David Keeffe of Mitchelstown was my 3rd great grandfather. He was born around 1783, presumably in County Cork, and married Elizabeth Reily of Ballysonac on February 5, 1812 at Kildorrery Parish. Witnesses to the marriage were John Kennedy and Jeremiah Lyne. David and Elizabeth (Ryal) Keeffe were the parents of Mary, Ellen, Arthur, William, Johanna, Maurice, and Thomas Keeffe who were baptised at the Mitchelstown Parish between 1815 and 1828. They lived on Mulberry Lane in Mitchelstown. The family emmigrated to America in 1838 aboard the Barque Lafayette, arriving at the Port of Baltimore, Maryland July 11, 1838. From there the family settled in Baltimore County, and Harford County, MD. David was a farm laborer, attended St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, he died, and was buried in the old cemetery along Carroll Manor Road about 1860.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1783 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1860 (circa) | |
Hello! Is there any relationship between your ancestor, David Keefe, and Arthur Keefe (baptized 09 Dec 1843, Kildorrery, Cork; Diocese of Cloyne)? Arthur is the son of Matthew Keefe and Bridget Murphy; sponsors at the baptism were John Coughlan & Catherine Keas (Keys, Keyes, Keays).
Here is a link to the record - https://registers.nli.ie/pages/vtls000634240_142
I have not found any information to connect them yet. David did have a son named Arthur who was born about 1814 according to the his age listed on the passenger list when they arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1838. David and Matthew could have been brothers, or perhaps Matthew could have been a nephew. Are there any other similar names in Matthew's family? Arthur, William, Johanna, Thomas, Morris (Maurice), Mary and Ellen were David and Eliza's children.
Dennis Seitz
I actually descend from the Keyes/Keys/Keays/Keas family and have been paying closer attention to baptism sponsors & marriage witnesses, so was wondering if we might find a connection. Arthur Keefe was baptized in 1843, after your Keefe's left for Baltimore (1838). Perhaps Arthur's father (Mathew) was a brother to your guys or somehow related. Keep your eyes open for the Keyes family as you conduct your research in case there is a connection. Thanks for responding!
Hello! Perhaps your David is a sibling of my ggg-grandmother Nora/Honorah Keefe? She was born in 1788 and married in Mitchelstown to Daniel Corkery/Corcoran about 1821.
Daniel first married Abigail Hannon. They had at least three children: Ellen (married Hanlon), Daniel (1820-1880 m. Mary O'Connor) and Dennis (abt 1820-1902 m. Margaret?). All three emigrated to Baltimore/Harford County. Nora/Honorah and her son Morris (my gg grandfather 1832-1916) emigrated to join them in 1851. Daniel, Sr. did not come with them and may have died in Ireland. There may be other children of Daniels's from both marriages in Ireland or possibly who emigrated elsewhere.
Like your David Keefe- Ellen, Daniel, Dennis, Norah and Morris are all buried at St. John's Long Green. Nora died in 1888.
There is a birth record for 1789 in Cork City for Honora Keefe- parents John Keefe and Mary Morgan. And another Nov 25, 1796 in Mitchelstown to a John Keefe and Mary Howard. I don't know if either are her baptismal records. Kennedys Lyne/Lane are also families who emigrated from Mitchelstown to Long Green Valley to work on the farms near Our Lady's Manor. Many in the St. John's Long Green Cemetery are descended from Mitchelstown families.
mc
Hello MC, Good to hear from you concerning your connection to Nora/Honorah Keefe, and the other Mitchelstown families who emigrated to Long Green Valley in Harford and Baltimore Counties. I had not checked for responses to my post lately, and was delighted to read your response. My gg-grandfather, Thomas O'Keefe had moved his family several times during the mid and late 1800's, I assume as farm laborers. They lived at Hickory, near Bel Air, Falston, Pleasantville, Phoenix, and Long Green. It's interesting to find out that there were other Mitchelstown families who had emigrated to the same area, and were buried at St. John's Long Green Cemetery. It has been a couple of years since I visited the old cemetery along Carroll Manor Road, where the original church had been located before fire destroyed it. A new church and cemetery were built, and both cemeteries were used for several years in the late 1800's. Recently, someone had been clearing the brush and finding some of the gravestones which had been covered over by a century of neglect. A headstone and footstone had been uncovered for William O'Keefe. At the Maryland Archives I found a church entry in the microfilm that David Keefe had died and was buried in the old cemetery.
Hopefully we can connect a few more missing pieces of the puzzle, and find some connections. Hope to hear from you again.
Dennis Seitz
Wow! So exciting to read and understand that there is probably a connection. I have my DNA on record at Ancestry, if anyone in your Keefe line has done also so, we can do a check to see if it is the same Keefe family. Currently I live about an hour south of St. Johns Long Green and yet I've not been to the old church. It sounds like a field trip is overdue!
I am hopeful that there is a connection, since the name Morris (Maurice) appears in your family and also in mine as the brother of Thomas O'Keefe, my GG-Grandfather. Also, the estimated date of birth for David (1783) and Honora (1788) are close enough to be siblings and both were from Mitchelstown. I need to check the Census records to see if Honora and Morris settled near any of the other O'Keefe's or immigrants from Mitchelstown.
I took the DNA test through Ancestry, and also my Aunt, Carol (O'Keefe) Shirey and a female cousin from the O'Keefe line have taken the DNA test. I'm not sure if any of the other male cousins have taken the test.
We live about 1 hour north of Long Green in Dallastown, PA.
Good Luck,
Dennis Seitz
