O'Connor aka Connors Cousins of SHANAHANs in Tuogh Parish, Townland Dromsally or Cappamore

Researching the SHANAHAN and LUBY families from the city of Limerick and their O'Connor aka Connors cousins from Dromsally or Cappamore, Tuogh Parish:  

Thomas Shanahan and wife Bridget Luby (birthplaces and dates unknown)

• married 13 Oct 1833 Powerstown RC Parish, Co Tipperary
• Witnesses to wedding:  John LUBY and Bridget CONNORS

Children:  

• Denis Shanahan (baptised 24 Aug 1834 Powerstown Co Tipperary)
• Margaret Anne Shanahan (baptised 03 Sep 1841 St. Patrick's RC Parish, Limerick City)
• Michael William Shanahan (born 29 Sep 1842 Limerick City(?))
• Thomas Shanahan (baptised 10 Feb 1844 St. Patrick's RC Parish, Limerick City)

Thomas Shanahan and his wife Bridget Luby died (between 1844-1856) and left these 4 children orphaned.  They were initially left in the care of a grandmother (whether a LUBY grandmother or a SHANAHAN grandmother is unknown).  Thomas died (while still a young child) by drowning in a river near their home while in the care of this grandmother.  Michael, the next youngest immigrated 1st to New York City and then shortly thereafter to Mississippi in the USA in 1856; the elder brother Denis immigrated to New York City (and Jersey City Hudson Co NJ USA) circa 1857.  Lastly sister Margaret Anne Shanahan immigrated (year unknown but prior to 1865) and settled somewhere near her brother Denis in the NYC / Jersey City area.  

All the descendants of Denis Shanahan (married Ellen KERRIGAN on 04 Jan 1861 in St. Brigid's Catholic Church in Manhattan NY) and MIchael Shanahan (married Sarah "Sallie" Margaret POTTER on 15 Nov 1868 in Senatobia, De Soto County, MS) have been traced.  Denis' family changed the spelling of their surname to SHANNON and all his descendants are known by this surname today and most still live in the New York, New Jersey area.  Descendants of Michael Shanahan retained the original spelling are widespread but most live in Mississippi and Texas.  

Sister Margaret Anne Shanahan married twice (1) to Constantine PATZER on 31 Mar 1872 in Hudson Co NJ and (2) to JamesLYNCH (s/o Patrick and Rose Lynch, on 24 Aug 1879 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.  Margaret is known to have lived until at least 1893 but has not successfully been traced in the USA census records for New Jersey (or anywhere else for that matter).  

Godparents for Denis Shanahan were Rev. Edmund MAHER and Brigid CONNORS (this Brigid / Bridget Connors assumed to be the same gal who witnessed his parent's wedding.  

Godparents for Margaret Anne Shanahan were Thomas and Catherine BURCH.  Priest who performed the baptism was Rev. Mr. George BUTLER, (curate of St. Patrick’s parish from 1841 to 1844).  In this record Margaret's name is spelled shaNNahan and her mother's maiden spelled LOOBY.  

Godparents for Thomas Shanahan were Patt FOX and Honora PECKAM.  Baptised at the vestry of St. Patrick's RC Church.  In this record Thomas' surname is spelled shaNNahan and his mother's maiden given as LOOBEY.  

On 18 Jun 1859 a Denis Shanahan posted an ad in the newspaper "Boston Pilot" seeking information wanted on his missing cousins Catherine, Daniel, Mary, Michael and Patrick O'CONNOR aka CONNORS whose last known whereabouts in the USA were Boston/Somerville Massachusetts.  The info given for the point of origin for these O'CONNOR aka CONNORS cousins was:  Parish of Tuogh, Townland of Dromsally, Cappamore in Co Limerick.  The name / address to contact Denis Shanahan was given as:  In Care Of:  Henry BECKER address of William & Beekman Streets in NYC.  Not absolutely sure that this Denis Shanahan is "my" Denis, but believe it is possible since his Godparent was Bridget Connor.    

Kathy Rhodes 

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA