Margaret Cummins : Short Biography

Margaret Cummins aka Commons aka Cummings (1851–1908) was baptised in the Roman Catholic parish of Boyle on 18-Nov-1851.

Her parents were Margaret Noone (1831–1896) and Michael Commons (a soldier). The "illegitimate" note on her baptism confirms her mother was unmarried at this time. Elizabeth Conolly was her only godparent. At some point, Margaret Cummins converted from Catholic to Protestant (Church of Ireland). 

On 25-Jan-1869, at Boyle Church of Ireland, Margaret Cummins (1851–1908) of Boyle married William Kelly (1838–1890) who was a solidier at Athlone barracks at the time – a Private in the 89th Regiment. The groom's father was a Dennis Kelly and the bride's Michael Cummins. Their witnesses were William Mavity and Louisa Kearney.

The couple first resided at Drum in Boyle 1871-1873 William's occupation was recorded as "pensioner" (i.e. he was out on an army pension). 

• Mary's mother Margaret Noone was likely residing with the couple as she is the "informant present at birth" for their children born in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1883 Margaret Noon was recorded as "nurse" under informant. In 1894 Margaret was the informant present at birth for her great-grandson Donald Leopold William Kelly (son of Charlotte Kelly & John Forsythe McLennon, watchmaker, Carrick on Shannon. On 15 November 1896, Margaret Noone died age 60, informed by John Forsythe McLennan of Boyle, occupier, who cited she was the spinster daughter of a farmer (deceased). John & Charlotte baptised their third child in Boyle in 1897. 

By 1875 the Kellys were residing at The Green aka Church Street (now Green Street) in Boyle when William's occupation was recorded as "servant" (and again in 1883 and 1885) and "butler" in 1880. William was also recorded as "sexton of parish church" in 1877, 1883, 1885 and 1888.

In 1885 and 1880, the Kellys were residing at Church Lodge, Boyle and in 1890 "Sexton's House" Church Street Boyle (likely the same dwelling) serving Boyle Church of Ireland. 

Margaret & William baptised the following children in Boyle Church of Ireland :

• Charlotte Maude Kelly b1871 (informant: Margaret Noone) m. John F McLennon, watchmaker, (address Carrick on Shannon in 1894). John was Presbyterian.

• William Henry Kelly b.1873 at Drum (informant: Mary Grady) died age 3 at The Green, Boyle.

• Isabella Kelly b.1875  b.1873 at The Green (informant: Margaret Commings aka Cummins)

• Jane Kelly of Church Lodge m. 1892 William Duggan of Boyle, coachman (wit. Charlotte Kelly) son of James Duggan both Church of Ireland. This couple were living at Charlestown Co. Roscommon when they gave birth to Alice Maria Duggan in 1892. No further record of them in Ireland. 

• John Kelly b1877 at Boyle (informant: Margaret Noone)

• Willemina Margaret Kelly b 12 Jul 1880 aka Margaret Mary Kelly b1880 at Boyle (informant: Mary Grady)

• Mary Elizabeth Kelly b.1883 at Church Street, Boyle (informant: Margaret Noone Nurse)

• Henry Kelly b.1885 at Boyle (informant: Margaret Kelly)

• William Fletchard Kelly b.1888 at Boyle (informant: Bella Kelly sister)

William Kelly died, age 52, in 1890. And in 1897 Margaret's mother, Margaret Noone, died age 60 in the presence of her granddaughter Charlotte Kelly and John F McLennon who were residing with her in Boyle. 

Shortly after her mother's death, Margaret migrated to Scotland with her two youngest children, Henry and William Kelly. In 1897, Margaret (nee Cummins) Kelly remarried  – David Thompson in Scotland and gave birth to their daughter Catherine Thompson later that year. Henry & William Kelly also settled and married in Scotland.

In 1921, Margaret's grandson Donald L W Maclennan (Charlotte's son) of 22 Llewellyn Ave, Lisburn married Gertrude Glendenning in St Mary Magdalene Church of Ireland, Belfast.