Grants of Kilbeacon Parish

My great-grandfather Richard Grant was born on May 10, 1850 to John Grant (1795-1853) and Nellie Kenneally (ca 1824-ca 1852) of Garrandargh.

He was brought to the USA as an orphan with his older sister Bridget Grant Fleming (1846-1923) by one of the

Phalin neighbors in "Bucktown".  It would appear that John Grant was born around 1795 and this was his second marriage.

Nellie Kenneary was a daughter of Tim Kenneally and Nora Coyle.  They were married at Kilmacow in 1809.  Tim is listed

in Griffiths as living in Bucktown or Garrandarrgh along with John Grant.  He is also listed in the US 1850 census as a farmer

in McHenry County Illinois.  The Grant children grew up on the Kenneally farm just south of the town of McHenry.  The area

is still called "The Irish Praire".  Other Kilbeacon families living there included the Bolgers (who owned the local bank), the

Frisby's, the Suttons, the McDonalds and the Phalins.

The Kilbeacon Grants are also related to Grant families living in Killahy parish.  They would appear to be descended from

Bartholomew Grant (1720-1792) and his son Richard accordin to an old headstone shown to be by Msgr. Tom Maher.

Attached is a phot of Richard probably taken in the 1880s in Woodstock IL

Father Michael Grant of the Millhill fathers was a dead ringer for my uncle Kenneth Shay.