OLD AGE PENSIONS ACT of 1908 . . . . . . . . . . .#24

                      Discoveries in the Irish Old Age Pension Records

In 1909 Old Age Pensions was enacted in Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland for persons who were 70 years old, “of good character”, with an income of less than £21 a year.  In Ireland this benefited many because of prevalent poverty.  The pension was weekly stipend of 5 shillings for a single person or 7 shillings for a married couple.  The applicant needed to prove their age. Civil registration of births did not begin in Ireland until 1864.  The government declared searches of the 1841 and 1851 census would be acceptable as proof of age.  The applicant had to provide parent names in many cases this included mother’s maiden name, residence at time of the census, and applicant’s age.  The forms were sent to the Public Records Office to process.  The National Archives of Ireland has the Old Age Pension application  records digitized, free of charge, online at:
http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/home.jsp.  They are indexed by name of the applicant, parents or parish.  Another free site for these records is Family Search at familysearch.org  - Ireland Census Search Forms, 1841 and 1851.  Their index is every name which includes parents and siblings.

Searches were undertaken for the various “Our Mayo Family” surnames. Less than 50 persons in the Kilfian Parish applied for the Old Age Pension.  PEACE and MAHADY were the only names found of interest.

Margaret PEACE in 1917 of Thos. CLARKE, County Clare applied.  Her parents Daniel PEACE and Margret DIAMOND, residence 1851-Mayo, Tirawley, Kilfian, Belladoon.  The family was found in this census in Belladoon.  Daniel PEACE and Margaret DIAMOND, with children  Mary 14, Jude 12, Honora 10, Margt 4, Catherine 1.

Margaret PEACE  was born ca 1847 in County Mayo.  Her father Daniel PEACE was the brother of Mary PEACE, the wife of Martin WALSH.  27 January 1870 Margaret married Thomas CLARKE in Kilfine.  Her mother Margaret died 5 November 1891 and Daniel her father died 10 December 1868 both in Kilfine.  Margaret and Thomas CLARKE were the parents of 7 - Daniel, John, Patrick, Francis, Michael, Ann, and Thomas.  They were living in Belladoan, Mayo in the 1901 and 1911 census.  Thomas CLARKE died there in 1904.  When Margaret applied for the Old Age Pension in 1917 she was living in County Clare with her son Thomas CLARKE.  Margaret PEACE CLARKE died 5 October 1923 in Ballyduane, Mayo.

familysearch.org

 

MAHADY - The relationship to the following Mahady is unknown.  There are few of this surname in Mayo. 

Michael MAHADY applied in 1917, residence-Mayo, Ballycastle, Kilbride, parents John MAHADY and Mary LAVELLE, residence in 1851-Mayo, Tieawley, Lackan, Knockroe.  The family was found in Knockroe - John and Mary Mahady married 1840 with children Mary 9, John 7, Martin 5, Michl 3, Kitty 1 in Knockroe, Mayo.

Michael MAHADY born ca1848, married Margaret KEANE in 1892 in Ballycastle, Mayo.  In the 1901 and 1911 census they are in Mayo, Lackan North, Kilbride with their family of 6 - Patrick, John, Martin, Patrick, Kate, Sarah.

familysearch.org

 

The Irish census for 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851 were destroyed 30 June 1922 in a fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin at the beginning of the Irish Civil War.

 

                                                      (Click on images or text to enlarge)

GARVIN/KENNEDY Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #23

                              Who was the wife of Anthony GARVIN?

                                                  Was she Bessy KENNEDY?

Anthony GARVIN (1804-1885) and his wife lived in Cartronrathroe, Kilfian, Mayo.  They married before 1845 and were the parents of, at least, four children:  
Bridget (1845-1929), Catherine (1848-1872), Honor/Nora “Onny” (1851-1920), and Thomas (1853-1924).

In the Valuation List 1886 Anthony GARVAN’s name is crossed out to be replaced with Bessy.  Her name was then crossed out and replaced with Thomas GARVIN 1891.  Thomas name remained until ca 1919 replaced with John GARVAN.  Unfortunately there is no death record for a Bessy/Elizabeth GARVIN in the Irish Civil Records 1886-1901 period.  Thomas GARVIN and family including son John were enumerated at Cartronrathroe in the 1901 and 1911 census.  A GARVIN family still lives in Cartronrathroe.

