps meeting with some of you.

Warm wishes to all Tonry/Tonras

Dolores Graves

Attached Files

Stephen, 

I emailed you a letter from Bernard Leo Tonry which describes the cottage, farm and what life was like growing up in Drumfin. I apologize for the delay in sending it you.

I have also uploaded here in case anyone else might be interested in reading it. The letter is a bit difficult to follow at times due to some misspellings and missing words.  

Stephen

 

 

 

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I should also mention that visited Drumfin last September during my trip to Ireland and, with the help of another Tonry relative who lives in the area, found the wall that divided the feuding families described in the letter I sent you. I uploaded a photo of me with the Tonry relative, Aisling McTiernan, taken at the wall. 

Hi Stephen Hodgins.

I was thrilled to read for the second time my uncle Leo's family history, The last time that I read it, it was the original handwritten document and that was sometime in the early 1980s.  Now,  much older, physically more infirm, much wiser and very much more interested, it really gave me great pleasure to read it again.  As you can probably discern from my previous posts on this site I live just a few miles away from Drumfin but despite my proximity, I've never had the privilege of viewing the famous (or should Isay infamous) wall before and it amused me so much to view the photograph that you posted. That wall must surely deserve its place in history, like The Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall and the Berlin Wall. It would be great to see the Drumfin Wall rated alongside all of them together with its story of conflict, agitation, aggression, and legal proceedings. 

Amazingly I found the court record pertaining to the ensuing legal proceedings, there were several claims and counter-claims at the Ballymote Petty sessions on 23rd October 1909 (the battle took place on 9th September 1909).  Leo's chronology would indicate that the battle occurred three or four years later but the court record is as I have already stated.

Anyway, the truce appears to be holding  much more than a century later  and I can only say that its great to communicate with all the long lost cousins and talk about Tonry family history, 

 

John Mc Donagh

John, 

I searched the Ireland Petty Sessions records on Ancestry.com and found a couple court cases involving William Tonry and his three daughters (Lizzie Ann, Tessie and Delia) versus Kate Tonry. Both parties accuse the other threats and assault during an event on Sept. 15, 1909. But I haven't been able to locate the Petty Session claim concerning the battle on the 9th. Is this something you can share with us? 

I heard that it was the ongoing animosity between Kate and William's family that caused William to build the wall between them. It's been said that Kate could be a ‘rascal’ and would watch people as they came and went to William’s shop. She would talk to them and give ‘jip’ to the customers she didn’t like. This annoyed William and so he built a wall to
separate the cottages.

Here is a Google Maps photo of the current location of the wall: 

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.1219493,-8.4345287,3a,75y,167.73h,78.11…

- Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Stephen,

1. My apologies, you looked at the correct court record, I simply put down the wrong date in a "senior moment"  (Isn't that a nice way to describe a failing memory ) I've no doubt though that particular record relates to "The battle of the Drumfin wall" I went through the court records for the following years and can find no mention of any other Tonry incident.  Incidentally,  the court cases from that particular time make hilarious reading. Neighbors were always fighting and suing others over trivial and bizarre little things I get much amusement reading it all
2. I have no doubt that my grandmother was not exactly an angel but I suppose rearing a very big family in impoverished circumstances and in such close proximity to another large family must have been a severe test of temperament and patience.. Now I have absolutely no desire to break the truce and resume hostilities at this stage, well over a century later.
3. From what I, heard the little farm was divided between two brothers. Stephen and James (Jimmie)  sometime in the mid-1800s They allegedly were twins and according to tradition, they never got along either. James would have been your direct ancestor, I wonder when he died? I can find no record of his death..They also had a number of other brothers one of whom was William (the last maker) who emigrated to New Brunswic and later to Boston and whose son Professor William P, Tonry became the first forensic scientist to be employed by the American federal govèrnment.  I spent a lot of time researching the said. Professor, It's an amazing story which I would love to upload  but I have just got a new laptop , I'm not very computer literate and  am in the process of transferring from the old to the new .
4. Cheers John 

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Stephen,

Now "confined to barracks because of the Covid-19m threat I've messed around and I think, managed to upload the story of Professor W.P.Tonry   

Hi All,

I have to say I have found this tread very interesting and humbling to know I have so many relatives scattered around that I didn't know existed!. I am a grand nephew of Leo and Lizzy Tonry their brother Michael is my grandfather who was also born in Drumfin. My Grandfather as my uncle Steven has mentioned in this tread moved and settled less than 2 mile from Drumfin where I still live. So make sure to look me up if your calling to Drumfin again. I had read most of a heard copy of Leo's memoirs that I came across a while back. But some of the pages were in a poor condition to read. So it great to get this copy to finish it. 

