RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Laois (Queens) => Topic started by: msshanna13 on Friday 23 June 06 22:09 BST (UK)
-
My great grandmother Catherine Duff immigrated to America from Ireland in 1914. we don;t know much about her life in Ireland because she died when my mother was very young. I have always been told that she was born in Laois County. Her birthdate is July 28, 1893. She had a twin sister named Mary who was supoosed to have immigrated later. Any information on the Duff family at all would be a big help. I keep hitting brick walls.
-
I am researching the Duff surname in Ireland. My GGmother immigrated to American in 1911. Her name was Caterine Duff, she was born in 1893 and had a twin sister named Mary. I have been unsucessful in locating her in Ireland. According to my grandmother, she was born in County Laois, manybe near Mountrath. Does anyone have information om this surname?
-
Hiya msshanna13,
Griffiths Valuation which took place in Laois in 1851-2 shows several families named Duff.
You could try posting letters to present day Duffs in the Eircom phonebook. You never know ... they may be able to assist you. http://www.eircomphonebook.ie
Christopher
-
Records of land leased by Duff in 1850 Tenements list. The value is the guide to how big the land was.
Duff Patrick; Ballytarsna, Parish of Abbeyleix; £1-5
Duff Mary; Tullore, Abbeyleix; 8shillings
Duffe Catherine; Borris Great, Maryborough; £2-10
Duff Edward; Ross, Clonenagh & Clonagheen; 7 shillings
Duff Elizabeth; Ross, Clonenagh & Clonagheen; 6 shillings
Duff Mary; Knockmay, Kilteale; 8 shillings
Duff Henry; Aghnacross, Dysartgallen; £19-15
Duff Henry; Keelagil, Dysartgallen; £5
Duff Elizabeth; Coolnacartan, Clonenagh & Clonagheen; £10-10
Duff Mary; Baunree, Fossy/Timahoe; £3
Duff James; Baunree, Fossy/Timahoe; 5shillings
Duff Thomas; Ballyadding, Lea; 8shillings
Duff Robert; Bracklone St, Lea; 12shillings
Duff Honoria; Coole, Offerlane; £1-10
Duff Edmund; Ballyknockan, Kilcolmanbane; £34-10
Duff Edmud; Ballyknockan, Kilcolmanbane; £11
Duff Andrew; Ballymaddock, Abbeyleix; £11
Duff John; Ballymaddock, Abbeyleix; £11
Jack
-
If Catherine died in America here death certificate (depending on what date and state she died in and also depending on what information the informant gave) might contain details of her birthplace, parents, etc.
Another source to get information from might be passenger list details- do you know when and where she arrived in U.S.? or when sister Mary arrived in U.S.?
-
Thanks for your reply. yes my great grandmother died in the US as did her sister and I know that they are from Montrath Loais County Ireland (at the time it was still Queens County). I have their parents as Micheal and Anna. I understand that my great great grand father came to America but at some point must have went home bc my information says he died in Montrath. I am trying to find relatives from that point. His wife was Anna Grant. I have passenger list for arrival in the US for the twins and their brothers but I find it difficult to locate information Ireland
-
Hello Msshanna,
I've just read your message, and my Dad is pretty sure that your Great Grand Parents (Michael Duff and Anna Grant) are his Grand Parents.
They were from Coolnacart, Mountrath, County Laois (formerly Queens County).
My Dad had two Aunts, Kate and Mary, who were twins, who emmigrated to the US around about that time. Also, five of their brothers are known to have emmigrated to the US at some point.
My Dad, Jim Duff, was born and grew up in Coolnacart, until the early sixties, when he emmigrated to London, UK.
If you would like any further information, or if there's is anything else I can help you out with, please let me know.
Noland.
-
msshanna,
Kate (Catherine) and Mary didn't come to the US at the same time. They arrived about three years apart; it must have been hard for them since they were twins. Their father, Michael Duff arrived in the US about 1876, and returned with his wife Anna to Ireland abt 1884. I don't know when or where they were married, but they were shown as a married couple in the US 1880 census in Philadelphia. I gleaned some info about them from William Duff's passport application in 1919 when he went home to visit his parents (Michael & Anna). My dad, (Kate's son) says Michael and Anna returned to Ireland for "reasons of his (Michael's) health". You and I have been in touch via ancestry.com and you should still be invited to view my tree, which I update periodically. There are a lot of missings pieces, but a few can be found when you read between the lines. There's a photo of William on the passport application. He definitely looks like a Duff. I'm trying to figure out how to isolate it and add to my photos. If you haven't seen it already, Catherine (Kate) and Bernard's wedding photo is on my tree. I gave my dad a framed copy of the ship manifest with Kate's name along with one or two of her brothers. Feel free to contact me. I've added several things to the tree.
