Friday's Photo: A Genealogist's Holiday

My daughter sent this picture in response to a friend's text asking, "What are you doing?" I know that she thought it funny and I'm sure it was. She was watching us as we tried to read the letters on this cemetery stone. Genealogy is never her favorite part of a trip, but she knew there would be at least a few genealogical activities. 

This trip to Ireland was planned for our 40th wedding anniversary in 2020, which was postponed due to COVID closures. I only planned a few genealogy activities. We met a some of my husband's cousins and looked for family townlands, but most of the trip was spent admiring the beautiful country of Ireland, learning more about Ireland's history, and enjoying family time. 

This cemetery is the Killeen Cemetery, also known as the Cillin Graveyard, in New Quay, County Clare. What my husband did not know, as he was trying to read the letters by feeling them, was that this was the grave of his second great-grandfather, Patrick Murray. I wanted to know if there could be more than one name on the stone. There was not, but it is said that my husband's great-grandparents, James Murray and Cecelia Linnane are also buried in this plot. 

Genealogical Tidbits From Our Trip

Julia Murray Moylan's home has been sold. Her home on the Flaggy Shore in New Quay was also a store where she sold numerous items, including ice cream, candy, and cigarettes. Julia was the sister of my husband's grandmother, Susan Murray Quinn. 

My second-great-grandmother, Julia Halvey (also seen as Harvey), was born in Quinpool, County Clare - about a one-minute drive from Quinville House.  We could not find Quinpool but suspect it may have been on a portion of the land behind the Quinville House Gates. 

We found my husband's grandfather's name, William Quinn, on a wall at the Galway City Museum as one of 322 from Galway imprisoned in Frongoch Internment Camp following the Easter Rising in 1916. 

This is not a genealogy tidbit, but aside from visiting my husband's Murray and Quinn cousins and our friends, the Fordes, visiting Connemara was the best part of our trip. The scenery was breathtaking, and we enjoyed the gardens and small towns. 

Everyone liked Linnane's in New Quay. It wasn't our first dinner at this restaurant. I've always wondered if this Linnane family of New Quay was connected to my husband's great-grandmother, Cecelia Linnane. I will never know until I do some digging. 

This is me in front of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. I can't say enough good things about it! If you go to Dublin, visit this museum. Note that only I went to the EPIC. Everyone else went to the Guinness Storehouse. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2022 

Friday's Photo: Mary Murray

Mary Murray married William J. Kingsley on October 10, 1899.
 

Source: Murray - Kingsley Wedding, photograph, 1899; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of 

Mary Fahey, Iowa, 2000.

 

Mary came to the United States about 1895, leaving her home in New Quay, County Clare, and like so many immigrants, never returned.[1] Her parents were Cecelia Linnane and James Murray. Mary was the eldest of eleven children.[2] Mary went to Dubuque, Iowa, where her aunt, Sarah Murray Cassidy, was living. A few years later, she was joined by her sister, Bridget "Delia." Mary and Delia worked as servants and eventually married brothers William and Joseph Kingsley. [3]

Mary's sisters Sarah, Catherine, and Helen immigrated to the United States in 1911. Her sister, Julia, and brother, Patrick, remained in Ireland. It is not known what became of her brother Tom. Mary's youngest sister, Susan, was not born when Mary left for Iowa, and even though Susan came to New York in 1920, they never met.[4] 

In addition to twins who died in infancy, Mary and William had daughters, Sarah and Marion, and sons, William, Joseph, and Henry.[5]  William Kingsley died in 1915, leaving Mary, a widow, with five children between the ages of 5 and 13.[6] Sadly, Marion and Henry preceded Mary in death.[7] 

Mary died in 1955 and is buried with William at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery at Dubuque, Iowa.[8] Her obituary can be seen at Sunday’s Obituary: Mary Murray Kingsley.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2021 

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[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Dubuque, Iowa, type of census, Dubuque, ward 4,  enumeration district 128, page 10B, dwelling 200, family 234, William Kingsley household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4328297-00109?pId=137126189 : accessed 8 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 402. 

[2] Diana Quinn, "My Family - Bryan, Regan, Albritton, Hairston, Davis, Giddens, Glynn, Bradshaw, Britt, Quinn, Murray, Driscoll," public tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/45260559/family/familyview?cfpid=410088574056: accessed 9 June 2021). 

[3] Letter from Mary K. Fahey (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 16 December 1999; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). Also, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJKW-KHC : 4 November 2017), William Kingsley and Mary Murray, 10 Oct 1899, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk 6 pg 179, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,403.

[4] Letter from Mary K. Fahey (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 16 December 1999; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). Also, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJKW-KHC : 4 November 2017), William Kingsley and Mary Murray, 10 Oct 1899, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk 6 pg 179, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,403.

[5] mkf74285, "Fahey Family Tree," public tree, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/119439030/family/familyview?cfpid=320185019759&dtid=100: accessed 9 June 2021). "Bible Page with Births" shared by mkf74285 on 05 March 2018. 