Kind Regards

Michael Tonry 

Ougham 

Riverstown 

Co Sligo 

michaeltonry@hotmail.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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John and Stephen, 

The information you have shared about Dr. William Tonry is a significant breakthrough for my ancestral research. My aunt shared the story about his ill-fated marriage connection to the Surratts, but I never been able to find a link to our family tree. 

So if I understand the connection correctly, brothers James and Stephen had at least one other brother named William who emigrated to New Brunswick, and was father to Dr. William? The only other sibling of James and Stephen that I have been able to find was a sister named Mary who married Patrick Moore.   

Also, my apologies for citing the "rascal" reference to your grandmother Kate. I, too, want to maintain the truce. :)

Lastly, I uploaded a painting of the "12 Mile House". The cousin who shared it with believes that your family's house was attached to it, or in very close proximity to it, but the artist took the liberty of not including it. 

Cheers, and thank you, 

Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

 

 

Attached Files

I have attached another document containing some Tonry research that you might find interesting. It's from young cousin, Aisling McTiernan. It mostly chronicles my side of Tonry family, but it delves a little deeper into the 12 mile house, the shop, the feuding cousins, and the Riverstown Boycott.  

I have also uploaded a couple photocopies of pages from a book that talks about Kate Kerins and Michael Tonry. While my side of the Tonry family may have considered Kate a "rascal," she sounds like she was quite an impressive woman. 

Stephen Hodgdon

 

This website on William P. Tonry and the Surratts cast doubts on William's connection to our family:

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~prsjr/0mary/chapter/chap_12c.htm

It indicates that William P. Tonry's parents were William P Tonry's parents were William and Catharine (Brennam) Tonry, yet our James' and Stephen's parents were Michael and Martha (Walsh) Tonry.   

 

Hi Stephen,

Yes, I am very well aware that Professor Tonry's parents were William Tonry and Catherine Brennan (spelled Brennam) on the Roots web site. William sr is described as a last maker He was born on 14th August 1814 "near Riverstown Co Sligo" I cannot find any record of Catherine but I have reason to believe that she came from Ross --a small townland near Rivertown. Professor W.P. was born on April 4th, 1840 "in Co Sligo"   The whole family emigrated to St John's New  Brunswick in "the early 1840s" It appears extremely likely that they were moved as part of Lord Palmeiliesrston's land clearance which was effected shortly before and right through the Irish famine period. Palmerston owned property in the Riverstown area and moved any tenants that were willing to go to St John's.   

It's very easy to confuse a generation when you're dealing with the genealogy from two centuries ago and although I remain fully convinced of a near relationship I can't be absolutely certain whether William the last maker was a brother or an uncle to Stephen the horse trader.    I've searched all the available records from that period in time and there were only two Tonry families in the entire county and furthermore Prof William had siblings named Stephen and James but at this time it would take a D.N.A  test to establish a definite relationship. 

 

Hi I don't know if any of us are related I was rared in drumfin by my father Patrick tonry he was a son of brendan tonry who was a brother of William tonry in drumfin if I'm right did ye ever hear of Patrick tonry

Hello.

A number of us on this discussion thread have a Patrick or William Tonry in our family lineage. My great-grandfather was William Farrell (1866-1938), who lived in the "12-Mile House" in Drumfin. 

I have not heard of a Brendan Tonry, however. 

Could you tell us your name, and perhaps share with us a few more of your relatives to see if we can make a connection? 

Regards,

Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

 

Hi Stephen
My name is Christine tonry and I think my grandads brendan brother was Willie tonry and his sister was rita I'd have to look into more as most were deceased wen I was very young

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Hi Tonry's - 2 items that might be of interest to Drumfin Tonry Descendents. 1) Membership card for the United Irish League; 2) Application for pub licence renewal in 1863. 

