Looking for Hansberry family

Hello Kevin,

Thanks for getting in touch.That sounds like an interesting journey from Kilbeacanty to Alabama do you have any more details on that?Did they leave Ireland before the famine?

As a matter of interest Hansberry or Hansberry is not a common name in Ireland.There are only two pockets where the name is common.South Galway (where Kilbeacanty is) is one and an area of Mayo.My husband has a friend at work called Hanberry who did some investigating into the name.He is also related to the Hansberry/Hanberry's of south Galway in Kilbeacanty.

I have tried to take a look at available sources.There is no record, Birth or Baptism of  a Julia or Michael Hansberry born around those dates.This just points to the lack of records.I was wondering where you got the possible dates of Birth?Was it from records or was it passed down in the family?

Would you have an idea where in Galway the Hanlons were from?

There is no record of a marriage cert. for Julia and Martin Hanlon.Maybe they got married in the states?

Have you had a chance to check ship lists and immigration lists for the US?

From the Irish 1901 census these Hanberrys were there

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Kilbecanty/Derreen/1384246/.

In the Kilbeacanty old and new facebook page you can see posting of pictures  by margret Hansberry of family members from times past.One is a Julia Hansberry but it is much later than your dates .However names often travelled down in families so maybe there is a connection.You will see that some of these went to the USA in the early part of the 20th C .Often they would go to Liverpool and leave from there .Michael Hansberry went to him brother Lawrence Hansberry in Philadelphia arriving Nov 11th 1915 according to Ellis Island records. Ellis Island.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.417241971645850.82388.292912594078789&type=3

Finally Kilbeacanty had a player on the Galway team that drew the All Ireland Hurling final on Sunday.His name was Niall O Donahue.He scores at 10mins 56 secs into the clip.He played at number 5.Hurling is a religion in Kilbeacanty.And as a back story the Kilkenny team Galway were playing is regarded as the greatest hurling team of all time.If you haven't seen hurling it is the greatest game in the world.I hope this tv player works outside the state.

http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=10046744

I will get a chance to do more research later in the week if you have any extra information that maybe helpful please let me know.

Kindest regards

Aine 

Hello Kevin, Got your  message through Kilbeacanty Facebook. I am Hansberry or Hanberry, as sometimes the spellings have been wrong, from Kilbeacanty and from a village called Derreen. I can only go back as far as my grandfather who was John Hanberry, and according to the 1901 census was 48 years at that time which means he would have been born in 1853. I do not know who his mother or father were, or any other siblings he might have had. There was also another Hanberry in that village beside us and insofar as I know were related but it would have been very far out at the time that we were born. They are the only Hanberrys of whom I know in that parish. I am interested in research to see if I can get any information on parents, siblings etc. of my grandfather. Any information which I might get I could pass on to you.If you Google the 1901 Census and the 1911 Census, Ireland and look for these aforementioned,in Derreen, Kilbeacanty Co. Galway you will get this information (copies of which I have here).Since you mentioned the 1850s that would have been just about after the famine when millions of Irish people emigrated during and after, I am sure my relatives of that time were no different. I know some of my uncles emigrated to the States in the early 1900s but some of them seem to have gone to Philadelphia. Since these were the only known 2 families in that parish it is interesting. Where did you get that information, as it may be helpful in doing any future resarch?? Thank you for contacting and perhaps we will be in touch again.

I would like to stay in touch, as I am living in Limerick just 3/4 hours drive from Kilbeacanty, I once had a George Hansberry , who was an ex Governor of the Bank of Alabama visited me in my place of work and actually took some photographs. He was also doing research on the name but he never really kept in touch.

The Julia Hansberry mentioned in the Kilbeacanty Facebook was originally Julia Lally who married one of my uncles in Philadelphia, so she would not have been a blood  relation.

Regards,

Margaret

Hello Aine!  Thanks for hte response.  The approximate birth dates were from the 1860 and 1870 US Cenus.  Michael Hansberry's tombstone says he was a native of Parish Kilbeak(c)anty, Co. Galway, Ireland.  Michael Hansberry married Mary Hanlon in Mobile.  Julia Hansberry also married Martin Hanlon in Mobile, Alabama. 

