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I am trying to find the parish origins of my great  - grandmother Margaret Louisa Connolly.

I know she was born in Galway approx 1855 and her father's name was James Connolly

On 23 July 1885 she maried Thomas William GLEESON in Portsea Island, Portsmouth England.  They had been living in Guildford England where they had a son Thomas early in 1885 before they married. Following their marriage they returned to Guildford Surrey for a few years - having 3 daughters - Marion, Delia Constance and Etheldreda Regina.  They returned to Ireland approx 1888/1889 to Dublin where they had William Thomas (born 1889), Robert Louis (born 1891) and Frederick Charles (1894).

Thomas William GLEESON died in 1905 in Clontarf Dublin.  His death notice in the Irish Independent stated:

Death of well-known Clontarf man
A prominent figure in Clontar has passed away with the death of Mr Thomas Gleeson.  The deceased was a member of the old board of Commissioners and a devoted worker in the Nationalist cause.  Much sympathy is felt for his bereaved widow and children.

In 1906 his widow Margaret Louisa GLEESON (nee CONNOLLY)  and her six children emigrated to New Zealand.

If anyone is able to assist in finding the parish origins for Margaret Louisa I would be very grateful.

Rachel Allan

Friday 26th Apr 2013, 11:04AM

Message Board Replies

  • Rachel:

    I looked at the Griffiths Valuation head of household list for Co. Galway (1856) and found 20 James Connollys. Likely your James Connolly was one of the 20. Do you know if Margaret had younger siblings born 1864 or later?

    If yes, you may be able to get a civil birth record which would show the townland.

    I also checked the Griffiths for Michael Gleesons in Tipperary. Unfortunately, there were 71 of them.

    Roger McDonnell

     

     

                                                                             Townland                    Civil Parish

    Griffith Connolly James Parkbaun Templetogher Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James T/kinvarra/gort Road Kinvarradoorus Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Cornanantamore Killeroran Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Gallagh Killosolan Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Annaghvaan Island Killannin Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Inishlusk Island Killannin Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Tynagh Tynagh Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Cloonrane Addergoole Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Derrymore Dunmore Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Derryhippoo Kilbegnet Co. Galway

     

    Griffith Connelly James Woodberry Killallaghten Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connole James Doorus Kinvarradoorus Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James T/ballinasloe/brackernagh St. Kilcloony Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Coppanagh Killaan Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Cloghaunard Omey Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Loughaunbeg Killannin Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Loughaunbeg Killannin Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James T/polleen Killannin Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Cluid Dunmore Co. Galway  
    Griffith Connolly James Gilkagh East Kilcroan Co. Galway  


     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Friday 26th Apr 2013, 04:56PM
  • Hi Roger

    Thank you for your reply.

     

    Unfortunately I have no other information about the family.

    Regards

    RAchel Allan

    Rachel Allan

    Friday 26th Apr 2013, 09:58PM
  • I found him in Clontarf Dublin in the 1901 census which is online

    house 3 in Mayfield (Clontarf East, Dublin)

    SurnameForenameAgeSexRelation to headReligionBirthplaceOccupationLiteracyIrish LanguageMarital

    GleesonThomas62MaleHead of FamilyRoman CatholicCo TippIncome from Houses of StocksRead and write-Married-PhoenixSara18FemaleServant DomesticRoman CatholicCo DublinDomestic ServantRead and write-Not Married-GleesonLouis10MaleSonRoman CatholicCo DublinScholarRead and write-Not Married-GleesonWilliam12MaleSonRoman CatholicCo DublinScholarRead and write-Not Married-GleesonFred7MaleSonRoman CatholicCo DublinScholarRead and write-Not Married-GleesonMargaret40FemaleWifeRoman CatholicCo Galway-Read and write-Married-

    The were well off enough (stockbroker) to have ll the kids at school and have a servant. It seems Fred William and Louis were their only Children living with them  in Ireland. The older  girls werer teenagers their son Thomas was only 17 so it doesnt make sense -they must have been with someone! given he was wealthy and the children emigrated with Margaret  they may have been in Boarding Schools or maybe with family?

    Note his birthplace is listed as County Tipperary

    She is listed at 40 putting her birth at 1860-61 NOT 1855

    and his age 62 meanong he was born around 1839

     

    There are 93 connollys who died in Galway and left a will between 1858 and 1920 according to the Calandar of Wills and administrations also online at nationalarchives.ie As the benefaciary is no doubt more likely a brother of Margaret it wont list her but it will list the place so you can at least restrict the number of townlands

     

    Thomas Gleeson death is listed as 11 March 1905

    http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014914/005014…

    It mentions 45 St Laurence ( no s)  Road which i different to the 1901 census address and is clontarf West not East  which has St LawerenceS road- I know dublin :)

    Anyway in 1905v there was a Methodist Perrot family plus servant ther so He must have bought or rented the house between 1901 and 05

    He left £74 six shillings and ninepence

     

    Thursday 23rd Jan 2014, 12:59AM
  • Dear Rachel,

    I recognized from your info, that Thomas Gleeson was my great - grandfather and Delia Constance was my grandmother,so I concluded,that we are related.

    I''ll be very grateful for any other information about the family, because for so many years I didn't have any.

    Many thanks

    Fedor Theodor

    theodor

    Wednesday 10th Jun 2015, 05:54PM

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