Week 8 – 2023: I Can Identify #52Ancestors

Or can I?

My husband’s third great-grandmother was Mary Fitzgibbon née IDK. “IDK” because her death record does not show it and the record of her marriage to John Fitzgibbon, which might show it, has not yet been located. And while she had at least thirteen children, only one record has been found relating to them that shows their mother’s maiden name: “Finucane.”[1]

So why am I still IDK about this?

Let me explain.

The records for Mary are consistent with regard to her birth in Ireland and likely County Cork:· All of the U.S. census records where she was enumerated say Ireland.

· Her death certificate says County Cork, Ireland.[2]

However, the records are inconsistent regarding her birth date:

· Her headstone says she was born 15 August 1805.[3]

· Of the four U.S. censuses where she was enumerated, one says she was born in 1815, two say 1810, and one says 1808.[4]

· Her death certificate of 22 July 1890 says she died at sixty-seven years-old (i.e. born 1823), but this is likely not accurate.[5]

Nevertheless, if we assume Mary was a Catholic[6] born in County Cork between 1805 and 1823 and that her name last was “Finucane,” we find only one Catholic baptismal record:

· Maria Finucane, the daughter of Dionisii (Latin for “Dennis”) Finucane and Catharine Murry was baptized 15 August 1815 in the Parish of Macroom, Diocese of Cloyne.[7]

This Mary Finucane’s baptismal day is the same as Mary Fitzgibbon’s birth date on her headstone. Further, while Mary Finucane was born ten years later than what it says Mary Fitzgibbon’s headstone, 1815 is consistent with at least one census record.

But, but, but.

That ten years bugs me. A lot.

I KNOW that there may be records that either no longer exist or I haven’t been smart enough to find them, BUT the more and more I research Mary Fitzgibbon, the more I am convinced the “Finucane” is not right.

Maybe one of her Irish-born children might help flesh-out Mary’s past.

Mary’s son Dennis Haggarty was enumerated with her in John Fitzgibbon’s household in 1860.[8] While all the records found thus far for Dennis indicate he was born in Ireland, the records are also inconsistent regarding the date of his birth:

· Dennis’ death certificate says he was born in County Cork in February/March 1833.[9]

· Of the three U.S. censuses where he was enumerated, each one has a different year of birth – 1836, 1838, 1837.[10]

Digging further into Dennis, a search for a Dennis Hagerty (any spelling) born to a “Mary F*” in County Cork between 1830 and 1837 shows only one:

Denis Hegarty, the son of Pat Hegarty and Mary Feen, residents of Dunowen, was baptized 11 February 1832 in the Parish of Ardfield and Rathbarry, Diocese of Cork and Ross.[11]

If that’s the case, what more can I learn about Pat Hegarty and Mary Feen from Dunowen, County Cork, Ireland?

On 10 February 1824, a Patritium Hegarty married a Mariam Finn in Ardfield and Rathberry.[12] This couple had at least four children baptized in Ardfield and Ratherberry while residing in the Dunowen:

· John – 20 September 1827.[13] Mother’s last name spelled “Finn.”

· Jeremiah – 29 October 1829.[14] Mother’s last name spelled “Feen.”

· Timothy – 7 June 1834.[15] Mother’s last name spelled “Feen.”

If, if, if, this is the Mary who eventually married John Fitzgibbon, she was likely born before 1809 (assuming she was sixteen or older when she married Pat Hegarty. Remarkably, there were three Catholic girls named Mary Finn/Feen born in Ardfield & Rathbarry in County Cork between 1800 and 1809:

1. Mary Finn, baptized 10 Jan 1803, parents: Donatus and Margarita Neal from Dunowen.[16]

2. Mary Finn, baptized Mar 1803, parents: father not named and Mary Roe from Dunowen.[17]

3. Mary Finn, baptized 28 Aug 1808, parents: Cornelius and Mary Hogarty from Donoure.[18]

If I were a betting person, I would guess that Mary Fitzgibbon’s parents were Cornelius Finn and Mary Hogarty:

· The August baptismal month coincides with her birth month from her headstone.

