Keeshan/Keechan

[JC111]

Thomas Fitzgerald's father John (at reply #11) died on 21 April 1915 aged 79 yrs. He was an army pensioner, formerly in the 17th Foot. His widow Fannie was the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1915/05272/4463661.pdf

Fannie died the following year (25 March 1916) at the Union Infirmary, Roscrea aged 70 yrs.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1916/05243/4453007.pdf

Thank you, confirming these records are of my GG Grandparents.

[heywood]

I don’t quite follow this but..
Annie shows as ‘married’ on her death, however her address is different to Thomas’.

Do you have any information re the Keeshans - approximate years of birth etc.

As Annie Fitzgerald died in Roscrea, you would imagine that the boys would be born in that area.

Have you considered this James?
1911 - with mother Mary, a widow, and siblings.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Roscrea/Limerick_Street/824346/
1901 shows Mary’s husband to be Michael. The family’s origins are Queen’s County.

When Mary dies in 1919, the informant is ‘J Keeshan’, son.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1919/05150/4419882.pdf

[JC111]

Hi. One Keeshan brother was born in Roscrea 1929 the other in Nenagh 1933. I have found their records on familysearch site. Their Christian names were Michael and James. I heard from my own late grandmother (Annie's Daughter) that her mother Annie Donohue had died tragically as a result of being struck with a bottle over her head by another woman. I have trjed to find out more but nothing so far. I also heard that Annie was quite young when she died so for now I'm ruling out some findings of a same named lady who was in her 60's. Please note that it is likely that Annie was separated from her husband T Fitzgerald at time of death. She may have been with James Keeshan the father of her last two boys? Annie was from a travelling family and maybe went back to them? Many questions. Thanks for your help.

[Sinann]

Could the family story have got twisted out of shape?
There is a report in the Irish Press Dec 17 1935 at Dublin District Court yesterday of a Annie Fitzgerald of no fixed abode sentenced to six months with hard labour for striking Mollie Flynn of no fixed abode on the head with a bottle.

[JC111]

Hi. No, not twisted because the incident was witnessed by the daughter of Annie and told to me personally some years ago. I also know the name of the assailant and it is not as you mention. I do not wish to name the person, I'm sure you will understand why.. Annie's husband Thomas was a soldier like his Father John Fitzgerald. Thanks for sharing that information.

[heywood]

Hi. One Keeshan brother was born in Roscrea 1929 the other in Nenagh 1933. I have found their records on familysearch site. Their Christian names were Michael and James.

I see a birth in 1929 in Nenagh ( not Roscrea) for James with mmn Donohue
There is also Michael ‘Keesham’ b 1933 but no mother’s name in the indexes.

Thomas Fitzgerald was a labourer on his chikdren’s birth certificates. Did he join the British Army later?

[JC111]

Hi. Yes Thomas joined army later, date unsure as yet. I fortunately have his photo in uniform as received from other source in my search. After marrying he and Annie lived with his parents in Limerick Road Roscrea census 1911. It seems he was in the Army from 1916 onward. His Father John was born in Athlone but married Francis Ryan when he was a soldier of the 7th foot in The Curragh camps and also Birr Army Barracks. John served overseas in India for certain and possibly Canada approx 1860/80 before ending up in Roscrea. I'd love to find a picture of Thomas's parents but it is unlikely. A picture of Annie would be great but again not expected. I found some pics of nieces and nephews of Thoma's. They were his sister Bridget's children who were raised in Ferndale Wales. Bridget was married to Henry George Chainey. I have this verified through my searches. A daughter of Bridget, Ethel Chainey married Alfred Petersen during the London blitz and they moved to Kalamazoo Michigan. I found her obituary with tributes and photos through her life. She helped in the founding of a church and raised a family. Some still reside in Kalamazoo. This info can be found by entering Ethel Petersen in Google search for anyone interested. It mentions her mother Bridget Fitzgerald from Roscrea and going to school in Ferndale. Her father Henry was a hewer in the coal mines in the Rhondda Valley and is buried with his wife in nearby Penrhys Cemetery.