Cheers, 

John McD

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Hello Tonrys!  I was tripping through the internet doing a little research on Dr. William Tonry and came across this thread!  So, my name is David Tonrey; I live in Maryland, 30 miles east of Washington, DC.  My parents, Patrick Tonrey and Anne Duggan were from New York City, and the four grandparents are all from Eire...

So, Grandpa Joe (John Joseph) Tonrey was born in Castlegar, Galway in 1896.  One of 11 children.  I'm not sure where or when the "e" was added to the name.  Some of the siblings spelled it Tonry, some spelled it Tonrey.  I heard a story once that my father asked his father which one is the right one, and Grandpa Joe replied, "if Tonrey was good enough for my father, it's good enough for me."...

Now, Joe's father was David Tonry/Tonrey (1856 -1911, listed both ways in the family cemetery).  David was one of ? 10 I think.  His father was a Michael Tonry and mother was Mary Corcoran; the wedding date I have is January 26, 1837 and that's where my trail ends.  I heard a story that Michael left Sligo and found his way to Galway and met and married Mary and here I am.  I have nothing before the wedding.  With our name being so rare, I would think it must be the same family?  I recall correspondence with a member of a Galway West group telling me that Tonry/Tonrey wasn't a Galway name, despite being there for 150 years plus... Descendants are still in Castlegar btw...

I would love to get your insight on this possible connection.  I know there are Tonrys in Roscommon as well.  I'm going to try and attach a few pics if you dont mind.  The first is Grandpa Joe's wedding to Bridie Lynch (Carrickmacross, Monaghan) June 18, 1929 in New York City, the second is Joe in later years, and the last pic is his father, my great grandfather and name sake, David.  Apparently David left Galway for Boston in the 1870s, worked as a butcher, and for reasons unknown, returned to Ireland and had 11 children. (other Galway cousins spell it Tonery; there's a Tonery bar on the Bohermore Road just outside Galway city.)

I hope you don't mind my post here.  Would love to connect with the family.  Its a beautiful name!.  There's not many of us here in America!  Best wishes during this surreal time around the world.  Cheers!

Funny footnote; The 1901 Galway census shows the family listed as Tonrey.  David died before the 1911 Census; that one (i'm guessing completed by his father-in-law Patrick King, where they lived) lists all the family as Tonry....

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On a last side note, I majored in History at Towson University, just north of Baltimore.  I know no more than the next person; just always been interested in the past.  Growing up so near to DC and Baltimore, we're surrounded by history.  The Surratt House that played such a huge part in the Lincoln assassination is 20 minutes from home.  We visited there and it was there that I learned about Dr. Tonry and Mary Surratt.  They mailed me a copy of the Washington Star newspaper article from 1869 that wrote about the wedding at St. Patrick's.  So strange to find out the Church i visited every so often for noon Mass while working in the DC was the same place they got married.  

in any event, I asked them if they had a wedding picture from that day and they did not but they sent me the attached.... again best wishes from the mid Atlantic!  Ireland Forever! ;)

Hello David Tonrey, 

I'm a yank as well, living in Lee, New Hampshire, about an hour north of Boston. 

A number of us on this thread have been trying to find a connection between between our Tonry ancestors, who are from the Drumfin, Ballymote area of Sligo, and Dr. William Tonry. Perhaps your lineage might help with that. Do you have any more information about about your great-great-great grandparents Michael Tonry and Mary Corcoran? 

Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

 

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Hello Stephen.  Nice to hear from  you.  New Hampshire, ha?  God's Country?? :)  I'm afraid I have no more information on Michael Tonry and Mary Corcoran except the wedding date...  A Galway cousin recently put together a family history of the name.. Griffin's Valuation 1855 shows Michael Tonry in Galway at the time..  Anyone on the thread, or yourself, Stephen, do the DNA?  I'm on Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com and account # on Gedmatch is A199430, if anyone's uploaded their DNA there...