Two descendants reported that Anthony’s wife was a KENNEDY.  At  Ancestry (ancestry.com) - “Ireland, Select Catholic Death Death & Burial Registers, 1767-1992, Kilfian Parish” the death of Thomas GARVIN, son of Anthony was recorded.  These Catholic death records have information not on the civil death registers such as parents or spouse.  Frequently the priest did not fill in all the columns.  The following was found in the Kilfian Catholic Register for Thomas GARVIN -  Date-1924, Thos GARVIN, age 71, parents-A. GARVIN & Bess KENNEDY, residence Kilfine.  The Civil Death Record reported his death 20 June 1924, Catronrathroe.
   KENNEDY DNA - Again Ancestry.  I have a DNA hit of 35cM’s with a person who also took the Ancestry DNA test.  The only name we share is KENNEDY.  Their oldest known is John C. KENNEDY.  This person has not responded to my emails.  There are others researching John C. KENNEDY and I have corresponded with one who has documentation.  John C. KENNEDY born 1808 Kilfian, Mayo, Ireland and died 26 September 1866 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US.  His wife Catherine HEALEY (1820-1889) was also from Kilfian.  They emigrated about 1840 as all their nine children were born New York, US.  John C. and Catherine KENNEDY’s tombstone is at St. Mary of Mount Carmel in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US.  The inscription: “In memory of John Kennedy a native of the parish of Kilfine, County Mayo, Ireland who departed this life Sep. 26, 1866  May his soul rest in peace”.  Currently the tombstone has toppled and the inscription cannot be read.
   I believe John C. KENNEDY may be a brother of Bessy KENNEDY GARVIN.

WALSH/GARVIN Family of Cloonaleedin . . . . #22

           Need help to complete this family.  Do you have the information?                                                                       ourmayofamilies@gmail.com

 

The family of John WALSH (1842-1914) & Bridget GARVIN (1845-1929) consisted of 10 children.   (See Post #3 February 2014)  Three of the sons I have very limited information.  Recently I was able to complete the life cycle of daughter Ellen.

Sons -
1.  Martin WALSH, born 18 April 1871.  He was not with the family in the 1901 or 1911 census.  It has been relayed that he was a policeman in Ireland and was hit in the head and died.  Another note Martin was in the US and drowned in the Hudson River, New York.  

2.  John WALSH, born 25 March 1882.  He was home in Cloonaleedin, age 17, when the 1901 census was taken.  Notes - John was a street car conductor in New York City, US and drowned when a car went over a pier on the water front.

3.  Patrick WALSH, born 10 July 1884.  Patrick, age 15, was home in 1901.  I have no additional notes for him. 

Daughter-                                                                                                                                                                   Ellen WALSH was the fourth child, born 14 November 1873.  Discovering additional information about her has been difficult and elusive.  
   I was told Ellen married a DILLON and his given name was Michael.  Ellen was not with the family in the 1901 and 1911 census.  There was a Thomas DILLON and wife Ellen living in Rathreagh, Mayo in these two census.  No marriage record for this marriage or any Ellen WALSH/DILLON marriage has been discovered in the Civil Records at irishgenealogy.ie.  In the 1911 census Ellen BARRETT age 9. a visitor, was living with Ellen and Thomas.  I believe she was the daughter of Honor “Onny” GARVIN BARRETT and not with her birth family in this census.  Onny was Ellen WALSH DILLON’s aunt.  
  Ellen DILLON, a widow, died 36 February 1939 at District Hospital in Ballina, Mayo.  Thomas DILLON death is not in the Civil Records.  The death of Thomas DILLON of Rathrea was recorded 3 March 1931 at ancestry.com “Ireland, Select Catholic Death & Burial Records, Kilfian”.  
   Another correspondent told me the Dillons were childless and that two of Anthony J. WALSH children spent some time with them.  Ellen was a sister of Anthony.  In 1911 Ellen stated she had no children.   

Ellen WALSH born 14 November 1873 Cloonaleedin, Kilfian, Mayo, Ireland ;  died 26 February 1939 Ballina, Mayo, Ireland, a widow;   Married ca 1896 County Mayo, Ireland - Thomas DILLON born ca 1860 County Mayo, Ireland;  died 3 March 1931 Rathrea, Kilfian, Mayo, Ireland