Cody and Connors, Boherlahan, 1830's and 1840's

I am researching two related families that had historical ties to the Boherlahan area by the name of Cody and Connors/O'Connor. James L. Cody was the son of Edmund Cody, born ca 1800, and Catherine Connors, born ca 1800, presumably both originally from the Boherlahan general area. James was baptized on 1 December, 1828 at Rathclough, Boherlahan. His sister, Margaret, was baptized on 7 January, 1823 at Newpark, Boherlahan. Both James and Margaret immigrated to the US in the early 1850's settling in Minnesota at St. Paul. Unfortunately Margaret died in 1855 while acting as a nurse during a cholera epidemic in St. Paul. James on the other hand would live a long life in Minnesota passing away in 1924 at the age of 96.

My gg grandfather, Anthony Connors was married in 1830 in Borrisoleigh, Tipperary, to Anastasia Ryan from nearby Glenbrida. Their first two children, Philip and Bridget were born at Glenbrida, but their third child, Eliza, was born at Rathclough, Boherlahan and baptized there on 3 July, 1836. You see Anthony Connors was a stonemason by profession and he moved around a lot in Tipperary depending on where he could find work. He was a farmer of a small 4 acre parcel at Glenbrida for only about three years and then he was on the move to Boherlahan. Two things likely brought him to Boherlahan: we believe Edmund Cody's wife, Catherine Connors, was either Anthony's sister or 1st cousin. Secondly, many of the Cody men were stonemasons as well and they likely knew where work could be found. Originally from Kerry, the Connors men had a long pedigree of working as stonemasons, arriving in north Tipperary around 1775 and working on, among other things, the Carden castle at Templemore. By 1839, Anthony and his family would leave Boherlahan and could be found in Thurles where another child, Edmund, was born. By 1840 he was working at a place called Priors Lodge near Holycross where their last child, Mary Ann, was born. By 1841 he began to build a small house next to the river in back of a larger house that faced Main St. in Thurles. The family lived in the smaller house and the larger house was a boarding house that they operated from 1841-1848. Their home was directly across the street from Bridge Castle in Thurles. By 1849 they had immigrated to Boston and by 1852 they could be found living in St. Paul where James and his sister Margaret would immigrate. By 1857, James was running a boarding house in St. Paul and according to the state census three Connors relatives were living there. Philip Connors, the Glenbrida-born first child of Anthony Connors and Anastasia Ryan, was a mason like his father and living at James Cody's boarding house along with a second man also named Philip Connors who was born at Rathclough and a mason as well. Another resident in the Cody boarding house was James Connors, a brother of Philip Connors of Rathclough.

The other Philip was part of a family of Connors who all came from Boherlahan and the two Philips of Glenbrida and Rathclough were 1st cousins. Philip's parents were Michael Connors born ca 1810 and Mary Lalor also born ca 1810. They were married at Boherlahan on 12 August, 1832. The marriage record read: "Michl. Connors of Dualla & Mary Lalor were married in the presence of Tom Lalor and Margaret Kelly, Curraghtarsna, P.F.P.P." (Rev. Peter Flanagan, Parish Priest). Michael and Mary had 8 children:

1. Eliza Connors, baptized 17 Nov, 1833 at Rathclough.

2. Philip Connors, baptized 31 May, 1835 at Rathclough.

3. Edmund Connors, baptized 1 Jan, 1837 at Boherlahan.

4. Ellen Connors, baptized 21 Apr, 1839 at Rathclough.

5. James Connors, baptized 3 Oct, 1841 at Rathclough.

6. Margaret Connors, baptized 17 Sep, 1843 at Rathclough.

7. Mary Connors, baptized 10 Nov, 1844 at Rathclough.

8. John Connors, baptized 18 Dec, 1846 at Boherlahan.

I was hoping my research would resonate with others researching the same general area, or with others who are descended from any of these families...

My best wishes to all and stay safe during these times...

Philip Michelson