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Hello Kenney researchers.  I saw Donles' post from July 2012, specifically:

"Mark Kenny married, first a Miss Reddy, then Elizabeth Hand. There were 2 sons and a daughter (Ann) by the first marriage. The second marriage produced 8 children, Mark, Wm, James, Thomas, Robert, Sarah, Jane and Lizzie.", and

"Send me a safe mailing address via Rootschat’s personal message system, and I will copy you. There are 17 full 8 ½ x 14 pages with charts and notes.  If any other Kenny family Roots Chatter would like this documentation, I would be pleased to mail it to you under the same conditions, as getting this all on the internet could take me years."

I tried sending Don a PM but have had no response.  I'm not sure if he is still actively researching the tree and wonder if anyone else was the recipient of his generous offer to share this tree.  I have a John Kenney, b: abt 1836 in Ontario, the son of Mark Kenney and Jane (maiden name not recorded on the marriage registration).  I believe quite strongly that he is the son of Mark's first marriage to Jane Reddy or Ready and am hoping I can confirm this via the tree Don mentioned.  John Kenney married a cousin of mine and I would like very much to help a direct descendant fill in an important part of his tree.

Thanks!  John.

Hi Katherine.

Where do I fit in - an excellent question!  Here's a not so short answer...

Here is what I believe is the lineage:

John Armstrong inherited Farney Castle from his father, Captain William Armstrong of the Tipperary Horse.  That left second son, Thomas, without a home. 

He signed a lease for Mealiffe from Kingsmill Pennefather of Newpark, County Tipperary on 1st January, 1714 (see http://www.igp-web.com/tipperary/estate38.htm).  It was a long-term lease, initially covering 3 lifetimes, but renewable in perpetuity on payment of a renewal fine.  This last fact is particularly relevant as any subsequent "Armstrong of Mealiffe" presumably had to be his direct descendant.  FYI, the lease was cancelled for non-payment about 1850. 

Thomas married Mary Carew, eldest daughter of Robert Carew, Co. Wexford.  I believe they had a very large family and Mealiffe passed to his second son, John (I think probably born about 1705) when his eldest son, William, died without children about 1768.  Mealiffe then passed to John's son, the Reverend William Carew Armstrong, and I believe you are descended from this line.  They retained the lease on Mealiffe and Catherine-Eleanor Beresford married a Reverend William Carew Armstrong 11 Nov 1791. 

However, Catherine-Eleanor's parents married 12 June 1763 so she was probably born about 1770 and the Rev WCA above was probably born no later than 1740 based on his fathers birth about 1705.  She might well have married a son of the original Rev WCA.

This is where our lines diverged in any case.  I am descended from a later son of Thomas and Mary (Carew) Armstrong.  As per Aunt Kate, the Reverend Robert Carew Armstrong, Rector of Shinrone, King's County married Jane Atkinson, 4th daughter of Anthony Atkinson MP of Cangort, King's County.  They had a number of children - I am from Thomas who married Frances Wheeler about 1771, daughter of Francis Wheeler of Ballywire, Co. Tipperary.  They had 3 sons:

 - Captain Frances Wheeler Armstrong, b: 1779, Married Esther Françoise de Quetteville 15 June 1819 in Grouville, Jersey and died 15 April 1868 in Jersey
 - Captain John Armstrong, b: 1788 in Torne, King's County, Married Elizabeth Frances Massey, Daughter of Hon Francis Hugh Massy of Suir Castle, Co. Tipperary; Granddaughter of Hugh Massy, 1st Baron of Duntrileague
- Robert Carew Armstrong, b: 1784 in Mount Eaton, Kilfinane, County Limerick, Married Margaret Ann Massey - the sister of his brother's wife

Aunt Kate had it mostly right - John and Robert came to Canada.  Robert came first in 1823, settling near Ottawa, and John came in 1825, settling near what became Peterborough.  Both were part of a government sponsored settlement project lead by an MP named Peter Robinson to punch-up the population.  The program was approved, in part, to create a stronger militia in the event the Americans looked north of the border again as they had in the War of 1812.  Most of the settlers were Catholic, although the Armstrongs were not.

It doesn't help much with the family that moved to Mealiffe, but check out Burkes Peerage (1863) on-line for a decent summary of how the family came to Ireland.  However, I understand the connection to old Laird John Armstrong of Gilnockie is likely but not 100% proven:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ni4BAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA936&dq=armstrong+farney#PPA936,M1

That's about it for now.  I won't claim credit for most of the above - it was compiled largely by David Malet Armstrong, descended from Captain Frances Wheeler Armstrong, and Tina Hansen, descended from Captain John Armstrong.  I am descended from the third son, Robert Carew Armstrong.  Any errors in the above post are almost certainly due to my transcription as their research to date has proven to be exceptional.

John.

ENFIELD - I just noticed your post.  Thank you VERY much.  I'm sure I will enjoy the letters as much as Katherine.

Hi Doris.  If I understand correctly, we're supposed to use Private Massaging, but we're not allowed to use Private Messaging since you are a new member and don't have 3 posts to your credit.  That's not very helpful! 

However, this is my 3rd post and I see 2 from you.  If you reply again, that makes 3 for you and we can try out this fabulous PM to share our email addresses and be welcomed back to the 21st century technology-wise.

Some info for now:
Yes, I am Canadian.  Robert Carew and Margaret Ann (Massy) Armstrong's second daughter was Frances Ann Armstrong.  She married a second Robert Carew Armstrong (certainly a cousin, but precise relation is not known) and moved to McGillivray Township, Middlesex County, North of London Ontario.  One of their daughters, Eleanor Armstrong, married Matthew Varley and they are my GG Grandparents.

Actually, I understand Suir Castle still exists and is now owned by an organic farmer.  I found him on a search of the internet as well, I believe, he contacted one of our cousins asking for information about the family.  I understand he is researching all the families previously associated with the home (I don't think it is a "Castle" in the traditional sense).

I just received the Frank Tracy book last week and enjoyed it tremendously.  Our connection to the family didn't get much press as we are descended from the 1st Baron through the eldest son of his second marriage - since we we were outside of the direct peerage we didn't warrant much mention in the book.  However, I have lots  to share if we ever manage to make this email thing work!

John.

Hi Laterunner and thanks for posting the letter from "Aunt Kate".

I am descended from one of the 2 Sons of Thomas Armstrong - who both married Miss Massey's - and moved to Canada.  I am interested in sharing what I know about the family with you and would dearly love to have a copy of the letter. 

The 2 Brothers came to Canada as part of an Irish settlement program run by a Canadian MP named Peter Robinson.  Not Thomas, but Robert Carew Armstrong and wife Margaret Anne Massey came with around 500 settlers in 1823 to the area that became the Canadian Capital, Ottawa. Brother John and wife Eliza Massey came in 1825 with some 2,500 settlers.  They settled an area about 150 miles away which later became Peterborough, in honour of the MP who organized the settlement. 

Both families prospered and I know of at least one other cousin who joined them later as Robert's daughter Frances married a second Robert Carew Armstrong.

Can you let me know if you are still an active rootschat member?

Best regards,

John.