Clearys

What denomination were your Cleary family..do you know the name of William's father e.g. from his marriage cert ?

The Catholic parish for Westport is Oughaval/Aughaval, and unfortunately baptism records start in July 1845, so might be a little too late to include details of William's baptism. A search for Cleary baptisms in the parish for the 1840s & 50s shows about 5 matches - no sign of any Williams, father's names include John, Thady & Loughlin.

Thanks very much for your time!

My husband's g. grandfather, William Cleary, born around 1845, from censuses, place of birth Westport, Co. Mayo.

He left Ireland before !868, (as he was married in Co. Durham then). His father's name on the marriage certificate was Timothy Cleary, occupation 'labourer'. The family were RC.

Hello, this may be a bit late,my name is Michael Stafford and I have been researching my family and in particular Patrick/Peter Stafford who married an Ann Cleary in 1852 in Hartlepool and on the marriage certificate Ann listed her father as Timothy Cleary ( farmer ) from Co Mayo and I see that your William was in Durham and his father was also Timothy and I was wondering if there is any connection.

I am afraid that I do not have any information about William but wondered if you had any information about Timothy that you would be willing to share to see if there is any connection to Ann.

Michael Stafford 

Hello, Michael! For some reason I have only just seen your message.

I haven't been looking at the Irish connections recently. Are you any further forward?

On the marriage cert of Patrick & Ann Cleary, any information on witnesses? When was Ann born?

Best wishes 

Anne

Hello Anne, Ann was born around 1826/30 and died in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 13/01/1879 aged 49.

The marriage certificate gives her father as Timothy from Mayo, one of the witnesses is an  Edward T surname possibly Rourke the other is Margaret x Hex which we have no idea about. They got married in a protestant church as it was the only church in Hartlepool at the time so we think that the names were anglicised as Timothy could have been Thaddeus or Thady.

I got onto your message because we have been searching for a Timothy ( Thady ) Cleary in Westport,  i spoke to my brother who is searching with me and he said that a few years ago he had a letter from a Bill Cleary regarding the Clearey's who were miners in Leasingthorn area of Durham, he will dig it out and I will see if it includes anything about a William do you know his wife's name, I'm afraid I do not have any info about him in Ireland.

We will continue to search.

contact: smartjet@sky.com 

Hello, Michael. I just came across your post again.

I delved into Irish FH again last year as we were visiting Ireland, inc Westport. I found a number of clues :-

Timothy (Thaddeus) Cleary, living in 1855 at 40, Tobberhill, Westport (from Griffiths Valuation).

RIP 26/02/1873 at Peter St, Westport. Born 1808.

Wife, Honor 1826-1877

Daughter Mary/Biddy 1847-1916

Had you found any of this in your searches?

Best wishes- Anne Cleary

Hello Anne, I haven't been doing any searching for a while as my brother Alan died in 2022 and all his searches are on paper and it is taking some time to decipher.

Unfortunately I haven't found any links to William but I believe that he and Ann were related as Ann when living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne went to the Hartlepool area to give birth to her 2 daughters, Margaret and Mary with her son John being born in Jarrow.

I believe that the reason was that she had family there who could help with the births, i believe was William's Unfortunately I have no proof of this theory.

I'll keep looking although with records not beginning until 1845 it is difficult.

Michael Stafford