[6] Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/143054917/mary-kingsley : accessed 11 June 2021), memorial page for Mary Murray Kingsley (24 Jul 1873–25 May 1955), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143054917, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa; maintained by Raymond Kilius (contributor 46912848).

[7] "Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61442/images/101821083_02805?pId=498118 : accessed 9 June 2021), death certificate entry for Mrs. Marian Cecelia Lee, 9 December 1940. Also, “Six From City Lost on Carrier: Missing in Torpedo Sinking of the Liscome Bay,” Des Moines Tribune (Iowa), 8 December 1943, p. 1; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/322759336/ : accessed 8 June 2021).

[8] Find A Grave, memorial 143054917, for Mary Murray Kingsley.

County Clare, Bienville Parish, Phillipsburg, and Siberia

This blog is a relatively small blog in the blogger world. On average, I get about 2000 legitimate link clicks each month, most by the same set of readers. I love writing the blog and do not plan to stop. Writing the posts keeps me organized and has improved my research skills. It allows me to share my finds with those who are interested, collaborate with others, and, most importantly, find family. 

This year, I have written 78 posts. My most-read post, in 2020, was about my husband's great-aunt's store in New Quay, County Clare, Ireland. I learned much about New Quay while researching for Julia Moylan's Store on the Flaggy Shore.

The second of my top three posts, Friday's Photo: Charles William Giddens, told of my Great-Uncle Charlie and his service in World War I and World War II. Uncle Charlie lived in Phillipsburg, New Jersey when he first joined the Army in 1911 and he remained in New Jersey until World War II when he entered the United States Naval Reserve to be an instructor at the Naval Air Gunners School.

Three Bryan Cemetery Monuments Beautifully Restored in Bienville Parish was my third most-read post. The Bryan Cemetery is located in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. 

My all-time favorite posts this year were those regarding the photos of Almus and Lillie Beck in Siberia. Almus and Lillie were not my family and I was looking for a good home for the photos. As only four of many photos were labeled, I started with almost nothing and came upon an incredible story. The photos now have a good home at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Click here to read the story of Almus and Lillie. To see many of their photos from Siberia, visit Snapshots From Siberia 1918 -1919. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020 

Sources 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Friday's Photo: Almus E. Beck of North Carolina." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/fridays-photo-almus-e-beck-of-north.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Friday's Photo: Charles William Giddens." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/fridays-photo-charles-william-giddens.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Julia Moylan's Store on the Flaggy Shore." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/julia-moylans-store-on-flaggy-shore.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Snapshots From Siberia 1918." 1919 https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/snapshots-from-siberia-1918-1919.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

A Little New Quay News on Saint Patrick's Day

Taken in New Quay, County Clare - March 2016

I love to read old newspapers. I learn so much about families and find many surprises. 

I really like Irish Newspaper Archives. It does require a fee. I don't join for a year but pay for a month ($29.00) when I know I will be researching my husband's Irish ancestors. Over the years, I have found bits and pieces about my husband's family in both the counties of Galway and Clare.

Today, I will list some of the New Quay births, deaths, and marriages I collected when searching for information about my husband's Murray and Quinn families. These are not my families, but I thought they might be helpful to other researchers. 

• 1837 - When the wife of W. J. Skerrett gave birth to an heir, all of the towns on the property celebrated. There were bonfires. Mr. Hyne's house of New Quay was especially brilliant. 
• 1847 - A merchant vessel from Cork was driven ashore at New Quay and some lost their lives. 
• On April 17, 1870, at Bayfield in New Quay, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Aynes. 
• March 3, 1862, Henry Thynne married Anna Hynes in New Quay. Anna was the youngest daughter of the late John Hynes. Henry was the eldest son of Edward Thynne of Ballinagrane in County Clare. 
• July 30, 1864, at St. Andrews Church, Captain Cowan of the Galway Militia married Helena, eldest daughter of W. J. Skerrett. Captian Cowan was the eldest son of Joseph H. Cowan. 
• At Bayfield, Mrs. Mary Kerin (husband Thomas Kerin) died in 1865 (date not known) at the home of her son-in-law, Michael Hynes. 
• Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, age 96, died on January 23, 1866. Formerly of New Quay, she died at the home of her son-in-law, George M'Clean. 
• In September 1879, Timothy Kerin died. 
• In February 1893, the New Quay Parish Priest, Father Martin Sweeney died. His father was Ulick Sweeney of Galway. 
• In July 1925, Mr. Michael Davenport of New Quay died. 
• Mrs. Mary Gaynor died on August 27, 1930, at her residence in New Quay. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn. 

"Irish News Archive Newspaper Records." Irishnewsarchive https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/subscribe. 

