Bridget Dunn

Bridget the daughter of John Dunn and Bridget Lonergan was christened on the 3rd of March 1836.  Later records give many different birth years from 1833 to 1838, it is more likely that she was born in 1836 or late 1835 as Catholic christenings  are usually soon after birth.

Bridget was about 10 when the family emigrated from Mocklershill, Tipperary, Ireland to Ontario, Canada.  Little is known of their life in Canada before her marriage to Michael Murphy in Stratford in 1861.  Within the next seven years Bridget had four children, Mary and Ellen born in Stratford, then John  and William born in Port Huron, Michigan.

All indications are their's was not a happy household.  It appears that Michael was in trouble, most likely in Stratford and most definitely in Port Huron.  I haven't been able to dig up what exactly the trouble was, but I wouldn't be surprised to find he was part of the "Irish Mob". 

Before 1870 daughter Ellen passed away and in 1880 son John died of dropsey.  Sometime after the 1880 census was taken, Bridget kicked Michael out of the house.  Michael went to Chicago where he disappeared into the streets.  Someday, perhaps, he will be found.  Bridget remained in Port Huron.

William followed his father to Chicago where he died under suspicious circumstances in 1904.  His death certificate says he is married and is a fireman. Bridget brought his remains back to Port Huron to be buried near his brother.

Daughter, Mary, married in 1888 and settled in Bay City, MI.  

Family tradition states that Bridget was divisive, always creating problems in the family.  I heard this from family of my Great Aunt as well as family members of Bridget's sister Mary Kelly.  Bridget was the second generation in my story of Sarah (Bridget) Lonergan's Legacy.

Bridget Dunn Murphy
holding
James Howard Madden
abt 1925   -- Age 90+

In 1910 it appears that she was living alone in Port Huron.  By 1910 she is living with her daughter Mary Haffey in Bay City.  I haven't located her in 1920, but in 1930 she is again living with Mary and her family.  Shortly after the census was taken she entered Grand Traverse Hospital  in Grand Traverse, Michigan.  

Bridget was well liked within the hospital according to all known remaining records.   Her reputation for creating turmoil in group situations does not seem to have followed her there, perhaps she had mellowed as she reached the century mark.  Her entry into the hospital was arranged by her grandson Joseph, and it was noted that dementia had begun about twelve years earlier but had only lately become impossible to manage at home.  It was also noted that the family was attentive, writing and visiting often.d

Bridget died 13 Oct 1931.  Her death certificate gives he age as 98, but it is more likely she was 95.  It is thanks to the notes in her hospital file that we have been able to locate not only her christening, but those of all of her siblings in Ireland.

A Dunn Family Genealogy

Following is a reconstrution of our Dunne family.  Uncertain connections are givenin Orange. If a child connection is proven but the additional family is uncertain, the family is Orange. A link to a fully documented genealogy can be found at the bottom of this post.  It will be updated as more information is found.






Patrick m.  Elizabeth Meagher  The children given here are all christened in Killinaule Parish.  The age for John fits well with our John. A birth in 1798 works well with the birth of his son Patrick in 1822.  Unfortunately no marriage for John has been found. The names of John's children works well with the family of Patrick and Elizabeth as well.  The only question is the lack of a daughter named Elizabeth in the records found.  

1. Cornelius  c. 20 Oct 1787 most likely married Mary Ryan 6 Feb 1806 in Fethard
2. Ellen c. 30 mar 1789
3. Patrick c. 19 Feb 1795
4. Maria c 3 Feb 1796
5. John  m. Bridget Lonergan [Dropbox Folder]  
• Patrick (1822 IRE-1883 ONT) m Mary  
• James 1851
• John 1852
• Charles Emmet 1857 ONT m Mary Steele 1884 ONT
• Mary Patricia 1861 ONT m. Richard H Nicholls 1889 ONT
• Edward G 1863 ONT m. Louisa Kenny 1889 ONT
• Margaret 1867
• Sarah Ellen 1871 m. George Edward McGregor 1897 ONT
• Mary Ann (1824-1906) m Robert Kelly (1824-1900) (Michigan)
• Annie 1849 ONT
• James 1851 ONT m. Lena Eckoff 
• John W 1853 ONT - 1922 MI  m Mary Ellen Bradley 1879 MI
• Thomas 1856 ONT - died before 1861 (not in census of that year)
• Bridget 1858 ONT - 1895 MI m. John Cochrane 1878 MI
• Robert 1861 ONT died bef 1867
• Margaret 1864 MI
• Robert 1867 MI m. Mary
• Margaret (1826 - aft 1910) m John Cavanaugh (1818-bef 1900) (to Kansas, Missouri, California)
• Bedelia Margaret 1845 ONT m. William Hamilton bef 1874 KS 3 known children
• Thomas 1847 ONT m. Lydia Lucas 1884 KS
• Owen 1852 ONT - 1921 CA m Jennie Rainey 1878 KS m. Mary Derry 1894 KS
• Mary A 1853 ONT m. John O'Connor 1889 KS (to AZ, CA)
• Sarah 1854 ONT 
• John F 1857 ONT - d 1881 KS
• Michael D 1860 ONT m Lillie C. 1888 IL
• Patrick 1862 ONT
• James 1865 ONT
• Robert 1867 ONT
• Hellen 1870 KS m. Harry Gossuch 1897 
• Cornelius 1828 IRE
• Thomas 1831 IRE
• Bridget 1836 IRE m. Michael Murphy 1861 Stratford, ONT (to Port Huron, MI) 4 known children See Michael Murphy
• Ellen 1840 IRE