Back to Dr. Tonry.. 1869, fired four days after marrying Anna Surratt.  WASP bastards is part of it.  Ended up in Baltimore (40 miles north - we live in between, east of both DC/Baltimore)... Successful career as a respected chemist... 5 children... the funny thing is, I can't find any Tonrys in Baltimore.... they scattered.. I don't blame them...  came across the attached pic from heaven's knows....I'm guessing these are Surratt Tonrys in Baltimore from back in the day...

Hi all Tonrys, 

I've just been reading through the Tonry messages again and I must say it's great to see so much interest in the family history. Sadly I haven't much to add this time but maybe I can clarify the questions asked by the descendants of Brendan and Willie Tonry, both of whom were known to me, they also had a sister "Rita" who I never remember meeting, This family was second cousins of my mother's generation which of course means that their grandfather was a brother of old Stephen (the horse dealer). Hopefully, I may have settled that one.    

Now to get back to queries by our most recent addition  David  Tonery from Maryland, sadly I cannot come up with anything definite to link the two families. The relevant period of time (early to mid-1800s is very poorly documented, there were somewhere between eight and nine million people living in Ireland before the great famine of the 18400s. A lot of births and deaths were never recorded. Hordes of people moved all over the country and indeed all over the World in search of food.work and the necessities of life. Then to compound the mystery, most of the national records were burned in the four courts in 1922  at the start of the civil war, so at this stage, we have to rely mainly on oral tradition to fill the gaps, I'll keep searching and if anything new turns up I'll post it.

I was really delighted to see the photo of Dr. William Tonry I tried so hard to get one for my piece in the Corran Herald. I even tried the army records and the Surratt museum, but I was told that no one existed. Where did you come across it?

Cheers John J

 

 

 

 

Hi all Tonrys, 

I've just been reading through the Tonry messages again and I must say it's great to see so much interest in the family history. Sadly I haven't much to add this time but maybe I can clarify the questions asked by the descendants of Brendan and Willie Tonry, both of whom were known to me, they also had a sister "Rita" who I never remember meeting, This family was second cousins of my mother's generation which of course means that their grandfather was a brother of old Stephen (the horse dealer). Hopefully, I may have settled that one.    

Now to get back to queries by our most recent addition  David  Tonery from Maryland, sadly I cannot come up with anything definite to link the two families. The relevant period of time (early to mid-1800s is very poorly documented, there were somewhere between eight and nine million people living in Ireland before the great famine of the 18400s. A lot of births and deaths were never recorded. Hordes of people moved all over the country and indeed all over the World in search of food.work and the necessities of life. Then to compound the mystery, most of the national records were burned in the four courts in 1922  at the start of the civil war, so at this stage, we have to rely mainly on oral tradition to fill the gaps, I'll keep searching and if anything new turns up I'll post it.

I was really delighted to see the photo of Dr. William Tonry I tried so hard to get one for my piece in the Corran Herald. I even tried the army records and the Surratt museum, but I was told that no one existed. Where did you come across it?

Cheers John J

 

 

 

 

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John J!  Great to see your post.  I completely understand the disconnects in the geneology, etc... That's why I love the DNA sites... I searched on Tonry ... only 3 matches on Ancestry.com and none on MyHeritage..  On a side note - I met a 2nd cousin online back in April 2018.  We found out our Duggan grandfathers were brothers!  I already had plans for Ireland for my 50th birthday that July, and she said, 'oh no, you have to come visit me in Kerry!'  so we did!  It was like hanging out with my sister!  Unbelievale!  (Won $250 Euro on my 50th btw, July 30 at the Galway Races ;))  LOL!  

As far as the the Dr. Tonry pic... it's been years, John but I believe it was the Surratt Museum that sent that to me.  https://www.surrattmuseum.org/.  It's a national historic landmark, I believe.  Great, friendly crew.  It's still there, though i'm sure it's closed currently due to the COVID-19...  Ford's Theatre still here, too, where they killed our greatest President, and where Professor Tonry worked prior to the assasination.  Talk about a coincidence!  And the church they got married in, St. Patrick's, is a block from the theatre.... https://saintpatrickdc.org/

I did review the recent history summary since I came across this site; Michael and Mary Tonry had 12 children... Great Granddad David caught up in the middle... and David Tonry/Tonrey and Bridget (King) Tonry had 11...  