Julia Moylan's Store on the Flaggy Shore

Painting by Joyce Shee

Julia's mother, Cecilia Linane
I wonder if Cecilia Linane (could be Linnane) is
connected to the Linnane's who own the lobster
bar? The food at Linnane's was good, it was
the only restaurant nearby, AND they had wifi.

 We visited Ireland in 2016. Our trip was about family history. Not so much for research, but to spend time learning about where my husband's family lived. I loved the experience. We spent several nights in a small building on the grounds of the Rhodesia House (also known as the New Quay House) in New Quay, County Clare. We were just down the road from the land owned by my husband's great-grandparents. We ate at Linnane's Lobster Bar three or four times and we visited the beautiful Flaggy Shore. 

The first day we visited the Flaggy Shore, I took in the beautiful views and never noticed the dilapidated, abandoned building on the left as we turned onto the road. Later, while telling our Airbnb host about our family, she brought up the building and told us it was Julia Moylan's store. Julia Murray Moylan was the sister of Susan Murray Quinn, my husband's grandmother. Their parents were Cecilia Linane and James Murray who lived in the vicinity of New Quay. Julia grew up in the area and remained there until her death.

Julia Moylan's home and store - 2016

Julia Murray Moylan

I was fascinated by the area and, of course, wanted to know more. Once at home, my usual searches did not tell me much about New Quay and the surrounding area until I checked Facebook. The Flaggy Shore and Blow it Open. A Flaggy Shore Miscellany Facebook pages gave me so much more than expected. I loved the photos and the history. Julia's photo had been posted on the Blow it Open. A Flaggy Shore Miscellany page. And, group members commented about Julia and her store.  

I learned that Julia sold ice cream, candy, cigarettes, and more in her store. This was her home as well. Some called it the local youth club where young peopled played cards and one wrote, What happened in Julia's should stay in Julia's. Julia was described as a nice lady with a good heart. Others remember dropping money in a plastic container for self-serve and Julia's old bicycle parked in front of her home. 





In addition to the comments, paintings of Julia's store were posted.  Artist, Joyce Shee has painted Julia's home many times. I purchased the painting at the top of this post and Joyce shared paintings of the inside of Julia's home as well. You can see beautiful paintings by Joyce Shee at her artist page on Facebook by clicking here. 

Paintings by Joyce Shee

Joyce Shee and my husband's distant cousins shared the following photos with me. 

Julia with Sandra Nicholas standing in front of Julia's thatched-roof home in 1968. 
Sandra Nicolas Murray was the wife of Patrick J. Murray, son of Julia's brother, also Patrick.

Julia Murray Moylan (center) with two American cousins standing by her store - 1983.
Note that by 1983, the roof was no longer thatched.

Julia on the left with her grandson Michael inside her home. Granddaughter, Julie, is seated
next to an unknown man. 

Joyce Shee shared these photos of the inside of the store. The windows and doors are now closed off with cement blocks. 

Julia died on November 30, 1988, and is buried in Cillin Graveyard along with her husband and son, James. For more about the Murray family, visit these posts: 

Friday's Photo: Julia Murray Moylan and Her Family

Friday's Photo: A Cemetery in New Quay, County Clare

Looking for the Murray Family Home in County Clare

Friday's Photo: Said to be Mary Rourke

Friday's Photo: Sister Bethlehem - Mary Murray

Friday's Photo: Cemetery Photos - Ellen Agnes Murray

Friday's Photo: Murray Cousins Identified

Friday's Photo: Cecelia Linane Murray 

Sunday's Obituary: Ellen Agnes Murray - Sister Mary Columbkill

Sunday's Obituary: Patrick Joseph Moylan


If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds.

Diana

© 2020

Sources

Facebook page. Blow it Open. A Flaggy Shore Miscellany. 
https://www.facebook.com/blowitopen/

Facebook page. The Flaggy Shore. https://www.facebook.com/theflaggyshore/

Family photographs from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Family photograph from the collection of Jade Smithson. Used with permission. 

Family photograph from the collection of Mary Fahey. Used with permission. 

Family photograph from the collection of Bridget Murray Kennedy. Used with permission. 

Photographs and paintings by Joyce Shee. Used with permission. 
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Joyce-Shee-Artist-437907996311640/about/?ref=page_internal

Friday's Photo: Said to be Mary Rourke

If you have looked at my genealogy website, you may have seen this photo. A copy of this was sent to me by a Murray family descendant who stated it was said to be Mary Rourke. Mary Rourke and Patrick Murray, of Ballyvelaghan in County Clare, were the parents of James Murray. James was the father of my husband's grandmother, Susan Murray. 

Very little has been found about Mary Rourke Murray. Her parents are currently unknown and her birth and death dates have not been found. 

If any descendants of this family have a similar picture or have information about Mary or her husband Patrick, please share!

Birth record for James Murray - November 1, 1851

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2017

Sources

Ancestry.com. "Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915."  Web. 10 May. 2017. <http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61039>

Family photographs and documents from the collection Diana Bryan Quinn