I have been checking any immigration and passenger lists I can find, but things are pretty limited for the 1840s.  I'll take a look at the Ireland 1901 and 1911 census returns as well as the link for Hurling. 

Regards,

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for getting back to me.I sent the hurling link because of your name  and the link with the Kilbeacanty man. Niall O Donahue

I have come across this 

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/display-partial-records.jsp?dt=180&sc=17169%2C17170%2C17172%2C17189%2C17177%2C17180%2C17190%2C17181&cat=SB301&tf=F&bc=sb%2Csl%2Cfd&q=&as_alq=&as_anq=&as_epq=&as_woq=&nfo_17169=V%2C20%2C1900&op_17169=0&txt_17169=Hanberry&nfo_17170=V%2C19%2C1900&op_17170=0&txt_17170=&nfo_17172=N%2C3%2C1900&cl_17172=&nfo_17189=N%2C3%2C1900&cl_17189=&nfo_17177=V%2C20%2C1900&op_17177=0&txt_17177=&nfo_17180=N%2C3%2C1900&cl_17180=&nfo_17190=N%2C8%2C1900&cl_17190=&nfo_17181=D%2C10%2C1846&op_17181=3&txt_17181=&txt_17181=

Which records a Michael Hanberry who was aged 22 in 1847 (or gave his age as 22 ) who left from Galway (not liverpool) for the NY USA.

I am sure you have come across this (Julia's daughter's) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JD2D-3SJ

and this ( Michael's daughter) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDP6-MM8

Where are Michael and Julia buried?It seems from what you've said that he wanted some link with Kilbeacanty?Or is that the custom to put place of birth on Tombstones?

I will keep digging.

Kindest regards

Aine

Hi Kevin,

I was wondering have you got any further?

I asked at a meeting of Ireland reaching out about putting the place of origin on the gravestone .They said that this was a common practice and perhaps we could get more information on that if the graveyards were digitalised and they are in the process of doing that in the states.Is it possible that you forward a photograph of it to me.I would dearly love to see it.

Did you take a look at the links above or had you got that information already.

Best regards

Aine 

Aine,

There is not much to look at as the tombstone has eroded so much.  Drop me an email at cabeceo@milwpc.com and I can email you the large file photo along with a few others from the cemetery. I have attached two low resolution photos.   Luckily a group of people came through back in1962 and transcribed, by hand, all of the headstones that they could read at that time.  Even more lucky was that this was one that they could read.  When you see the photo, you can only make out traces of the lettering.

Kevin

Hi Margaret, 

Sorry for the one month wait.  I thought I had answered everyone, but I was wrong.  All my information came from headstones in the Catholic Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, and from various US census records, birth and death cirtificates. All the family who might have had a slight idea aoubt the family have long been dead.  I'll look up George Hansberry in Alabama.  I know that there are a number of Hanberry, Hanbury, & Hansberry people alive and dead in Mobile.  I think the majority of Hansberrys in Alabama are African American.  They would have inherited the name from the slave holder, and they may also be descendants of the slave holder. 

Please keep in touch.

Regards,

Kevin Donahue

Kevin,

Thank you for your reply. I will send you details of John Hansberry, Philadelphia  as in the census of US 1930 and who would have been our uncle. Two of his daughters  twins Margaret and Anna are still alive and are about 91 years old. They may hold the key as to whether  John and Julia were their uncle and aunt, i.e. brother and sister of our grandfather, John Hanberry. They live in the Levittown area of Pennsylvania.

Regards,

Margaret Hansberry

Hi Margaret,

Given the John's date of birth, I suspect that if there is a realtionship, Michael and Julia are likely his uncle and aunt.  Still, if you can get me phone numbers of your cousins, I would be happy to give them a call as they may still know something of the family history.  If you can let them know that I will be calling, all the better.  Otherwise they may think it is a scam or someone trying to get information for illegal use,

I just signed on to this sight and saw the name Hansberry which I have on my  Glynn tree. My Glynn family is from Galway, Gort area. My great great grandparents Patrick Glynn and Mary Murphy had a daughter Winnie Glynn married to Martin Reilly. One of their 11 children, Margaret married Edward Hansberry and they had 6 children. Does my family have any connection to any of yours? Very curious.