Proposed Dunn Genealogy with Source Documentation

Dunn Family Folder in Dropbox

Mocklershill

Mocklershill, home of the Dunn family in the 1820-30s, lies in the center of the Golden Vale.  It is 424.87 acres (.66 sq mi) in size and is in the  the civil parish of Magorban and the barony of Middlethird in County Tipperary.

The Golden Vale in Winter, in County Tipperary.  

by Sieghean

The Golden Vale ( Machaire méith na Mumhan), an area of rolling pastureland covering parts of three counties, Limerick, Tipperary, and Cork is the best land in Ireland for dairy farming.  At times it has been called the Golden Vein as evidenced by a mention in the 1837 book by Johathan Binns where he states that "the golden vale" (more correctly the "golden vein")"  "The land is of excellent quality, being part of the golden vein of Ireland—a district reaching from Tipperary towards Limerick. The extent of the golden vein is about fourteen miles long, by six or seven wide." 

Wikipedia "Golden Vale"
Ask About Ireland - Golden Vale

MOGORBANE, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (E.) from Cashel, on the road from Clonmel to Thurles and Nenagh ; containing 1282 inhabitants. It comprises 6522 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and contains an abundance of limestone. The principal seats are Mobarnan Manor, the handsome and well-planted demesne of M. Jacob, Esq. ; Beechmount, the residence of T. G. Phillips, Esq. ; and Silverfort, of J. Scully, Esq. It is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the gift of the Archbishop, to whose mensal the rectory is appropriate. The tithes, amounting to #230, are entirely payable to the archbishop, who allows a stipend to the curate: there is a glebe-house. The church is a neat Gothic structure, built about 20 years since, In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Killenaule, and has a chapel at Moyglass, In the parochial school, built on an acre of ground given by S. Jacob, Esq., who also contributed #40 towards its erection, about 40 children are educated ; and there are two private schools, containing about 170 children. Some remains of Mobarnan and Ballyvaiden castles still exist ; and there are several ancient forts... Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837

National Archives of Ireland 004625697/004625697_00070

The Tithe Allotments were taken in Mocklershill in 1830.  There are fourteen households listed in the tax rolls, including John and Cornelius Dunn

When Griffith's valuations were taken in the 1850s there were about 20 families living in the townland, including British landlord, Sir John Fitzgerald, owner in fee of the entire townland.  There was no Dunn family, but Edward Lonergan leased a house and garden from Michael Slattery.

In 1901 there were 39 people living in nine households. Families names include Bowes, Connell, McNamara, Browne, Roche, Luby, Egan, Dea, and Prendergast.  In 1911 the number had dwindled to 33.

Mocklershill is in the Catholic Parish of Killenaule.  The available  parish registers start as early as 1742 for baptisms and 1812 for marriages.

A Townland for the Dunns

I have been searching for  Irish ancestors for over thirty years and had all but given up on finding the townlands of Michael Murphy and John Dunn... more on Michael at a later date.  Today I have found the Dunns.

Family tradition, as outlined in Sarah Lonergan's Legacy, said the Dunn(e)s were from the town of Golden in county Tipperary...and as it turns out that was very close and perhaps correct.  What I found in the Irish Parish Registers, which are available on the website of the Irish National Library, are christening records for the seven children of John Dunn and Bridget Lonergan.  The downside is now the story Sarah Lonergan's Legacy must become Bridget Lonergan's Legacy. (1)


The christenings, which are contained in two registers for Killenaule Parish are as follows list the place of residence as Mocklershill(2) (various spellings are used in the records, this spelling is found on today's maps).

• Patrick Dunn was christened 10  Apr 1822(3) sponsors John Dunne and Mary McDonough. Patrick is found in 1851 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario CAN.  He is a wagon maker.  He died in Brant County in 1883.  He married Mary - and they had 7 known children.

• Mary Dunn christened 14 Feb 1824 (3) sponsors Edmund Boc and Ellen Dwyer.  Mary Ann married Robert Kelly. They were living in Perth, Ontario in 1861.  By 1870 they had emigrated to Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan.  Mary died there in 1906.  They had 8 known children.
• Margaret Dunn christened 26 Jun 1826(3) sponsors Patrick Ryan and Margaret Londrigan (this was the only record where the mother's names was not Bridget Lonergan, it was listed as Bridget Londrigan) Margaret married John Cavanaugh.  They were living in Perth in 1861 and Independence Kansas in 1870. John died before 1900 and Margaret is found in 1900 in Kansas City, MO and in Los Angeles CA in 1910.  No death has been found to date.  Margaret and John had eleven children.
• Cornelius Dunn christened 2 Nov 1828(3) sponsors John Lonergan and Joanna Ryan.  There is a possible census record in Buffalo, New York for Cornelius in 1870, but to date no proof it is the right person and no other records have been found.
• Thomas Dunn christened 20 Apr 1831(3) sponsors William Dunn and Mary Bowes .  I have not found records for Thomas.  Thomas was remembered by his Grandniece Grace as being quite talented. He played seven different instruments.  The family considered him wayward because he wandered from place to place, never settling down for long in one spot.  He would pop in from time to time, always good natured and with a devil may care attitude.  It would be difficult to trace when or where Thomas died.
• Bridget Dunn christened 3 Feb 1836(3) sponsors Pat and Mary Dunn. See more in a later blog.
• Ellen Dunn christened 10 Dec 1840(3) sponsors Michael McGonich and Catherine Ryan.  Ellen was found in one census record with her sister Margaret Cavanaugh, otherwise no records have been found to date.

When she was in Grand Traverse hospital at the end of her years, Bridget, remembered leaving Ireland when she was eleven, but unless she was near a year old when she was christened it seems they must have left earlier.  Mary Ann was married in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada on 25 Oct 1846.  So it would seem the family emigrated sometime between 1841 and 1846.  Bridget also suggested that they lived in Buffalo, NY for a time.  

I have been unable to find John Dunn in Canada or the US in 1850/51 or later.  I also have not found the children who were not married in 1850/51.  I have not seen a copy of Mary Ann's marriage in Brant in 1846 but I did find Patrick in Brant in 1851 which gives credence to the fact that they lived there.  Bridget said that John was a miller, so the next step might be to look for any miller in 1850/51 with the name of John, born in Ireland.  This will be quite a task.

Returning to Ireland, Golden lies within 20 Kilometers of Mocklershill.  I did not find the marriage of John and Bridget in the registers for Killenaula Parish, so perhaps they were married in Golden.  With the christening date  of the oldest child Patrick confirmed the search shouldn't have to cover too many years.

I did find John in the Tithe Applotment listing for Mocklershill which was taken in 1830.  His holdings included a little over 34 acres for which he paid £1-17-9. Also listed is Cornelius Dunn, most likely a brother as his holdings were smaller than Johns at 25 acres.

One other fact became apparent.  There was NO Simon Dunn in the list of children. The christenings found match the list of siblings that Bridget gave the nursing staff at Grand Traverse Hospital. Simon Dunn was connected to Al Smith, and family tradition said he was a brother of Mary Ann and Bridget.  Perhaps he was a cousin?  We do know that he was born in Dublin, not Tipperary so the burden of proof will definitely be upon us if we wish to claim the connection.

Knowing the names of sponsors might also help in finding more on the families.  The search is on.

1. Sarah Lundriken was the name given on the death certificate of Mary Ann Dunn Kelly, the oldest child of John and Bridget.  Daughter Bridget's death record gives the correct name Bridget.
2. A link will be provided to a future Mockershill post, in the meantime you can find a map of Mockershill here.
3. Killenuale Parish Registers, Library of Ireland