Sharon (Kate's granddaughter)
-
Noland,
I saw your reply to my cousin Msshanna, who I have had some contact with via ancestry.com.
If your dad is Michael Duff and Anna Grant's grandson, I would sure be happy to know anything you have about them. They're my paternal great-grandparents. This is what I do know (or what's been reported to me): Michael - born 1844, died Jan 28, 1930 in Coolnacat, Mountrath, Laois/Queens; Anna Grant born abt 1861. Michael (and Anna?) emigrated to the US in 1876 and lived in Philadelphia. I don't know the birth order of the children, but William was born in the US in 1881. They lost an Infant, Mary here in the US too, but I've been unable to locate the cemetery records. I live in another state now, and hope to visit the cemetery when I'm in Philadelphia again. The other children were Edward, Ellen, Fintan, James, William, Lawrence, Patrick, Michael, Catherine (my grandmother), and her twin sister Mary, and Joseph. Several of the children emigrated to the US - all to the Philadelphia area. I think Ellen and Fintan stayed in Ireland. Michael enlisted in the US Army during WWI, but died on his way home to the US. William died in 1933; Patrick died in 1936. He had twin sons, Gerard and Lawrence. Gerard became an Augustinian priest, and died in 2007.
Catherine died in 1959 - she was always fibbing about her age, even on her death certificate - someone had to cross out the date of birth. Mary died in 1985; she missed her twin sister terribly. Joseph died in 1980.
I'd be interested in anything you or your dad have on the family. It would mean a lot to me and my dad, who is now 86. He was the fifth of 8 children. There are three left. Do you have an ancestry.com membership?
Pennsynative
-
In Mountrath cemetery there is
Mrs Maureen Duff, 73, married, main st, 6/9/1981.
-
Thank you for your reply. Is Mountrath cemetery the only one in the area? The family lived in Coolnacart - is that a town? Is Mountrath a town or district? I fairly certain my great-grandparents Michael and Anna Grant Duff would be buried in the town where they lived. Is there a church cemetery there? Thanks again for the response.
-
Mountrath is a town on the main rd from Dublin to Limerick and Coolnacart is a townland outside Mountrath on the Abbeyleix side.
A man, Edward Duff still lives in Coolnacart and his number is in the Irish phone book www.eircomphonebook.ie
so he might be worth a call.
There are several cemeteries around Mountrath, but with no Duff headstones, but they could still be interred there.
-
Have you managed to find out more about the Duff family? I am a duff, James Duff daughter, Noland is my brother
-
Dear Edi,
No, I haven't come up with anything in Ireland, except the Ireland Civil Registration Index indicating Anne Grant and Michael Duff's marriage in 1880 in the registration district of Abbyleix. I had thought they came to the US in 1876, but perhaps not, or maybe they went home to get married in Ireland. Michael death record is also on the index, same district, in 1930. I do know they lived in Philadelphia in 1880, and from family lore have learned that they returned to Ireland, probably in the mid to late 1880's. Several of their children eventually emigrated and settled here. I've been told that County Laois is pronounced L E E S H. Is that right?
Everything I know about the Duffs and their descendants here in the US is on my family tree on Ancestry.com. I can invite you to view it as a guest if you're interested. I think I will need your email address for that, or your Ancestry.com user ID, if you're a member. Let me know if you'd like to view it.
Sharon Dolan
-
Hi Sharon,
Only just seen your post, a few comments below:
The family parish is Raheen, and there are 2 cemetaries, the old and new. Michael and Anne are both buried in the old cemetary - unfortunately there are no headstones.
My Dad, Jim, is the son of Fintain Duff and Mary McNamarra. They had 5 children, Ann, Mick, Jim (Dad), Ned and Naura.
Fintain and Ed both stayed in Coolnacart, Ed died in 1964, and Fintain in 1980. Ellen moved to England and died in the 50s.
Hope this is useful, let me know if there is anything else you would like to know.
-
PS. Should read Fintan!!
Also, I do not have ancestry.com membership, will look into it shortly.
-
(*)
We are living in the UK, London
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
Hi Sharon, are you on facebook? Lots of relatives on there
I do have an ancestry account.
Elaine
-
Dear Noland,
Thank you for replying. My dad will be happy to know there are still Duffs living in Ireland. I'll reply to Edi separately. Did you see my posting from last November? I wondered why I hadn't gotten a reply, but don't like to pester people. I'd so much like to get Fintan's, Ed's and Ellen's vital info. I'll check to see if I can post an invitation on Ancestry.com for you without your having to be a member. An email address may be all that's needed. You can reach me via email at (*). I'd like you to see the rest of the family. I'd seen that Raheen Parish mentioned before, on my Aunt Mary's baptismal record, I think. I've misplaced it. Here in the US, your parish is the church you go to. Is it something else in Ireland? I remember my dad saying he visited an Aunt in either England or Wales when he was in Europe during WW II. I wonder if that was Ellen. Would there be a church there in Coolnacart where I could request Michael and Anna's sacramental records? Most of what I know about Ireland is from reading Andrew Greeley novels.