Thank-you,

Joy Glynn Bofshever

Already sent reply.

Hi Joy,

I am pleased to let you know that I am a niece of Edward Hansberry who was the youngest brother of my father, Martin Hansberry of Derreen, Gort. I am in touch with various members of his family and would be pleased to help you in any way possible.

Kind regards, Margaret (Peggy) Hansberry.

P.S. I have some old photographs of the Reilly family including Edward's wife's father which I can attach for you if you so wish.

Martin nicholas Hansberry born around 1800, married judy donoghoe and they came out to australia, south australia, and had 4 children, matthias hansberry, one of the sons, who then proceeded to have 16 children. all men were 6ft 3 average and some as tall as 6ft 7 and woman around 6ft. they were huge, veronica hansberry was my great grandmother, she was over 6ft! i have photos etc of alot of this people (mainly some of the 16 children). i did some research, and yes hansberry were rare and i believe it is a name change. A matthias was in every generation, which is germanic in spelling, not matteus etc. or any other variation, also, barrossa valley were the hansberrys settled in south australia, was the biggest enclave of germans in australia at the time so much so they had their own form of german known as "barrossa German". also to note, many of them could speak german. As it turns out, Galway was a huge settlement area early on for the German Palatines from Rhineland palatanite (modern day dusslledorf, one of the tallest regions in the world for humans) around 1710,  they were refugees as a result of king louis of frances violence and pillaging of this area of lutherans and protestants. the palitinates escaped and went to england where queen anne resettled them in Gulway and Limerick in order to increase protestant numbers. they also got cheap land etc which made the neighbouring catholics angry, queen anne and her successor proceeded to arm up these german palitanates of gulway and limerick and they became known as the  "German fussiliers". this community was strong and distinguisable from fellow irshmen due to their hieght and names/language. i decided to research this due to the fact we have about 5-6 Matthias Hansberrys that were in the first few generations out here, many could speak german and to quote a newspaper in barrossa the "hansberry family were known for their stalwart Physique". i believe the surname hansberry was an adaptation from hinsberg/heinsberg/heinsberger. Also if you look up Rhineland, one of the most common names between 1500 and 1700 was, yes you guessed it, Matthias Hiensberg. i Also did a DNA test which showed strong Germanic blood, and my dads side has ZERO german on it. which would mean it comes from mums, and yes she is the grandaughter of Veronica Hansberry. Here is a link to some info: http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/irish-palatines.html 

Also, i had 7 uncles (great, grea great etc) who were named martin, indeed the original hansberry of south australia was as mentioned Martin Hansberry. And there were roungly 1-2 Matthias's in every generation 

Martin nicholas Hansberry born around 1800, in Galway!! sorry forgot to mention that. pretty important, also ignore spelling errors, im very tired and found this post , i thought i would add to it!

also after 100 years roughly, these palitinates left ireland and settled mainly in USA and Australia, which would explain why all these hansberrys are leaving roughly around the same time as this diaspora happened and also to the countries where these german palatine families went. 

Also the namechange would fit in with the fact that there is not 1 record of a hansberry in ireland on nearly all the census records from the 1700's. but then appears out of no where in the 1800's however the family lineage in ireland for the "hansberrys" goes back before then. Again, this suggests a name change, its just going to be very difficult to find out what it was, seeing as the palatines often were not included in census's.... again suggesting hansberrys were german palitines.

O’Hainmire decedents of Ainmire. Name was changed when the English began anglicizing Gaelic names. 

Hi Simon, only aware of your reply re Hansberry family post quite recently. I found it very interesting.  You say you have some photos  which I would be interested in  seeing. Can you get in touch through this site. Thanks.

Margaret Hansberry.