· Since there was no physical church in the ecclesiastical parish of Ardfield/Rathbarry until St. James (in Ardfield) and St. Michael ( Rathbarry) were built in the early 1830’s, Catholics in the diocese relied on itinerant priests to perform religious ceremonies.[19] Therefore, it is possible Mary was born 15 August 1808 but not baptized until later in the month.

· 1808 is one of the years given in the census for her.

· If Mary Fitzgibbon was also the mother of Dennis’ brothers, she cannot be the Mary Finucane from Macroom:

o Mary Finucane was her twelve when John Hegarty was born.

o Macroom is about twenty-eight miles from Dunowen and too far away for Mary and Pat to have met and married.

Needless to say, I DID NOT adequately identify her. But I might be getting close.[20]

Thoughts? Sue?

___________________________

[1] Kansas State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, death certificate #250 3101 (1928), Kate Quinlan; Office of Vital Statistics, Topeka, Kansas. The death record of another child lists her married name.

[2] Ill. St. Bd of Health, certificate of death no. 3563 (1890), Mary Fitzgibbons.

[3] Find A Grave, database with images (http://www.finagrave.com : accessed 7 March 2023), memorial 133352270, Mary Finucane Fitzgibbons (1805-1890), Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery, Lacon, Illinois.

[4] 1850 U.S. census, Bristol County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Fall River, p. 108B (penned), dwelling 1039, family 1760, Mary Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 308. 1860 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Lacon, p. 72 (penned), dwelling 348, family 526, Mary Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 210. 1870 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Richland, p. 18 (penned), dwelling 134, family 134, Mary Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 254. 1880 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Richland, p. 17 (penned), dwelling 98, family 98, Mary Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 235.

[5] Illinois State Board of Health, physician's certificate of death no. 3563 (1890), Mary Fitzgibbons; Cook County Clerk, Bureau of Vital Records, Genealogy Unit, Chicago (https://cookcountygenealogy.com).

[6] Making this assumption because she was buried in a Catholic cemetery. Find A Grave, database with images (http://www.finagrave.com : accessed 7 March 2023), memorial 133352270, Mary Finucane Fitzgibbons (1805-1890), Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery, Lacon, Illinois.

[7] Macroom, Diocese of Cloyne, County Cork, register of baptisms (1814-1823), Mary Finucane (15 August 1815); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 05004/08.

[8] 1860 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Lacon, p. 72 (penned), dwelling 348, family 526, Dennis Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 210. Even though enumerated as a “Fitzgibbon,” other records support that this is Dennis Hegarty.

[9] Illinois State Board of Health, Marshall County, physician's certificate of death no. 175 (1889), Dennis Heaggarty..

[10] 1860 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Lacon, p. 72 (penned), dwelling 348, family 526, Dennis Fitzgibbon in household of John Fitzgibbon; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 210. 1870 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Bell Plain, p. 15 (penned), dwelling 98, family 103, Dennis Haggarty; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 254. 1880 U.S. census, Marshall County, Illinois, population schedule, Lacon, p. 18 (penned), dwelling 177, family 183, Dennis Haggerty; image, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023) citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 235.

[11] Ardfield and Rathberry, Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Register of baptisms (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Denis Hegarty (11 February 1832); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[12] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Paritium Hegarty and Mariam Finn (10 February 1824); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[13] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), John Hegarty (30 September 1827); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[14] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Jeremiah Hegarty (29 October 1829); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[15] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Timothy Hegarty (7 June 1834); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[16] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Mary Finn (10 January 1803); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01.

[17] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Mary Finn (March 1803); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01

[18] Diocese of Cork and Ross, County Cork, Ardfield and Rathberry, Register of births (1801-1837) and marriages (1800-18379), Mary Finn (28 August 1808); image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry ((http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 March 2023); citing National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Microfilm No. 04771/01

[19] “St. James’ Roman Catholic Church,” National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/20914413/st-james-roman-catholic-church-carhoo-cork : accessed 10 March 2023). “St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church,” National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/20914401/st-michaels-roman-catholic-church-kilkeran-rathbarry-cork ; accessed 10 March 2023).

[20] I think Dunowen is a great place to do a One-Name study on Finn/Feen.