Sharon
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses. Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data. This applies to everyone.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
I hadnt checked here for a while - so didnt see your post, sorry for the delay!
Glad to hear some of it will be of interest.
Yes, the parish is the local church you attend - coolnacart comes under Raheen parish. Any records would be kept here (hopefully).
I will subscribe to ancestry.com - or if you can send me something will take a look.
-
It looks like RootsChat removed my emil address. Let me try giving it to you again. (*). If you're willing to give me your email address, I'll try inviting you to my Anestry.com family tree with that.
Sharon
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses. Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data. This applies to everyone.
-
Your e-mails get deleted on here.
Can you both get onto facebook?
-
It's quite simple to use the PM (personal message) system here to exchange email addresses, etc.-
http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
I apologize for posting my email address. I don't use this site often, and hadn't read the guidelines closely.
-
I just sent you an e-mail
-
Hi
I have just been reading through the recent posts. Have not been on in awhile but am glad to see we have made some progress. Just to refresh...I am Kate's great granddaughter via her daughter Catherine Johnson (Brogan) now Walker....I call her Nan but everyone else calls her Kitty. My mom is Jean (Regina).
I would love any information (Sharon has helped very much)
I am on Facebook...what is the name of the family page on facebook?
Shannon English
-
elaine duff-ioannou on facebook. There are plenty of duff's as my friends
-
ps, I am unable to view your family tree. Can you invite me? I sent an e-mail to Sharon, not sure whether she has received it.
-
my tree on ancestry? It is sadly very incomplete...but I will send you an invite. I have not had much time the las6 monts to work on my family tree research. I am so pleased to connect with another cousin! Can you pm me you email so that I am able to send you an invite? I will also try to friend request you on facebook
-
Hi,
I am not sure how to send you e-mail on here but do facebook me, probably easier.
See you on facebook.
Elaine
-
edi- please see my earlier post- it's quite simple to send personal message here:
It's quite simple to use the PM (personal message) system here to exchange email addresses, etc.-
http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
Hi All,
It seems like I've stepped into a family reunion of sorts here on this post!
I have access to the baptismal records of Raheen parish and have found the following baptismal records from the Index of Baptisms:
Children of Michael Duff and Anne Grant: (Date is date of Baptism, Page No is of original registers)
1885 June, Duff Laurence, Page 2A
1887 April, Duff Patrick, Page 8
1889 February, Duff Michael, Page 13
1891 April, Duff Edward, Page 19
1892 July, Duff Mary, Page 23
1892 July, Duff Catherine, Page 23
1894 May, Duff Joseph, Page 28
1895 October, Duff Ellen, Page 32
1897 July, Duff Anne, Page 36
1899 April, Duff Finton, Page 41.
-
From the Index to Marriages for Raheen Parish
Michael Duff married Anne Grant in February 1880, Page 75 of the original Marriage Registers.
Attached is a cropped version of a photograph of this original page. I could not upload the whole page as the file was too large.
Best of luck with your research.
Susan
-
Susan, Thank you SO MUCH for this data on the Duffs. This is wonderful information, and I appreciate the time and effort you put into it. Michael & Anna Duff were my great-grandparents. Catherine Duff was my grandmother. If anyone is interested, Anna & Michael had 3 children in the US (Philadelphia) - William, James, and another Mary, who died in infancy. Then they went back to Ireland around 1885-86, where the rest of the children were born. Somewhere on Ancestry.com, I found something that indicated they came to the US in 1876, but I think that's probably wrong. The more likely scenario is that they married in Feb, 1880, and immediately went to America. Their names are on the 1880 US Census, living in Philadelphia, and their first child was born there, abt 1882.
I'll be in Ireland in November, and plan to take a day trip to Laois. Will the parish of Raheen allow me to review the sacramental records myself? Will there be death and burial records, or records that might tell us who Michael and Anna's parents were? Do you have any other advice for me re what I can/should do while visiting Laois?
-
Hello,
I'm new to this, so not quite sure of the protocol.
I am also looking for my family in Raheen parish baptismal records. I am looking for Whelans baptized between ~1853 and ~1863. They would be children of Keran/Kieran Whelan and Margaret Keating. A Michael Whelan was found from 1859 - any earlier than that?
Thanks for any information you can provide.