Margaret and all, has anyone done any DNA testing, and if so, I am wondering what companies are used and which is the most popular. I have done testing on AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA but suspect these are predominantly American companies and only widely available in North America. 

To date, I have not been able to make any headway on my Hanlon and Cuney, Hansberry and Glynn family in Galway. I did get a couple of tenuous matches going back 5 or 6 generations, but either people do not respond or are from the US and like me only have fragments of our family history up to the brick wall of the 1830s-50s. 

Hi Kevin, I am not aware of any DNA testing done on this side of the Atlantic so far. Have you seen the Post from a guy called Simon which I thought was interesting and is what brought me back to this site after so long. Should be interesting if he replies.

Greetings

I am Tom O'Reilly from New Zealand

I am related to the Hansberrys in Derrine, Kilbeacanty and I am interesting in them. John Hansberry married a great aunt, Norah Monaghan and had a number of children. One of these was Edward who married Margaret Reilly. I met he when I visited Kilbeacanty in 1992. Keen to meet any descendants of John and Norah or any Monaghans, Reillys, O'Reillys, Hourigans etc from Derrine, Kilbeacanty.

Tom

Hello:

I believe I have seen you Kevin on Ancestry. I am not sure if we are a DNA match, but I match to a desendant of Julia Hansberry, this person's line is also Donahue but then goes to Miller. But we'd share (I think) 4th great-grandparents, so I will match to only some cousins, since it's at the 4th cousin, 4th cousin once removed ,and 5th cousin levels. My 3rd great-grandmother was Catherine Hansberry (born Derreen, Galway) she married ____ Mullen and Michael Nestor. We believe she died in Ireland. Her husband Michael Nestor is found widowed in the 1880 US Census in Illinois and living with their daughter, my great-great grandmother. Catherine Hansberry was a sister to your Julia Hansberry (married Martin Hanlon) and Michael Hansberry (married Mary Ann Hanlon). Though my DNA matches, it shows that the Patrick Hansberry, that stayed in Derreen, was also their brother. Names of their other siblings: Peter Hansberry (married Margaret Donnady/Dormady) emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Patrick Hansberry (married ____) stayed in Derreen, Kilbecanty, Galway, Thomas Hansberry (married Annie ____) stayed in Derreen, Kilbecanty, Galway. Their son Michael Hansberry emigrated to Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Bridget Hansberry, died young in Derreen, Kilbecanty, Galway. I am a DNA match to a descendant of the Julia Hansberry Hanlon line and to several from the Michael Hansberry line. I also am a match to descendants of Peter Hansberry, Thomas Hansberry, and Patrick Hansberry that stayed in Derreen. 

I do have some distant DNA connections to Glynn which might confirm their mother's maiden name was Glynn. But I also have some connections on my Fahey and O'Donnell lines through marriage to the Glynn surname. 

My line continues with the daughter of Catherine Hansberry and Michael Nestor. Catherine Mary "Kate" Mullen-Nestor born Dec. 1840 in or near Gort, she married 17 Dec.1858 in Louisville, Kentucky to Daniel Wolfetone Fahey/Fay (son of Thomas Fahey of Doonally in Peterswell parish and Anna "Annie' Joynt of Shanaglish in Beagh parish near Gort). Thomas Fahey was the son of Patrick Fahey of Doonally, Peterswell parish and Honora "Norah" O'Donnell who was born in Pollnaveagh (near Gort) with family connections to Doonally/Derrybrien/Hollymount - all in Peterswell parish. Daniel Wolftone Fahey/Fay came with his parents to the USA around 1853. Catherine Mary "Kate" Mullen-Nestor came to the USA in 1856, her father Michael Nestor came to the USA some time after 1870 and before 1880. They came first to Pennsylvania then on to other states. I found the messages from Simon to be interesting. I know that all my family from Ireland were Catholic.  Tom from New Zealand, I recognize the names Honora "Norah" Monaghan and John Hansberry, he was the son of Patrick Hansberry that stayed in Derreen. I see it's been a while since most of these messages were posted, hopefully you all will get notifications of my message.   