I was in Sligo once... we were visiting Grandma Bridie Lynch's family in Carrickmacross in 1996 and decided to drive up to Belfast...  everyone was lovely but they wouldn't take our Irish money.  I'm like, you're kidding me?  this is Ireland??  we left in the afternoon and spent the evening in Sligo.  If I knew there were so many Tonrys, I would have stayed for days!  LOL!!  

first pic is the Duggan cousin, Karen with me and her boyfriend and son.  second pic is your cousins bar in Galway... last pic is cousin-in-law Bernie Costello (married Sheila Tonry; five children still in Castlegar), yours truly and wife Kathleen... only six children...

 

Stephen Tonry has been having trouble getting back on this discussion thread, so he emailed me some information he wanted to share in response to David Tonery's post about the Tonry's move from Sligo to Galway. 

He said that there is a burial vault in the Killmorgan Old Graveyard with the family name TONERY. It a very old grave yard dateing back to the 17th century and it is in the heart of our Tonry/Tonra country. The ordinary peasants in those distant days could not afford stone vaults

 

 

 

 

Hello Tonrys, 

I recently received a family history book by Elizabeth Kerins Kelly titled "The Kerins Families of Carrowkeel and Ougham." A great assortment of Tonrys are mentioned throughout the book, primarily related to the Michael Tonry/Kate Kerins and their offspring. I believe a number of you on this thread descend from that branch. 

It is a self-published book, with 276 pages. So, unfortunately, I am unable to share a digital version of it with you. But if there is any information you'd like me to look for, I am happy to share what I can find in the book. 

Some things I have learned:

- The Tonrys in the 12 Mile House in Drumfin were quite popular, with William Tonry's store and sheeben (illicit pub) a "great port of call" for the townsfolk. It seems like when anybody needed something important -- like transporting a sick or injured person to the doctors, or   a ride to the train station, or a poor person needing a bite to eat, or a place for a traveler to stay, or protection from bullies, or  -- they always called on the Tonrys. 

- Kate Tonry (nee Kerins) was very well liked. According to the authoer, she had a "good sense of humour and was very interesting and good company. We used to love to see her coming up the Forthfield to visit us, which she did often. She had an infectious laungh and lovely smile. No matter how small we were or how often we visited her in Drumfin, she always shook hands with us." 

- Michael Tonry's father - Mickey (Michael) Tonry - married a Protestant girl from Carrowkeel named Martha Walsh. Religion was a contentious issue for them. Mickey once told Martha that if she refused to attend Mass with him she would "eat no more of his earning." So she attended Mass with him the following Sunday but hated it so much that she swore she would never attend a Catholic Mass again because "all the devils in hell were around her." 

Sadie (Sara Ann) Tonry is one of many of their children who emmigrated to America. When she returned to visit once while the civil war was raging, she came across her cousin Paddy Joe McDermott's car when it was ambushed and he was shot. All the ladies in town were enthralled with the way she wore her hair because they had never seen a "permed" hairdo before. 

- John Tonry was a prominent athlete having won a Connacht championship medal for running in 1920. 

- Several other siblings became policemen stationed in Dublin, including James Patrick (Jim) Tonry. Because this was during the Troubles, his life was in danger in number of times, including being shot at in Dublin and a planned attack on his house by the IRA when he was home visiting. The attack was never carried out. 

- Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi there Tonrys all.

My name is Richard Jefferies. I was born and still live in Swindon Wiltshire UK

My mother Kathleen Christina Tonry was sister to Brendan and Rita Tonry of Drumfin. Co Sligo. She was born in 1916 and died way back in 1969.I would love to make contact with any relations.

I noticed Christina's name as the son of my cousin Patrick who I think passed away some years ago.

I would be pleased to help 'fill in a few blanks' that  I do know .

Good wishes and keep well

Richard

Hello Richard, 

I don't think I have seen Kathleen, Brendan or Rita Tonry's name mentioned yet. Would you be able to tell us who the parents and perhaps the grandparents were to see if any of us on this thread might link up with your family tree somewhere? 

I am aware of Patrick Joseph Tonry born in Drumfin around 1908. 

Regards, 

Stephen Hodgdon

 

 

Hi Stephen

Thanks for your note.

I am trying to put together some notes dates, names etc. at the moment. I have traced bits of my maternal family Tonry.

