O'Donnell's on Knockderk

In the 1901 census records it appears, Margeret (age 10) and her sister Mary O’Donnell (Molly? age 8), your great grandmother? were residing with their grandparents (Edward and Margeret Keane) at house number 11 in Kilballyowen (Knockainy, Limerick).The occupation of Edward is listed as a agricultural labour and Margeret Keanes is described as a charwoman (def. -A woman hired to do cleaning or similar work, usually in a large building).

The girl’s parents were not present in the house.

In the 1901 census, there are approx. 38 James O’Donnell’s of the correct adult age in County Limerick, at this time. Further information will be required to identify the correct James O'Donnell.

The girl’s mother Margeret Keane (age 50) has returned to her parent’s house in the 1911 census (House number 7). Her occupation was described as a milk woman. Using this information as a basis and returning back to the 1901 census records, we find a record for a Margeret Keane (age 40) working as a servant in house 1 in Grange Upper (Grange, Limerick). This is the closest match we could find with the information available.

In the 1911 census, Margeret (approx. age 20) and her sister Mary (Molly age 18), your great grandmother have left their grandparents home.

A search through the 1911 census records, using the girls name, age, likely occupation and location gives the following matches,

 Census 1911

Residents of a house 1 in Ballincurra (Dromin, Limerick).

A Mary O’Donnell (age 18) is listed as a resident of the above house. Occupation=Servant.

Census 1911

Residents of a house 2 in Kilculleen (Ballybricken, Limerick).

A Mary O’Donnell (age 19) is listed as a resident of the above house. Occupation=Servant.

Census 1911

Residents of a house 4 in Ballinrea (Bruff, Limerick)

A Margeret O’Donnell (age 19) is listed as a resident of the above house. Occupation=Servant.

Does any of this, tie in with your own family research of your great grandmother immediate family?

To help you further in your research the following information is provided (previously supplied by the Ireland XO office),

Deaths records for the time after 1911 are available from http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm Deaths registered in the island of Ireland between 1st January, 1864 and 31st December, 1921 inclusive and in Ireland (excluding Northern Ireland ) from 1922 onwards.

Irish birth, death and marriages civil registration indexes 1864-1958 can also be found here:http://www.familysearch.org/

Regards

Mike

Thanks Mike! I had most of that info from digging through the Census returns and while we can never be 100% sure on any on of it, the names, dates & places fit. The James O'Donnell piece is the frustrating one - from what we know, he wasn't married, at least not to Margaret Keane anyway, but still fathered two children with her.

I guess we'll have to keep digging! I was going to get hold of Margaret & Mary's birth certs, it would at least show the father occupation, but I supsect it'll be farming of some descritpion, so won't help me much.

Thanks again!

PatK