:) Anna

P.S. Margaret, the John Hansberry you mention in the 1930 US Census, who married Delia Agnes Bridget Lally (you list her first name as Julia ?) and who had several children including the twin girls you mention Margaret and Anna, he was the son of John Hansberry and Honora "Norah" Monaghan, who I belive if I understand correctly, were your grandparents? Your grandfather John Hansberry was the son of Patrick Hansberry (the name of his wife I have been unable find). The children I have for Patrick Hansberry are:

John Hansberry (married Honora "Norah" Monaghan - your grandparents), Terrence Hansberry (I don't know the name of his wife, but he had at least one son, in his death record in Derreen in 1921, it states: Old age and general debility; widower; son John present at death), Michael Hansberry (born in Derreen, emigrated to Massachuetts, he married there in 1888 his wife Mary A. Toole, who was born in Gorteenboy, Galway), Bridget Hansberry (married Patrick Callahan), Patrick Hansberry (married Frances Monaghan). 

So, we'd be related. Your great-grandfather Patrick Hansberry and my great-great-great grandmother Catherine Hansberry would have been siblings, That would have made you and my grandmother 3rd cousins, and you and I are 3rd cousins, twice removed. 

From your Yank cousin ;) Anna

Hi Anna, so pleased to meet you. That is alot of information to digest and so happy to study it in more detail. It's  some of what has been looked for as it goes back another generation.

Your Irish Cousin

Peggy (Margaret)

Hi,

My name is Carmel and my maiden name is Hansberry. My grandfathers name was Patrick Hansberry who was born in May 1886 and he passed away on the 6th March 1958. He married my grandmother Nora and lived in Athenry but was not orginally from Athenry and unfortunatelly I do not know where he was born. Hansberry families still resides in Athenry.

Carmel 

Hi 

I'm fascinated by all this history. My mother was Annie Hansberry from Derreen in the Parish of Kilbeacanty. A near neighbour of Peggy's (Hi Peggy, hope you and the family are all well). She was one of seven surviving children: Mary, Paddy, Annie, Kathleen, Bridgie, Margaret, Theresa.

Annie and Theresa died within a month of each other in 2017 aged 97 and 90 respectively.

My mother always told us that her father was an only child - just wondering if this is the John Hansberry you referred to? 

He married Anne Riley who was one of 8 children (from Kilbeacanty as well) Mary, Anne, Kate, Delia, Tim, Thomas, Patrick and Jack.

I imagine Peggy would be better able to fill in the gaps than I in terms of the older generations but there are many Hansberry descendants living in London now - as well as in Beagh, Caher, San Fransisco, Gloucester (UK) to mention just a few.

Christine (Kilcooley) Robinson

Hi Monica, good to hear from you. We are all keeping pretty good.Yes, there is alot of Hansberry  family history here. Your great grandfather, Terence Hanberry was a brother of my paternal grandfather, John Hanberry. Terences son John, your grandfather, was married to Anne Reilly as you said. Well her sister Mary, was my maternal grandmother, I.e my mother's mother. So we are related on both sides. Oh my when you  named out all the Reillys it brought me back so many memories of those good old days in Derreen and all those dear people. They were gems, so innocent and care free then. Hope you are keeping well.

I have been doing various pieces of family research over the last few years and have made contact with so many descendants.

Keep an eye on this page, you never know what more will turn up.

Peggy.

Hi Carmel,

I have been reading your post. I am not familiar with Hansberry  in Athenry. You say Patrick married your grandmother Nora. Do you know what Nora's  maiden name was.?? If I got that perhaps I could do some research. Meanwhile  I will see if I can come up with anything.

Peggy. (Margaret)

Hi Peggy,

My grandmothers maiden name was Norah Treacy.  Carmel 

Joy Glynn Bofshever,

It's quite some time since you posted on this page. Talked to Edward Hansberrys daughter in London today and she verified that yes Winnie Glynn and Martin Reilly were her grandparents. Any further info you need contact me.

Margaret Hansberry