My grandfather was Patrick born in the 1858 his wife maria born in1878 In 1911 they lived in William St, Sligo...

At that time they had a daughter Nora 8½ months who later emigrated to the USA and married a NYC fireman named Ahern. based in Jackson heights in Queens.

Hopefully I post what I can find over the weekend.

All the best

Richard

Attached Files

Hi Tonry cousins,

myself and John McDonagh met up in August to compare notes on our family tree.  We were both very interested in trying to place Dr William P Tonry on our tree.  

With a few different sources of information, we pieced together what we think that connection might be. Dolores Graves' information on her family tree was very useful.  The one place we're not sure about is that Dolores says her great great grandfather, Stephen Tonry's father was called Stephen Tonry.  Stephen's brother James Tonry was my direct ancestor and I have his baptisimal record, which states that his parents were:Michael Tonry and Martha Walsh.  John McDonagh thought that Michael was father to Stephen and James too.

Another source of information was from Stephen Hogdon's aunt (I think, correct me if I'm wrong Stephen).  It's a correspondence between the curator of Surratt House and Frances Lilly (whose mother was a Tonry).

I have put together a tree for you all to have a look at .  I'd appreciate any feedback.

 

Aisling McTiernan (aislingmct@gmail.com)

Thank you for the information, Aisling. 

Last spring I hired an Irish ancestry researcher named Gerard Neary to help me acquire a birth certificate for my grandmother. He was very helpful, so I recently asked him if he could help track down our family connection to Dr. William P. Tonry. The following is his email response (and sales pitch) to my inquiry. He wrote:

____________________________
Hi Stephen.

Thank you for setting me another genealogical challenge. I cannot resist the tough ones!

 

After a day of research, I am pleased to advise that I can now verify that William P was from the very same Tonry clan as your grandmother from Drumfin. William P was almost certainly born in Drumfin.

 

Let me summarize my research trail:

 

I retrieved the most detailed obituary for William P from among dozens published nationally across the US. As you reported, William P was a renowned chemist specializing in groundbreaking forensic detective work. His marriage clearly did not end his career as such - but he was dismissed from a hospital job after his marriage in 1869. This incident caused political outrage.

 

The obit reveals William P's upbringing and education without mentioning any parental names. Using gleaned clues, I searched for William P on public records as a child and young man. I eventually found him on two different census returns residing with his birth family. Hence I now had the forenames of his parents and their approx Irish birth years. Further research verified that William P was born in County Sligo, and also found exact (reported) DOB's for both William P and his father. I also retrieved what appears to be a school record for William P dating from 1855.

 

I detected that William P's father died between 1861 and 1865, yet I cannot find a specific death record. However, I did find the death registration of William P's mother and this document provides her maiden surname plus the full names of her parents. All of these names are of County Sligo origin, validating that William P's parents definitely got married in this part of Ireland.

 

Armed with all my extra background info, I then scoured Irish vital record collections in an attempt to link William P's origins with Drumfin. This is not a straightforward task when you consider that there are no surviving baptism records from your grandmother's native parish dating from before 1856, and that all 19th century census data for County Sligo got destroyed in a fire during the Irish civil war of 1922. BUT - miraculously, I came across a preserved copy of the Irish church marriage record of William P's parents, in a register from the same parish as where Mary Ellen was baptized. This ceremony was actually part of a double wedding.

 

Although no addresses were recorded for the two grooms and two brides, all the Tonrys in this Sligo parish resided in the same townland. The groom in the second marriage came from the adjoining townland. There is no doubt that William P's father originated from Drumfin, meaning that William P could have been born there. Shortly after William P's birth, his parents decided to emigrate - but not directly to the US where William P subsequently completed his schooling and college education.

 

I offer to send you scanned copies of eight different historical documents which (when read in conjunction) verify the roots of William P and fill out his life-story prior to his 1869 marriage. This complete package is offered for a total research fee of €280 [euros]. Let me know if you want another invoice in order to learn more about your renowned Irish cousin.

 

Best regards,

Gerard

____________________________________

He is, understandably, withholding the details because he runs a business and needs to get paid. But beyond confirming that William's parents were from Drumfin and that William P. was born in Ireland before emmigrating, I'm not sure I would find anything new in the documents that he has found. Does anyone else have an opinion? 

