Celebrating Hubby's Irish Ancestors

My husband can wear green with great pride today because it looks like he has a number of Irish ancestors!

Shehen or Shehan

Hubby's great-great grandparents were reportedly born in Ireland, according to the 1841 UK Census. 

John Shehen or Shehan (1801?-1875) and wife Mary (1801?-1874) left Ireland and moved to Marylebone by 1834, where their three children was born. John was a laborer and Mary was a laundress. Sadly both husband and wife seem to have died in a poorhouse. 

Smith

Hubby's 5th great-grandparents were also born in Ireland. William Smith (1724?-1786) and his wife Jean (1724?-1805) may have been from Limerick. Their children were born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 

Jean and William's son Brice Smith got "Ohio Fever" and moved to Fairfield County, Ohio before 1820. The name Brice was passed down in the family tree to this man's grandson and great-great grandson. 

Larimer and Gallagher

Robert Larimer (1719?-1803) was born in the North of Ireland, according to the genealogy booklet Our Larimer Family. Sailing to North America to seek his fortune, he was shipwrecked and brought to Pennsylvania, where he was forced to work for years to repay his rescuer. 

Robert eventually walked away from his master and married Irish-born Mary Gallagher (or O'Gallagher) (1721?-1803). They, too, got Ohio Fever and brought their family to Fairfield County, Ohio. Mary and Robert were hubby's 5th great-grandparents.

McClure

Actually, the McClure line originated in Scotland but relocated to County Donegal at some point before Halbert McClure's time. Halbert (1684?-1754) married Agnes in County Donegal and they sailed to Philadelphia together with other family members sometime in the 1740s. 

They all walked to Virginia, where they bought land and kept buying land as their sons married. Their grandson caught Ohio Fever and his descendants moved further west to Indiana. Agnes and Halbert were hubby's 5th great-grandparents. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Paddy's Day FAN Club Census Page

1850 Census for Clinton township, Elkhart county, Indiana - showing Larimer FAN club

For St. Patrick's Day, I looked at some of hubby's ancestors who told U.S. Census enumerators that they were born in Ireland. No counties listed, just country of origin, unfortunately.

My husband's Larimer family, originally from the north of Ireland, intermarried in America with cousins from the Work, Short, and McKibbin families--families that were also originally from Ireland.

These families are part of the Larimer FAN club (meaning Friends, Associates, Neighbors).

FAN Club in Clinton Township, Indiana

The FAN club is very visible in this excerpt from the 1850 U.S. Census for Clinton township, Elkhart county, Indiana. Just on one page are neighbors who are actually related by cousinship and/or marriage.

For example, the second full household from top of page is headed by William McKibbin a farmer born in PA, wife born in PA, all children born in Indiana. He's part of the Larimer cousin collection.

Next household down is headed by Alexander McKibbin, a farmer born in PA whose wife was born in Ireland. Yes, part of the McKibbin cousins.

Next-to-last household is headed by James Larimer, a Larimer cousin who's also a farmer. Born in VA, wife from Ohio.

Bottom household is headed by Edward Murray, a farmer born in Ireland, married to Jane McKibbin, also born in Ireland. Yes, this McKibbin is part of the cousin collection.

On other pages of this Census are several other Larimer FAN club members living (and mostly farming) in Clinton township, Indiana in 1850.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Fáilte to Ancestors from the Emerald Isle

It's that time of year again, when I send younger relatives St. Patrick's Day cards, along with my updated list of their Irish ancestors. In the past, I've noted Larimer, O'Gallagher, Smith, Shehen, and McClure (lived in Donegal area for several generations, but family originally from Isle of Skye).

This year, I'm saying fáilte to a new Irish ancestor in the long list I send with my cards. "New" means "new to me" now that I've extended the Wood family tree far back enough to find the clue, thanks to a hint from Ancestry's new ThruLines feature.

Zerviah Wood Senior's Mother-in-Law

Hubby's 4th great-grandma was Rhoda Eldridge (1730-1799), married to Zerviah Wood (1731-1817). ThruLines suggested that Rhoda's mother--Zerviah's mom-in-law--was Hannah O'Kelley or Killey (1703-1734). Several records indicated that connection and I added her to the tree, continuing to research for more confirmation.

Judging by her name, Hannah O'Kelley was most likely descended from a family from the Emerald Isle.

Jeremiah O'Kelly, Son of David "The Irishman"

Records were admittedly sketchy back in the 1600s, but two compiled family histories mention that Hannah's father, Jeremiah O'Kelley (16??-1728) was the son of an immigrant, David O'Kelley or O'Killia (1645?-1697). David's nickname in the Cape Cod area where he lived was "the Irishman."

David "the Irishman" O'Kelley was probably my husband's 7th great-grandpa. More research is in my future to confirm the details!

For St. Patrick's Day, I'm saying fáilte to this newest on the list of Wood ancestors from Ireland.