Stephen Hodgdon 

 

 

 

 

 

Attached Files

Hi Stephen,

Your good self, Aisling Mc Tiernan, and myself have put a lot of time and effort into establishing a definite link between the illustrious Dr. W.P. Tonry and our Tonry family.  Although we have found lots of very convincing evidence, absolute proof keeps eluding us. I read with great interest, the findings of your researcher, Gerrard Neary, he found that Willliam P. Tonry's wedding was part of a double ceremony. . Perhaps the names of the other couple may hold some more beneficial information---It may be worth a try. I know that Gerrard Neary's speculation that  William senior died between 1861 and 1865 is not correct. I came across a record of him living in Boston in 1878 (I have that somewhere among my very disorganized notes)

I have the record of Patrick ?? Tonrys marriage to Catherine Brennan on 14/03/1839, and also his naturalization in Boston in 1854. We know that he emigrated to St. John's New Brunswick in the early 1840's and I learned that he was there for eight years. The following is speculation on my part --but I consider it likely that he and his family were moved as part of Lord Palmerston's land clearance during that period. He, Lord P. had huge land holdings in County Sligo and shipped out thousands of his tenants, always to St John's, this is well documented but only some of the tenant's names have been recorded.(You can get a lot of info. on this, if you google "The Wreck of The Carricks of Whitehaven) 

The enclosed record names Patrick Tonry as the husband, since he was named William Patrick he may well have been known as Patrick (not an uncommon practice) I had reason to believe that Catherine Brennan came from Ross but the fact that the marriage was recorded in Emlafad casts doubt on that assumption. (Emlafad is the old name for Ballymote parish and it was the parochial center for Drumfin) Ross is in Riverstown parish.

Anyway, it's.great to see that the research is still ongoing, the pieces are all falling into place and I've no doubt that we will eventually find the conclusive proof that we're all seeking.

 

Cheers John

 

Hello all,

Would anyone have information about a Stephen Tonry from Drumfin who was involved in the I.R.A. and went into hiding?

- Stephen Hodgdon

 

Hi all I'm looking for connections to Anne Tonry Kilmorgan? circa 1827, who married John Farrell Aghanagh? circa 1850 they moved to Collooney

thanks

Attached Files

I uploaded 13 documents that, collectively, demonstrate that Dr. Stephen Tonry's family is from Drumfin. 

Read the 1905 obituary first. You will see that the famous doctor was born in Ireland but his parents emigrated to Newfoundland, Canada, soon after his birth (in 1840). Then they relocated to Boston. William is listed as Patrick W in the Boston Latin Grammar School catalogue of students.

Next, his family ias listed in the Boston census returns of 1855 and 1860. It becomes apparent that William's father was christened as Patrick William, known as William in the US, and William P's full name was William Patrick, known as Patrick as a child. The ancestry researcher I got these records from said that this is a common quirk in Irish genealogy, and it generally hints that the doctor's father was given a birth name meaning Patrick son of William, while the doctor's name reflects his paternal ancestry as well, i.e. William son of Patrick.

A Boston record of a Naturalization hearing in 1854 provides us with the declared date of birth of the doctor's father. Next, the 1866 US Army enlistment register featuring (Dr) William P verifies his Irish birthplace as (County) Sligo. Three years later, Dr William P married the daughter of the infamous Surratt conspirator.

The 1891 death certificate of William P's mother, Catherine, verifies that her maiden name was "Brennen" (aka Brennan), a common Sligo family name. Her mother was Bridget "Weims" (aka Wyms), an unusual Irish surname only found in County Sligo genealogy.

 

William P's death record provides us with his exact DOB.

Patrick Tonry married Catherine Brennan in 1839 in the Emlefad & Kilmorgan RC parish of County Sligo, otherwise known as Ballymote. 19th century Irish property records show that only one Tonry extended family lived in this parish, all within the townland of Drumfin. Hence Dr William P has an undoubted connection to Drumfin and my own Tonry ancestry.

Stephen Hodgdon

 

I made a mistake in my previous email. I meant to say "Dr. William Tonry," not Stephen Tonry.