Conheeny/Dillon

Hello Gretchen

Many thanks for your email.  Do you know Gretchen why they changed their names from Conhneeny to Rabbitt? In a townland between Fohenagh and Caltra, according to the Griffiths valuation, their was Rabbitt Family living in Kinclare-Creggaunacroagh.  Conhneenys also lived in this village. It is not far from Clonbrock.  Do you have any additional information.

Regards

Paula

Hi Paula:

Thanks for the reply.  I don't know why they changed their name to Rabbitt.  The reason I think it's Conheeny and not the Rabbitts listed in Griffiths is due to all the research data I have from my gfather Thomas C. Rabbitt and most of his siblings who came over to the USA.  They correspond to birth/baptism records from  Killosan and Clonbrock, in terms of names and dates of birth.  Also I have an obit for James himself, from Chicago IL, which lists him as having come from the Castleblakney area, and a marriage recording for a James Conheeny and Honora Dillon dated 1855.  My records show that James had a first wife by the name of Margaret Dunn, Honora And James were married in 1855 and had  John Rabbitt, born 1855, Mary Rabbitt 1857, Honora Rabbitt 1860, James B Rabbitt 1863, Bridget 1865, Margaret Rabbitt 1866, Julia Rabbitt 1867 Thomas (my gfather) 1870 and William Rabbitt 18972.  I know that Margaret, William, James and Thomas and James Sr. all came to the USA. 

Thanks for your help,

Gretchen

Hello Gretchen.

It is very interesting re the change of surname! I will see what I can source for you. I have Conhenneys in my family tree. They came from the Castleblakeney/Mountbellew area. A lilttle village called ballinahatina(poss incorrect spelling).

Most of their family emigrated to the USA, Boston area in the 1920`s.

In 1901 census of Ballihatina, John Conheeny is head of house aged 45 yrs, he is a farmer, his wife Maria is aged 40 yrs, they have 8 children, James, 14yrs, Luke 13yrs, Nonie 11yrs, Thomas 9 yrs, Patric 8 yrs, John 6yrs, Michael 2 yrs and Martin 10 months. Bridget Coheeney was born in 1905.

In the Griffiths valuation of 1855,  a James Cohneeny is listes as a resident of Balinhatina.(This James maybe a link to your James Cohneey)?.

Regards

Paula

Hi Paula:

Maybe we are related!  I do think that the James Conheeny listed in 1855 is my "james" ie., my great-grandfather.  The names James, Michael, Thomas, John, Patrick are common names among "my" Conheeny/Rabbitts.  My father's name was the same as his father's name Thomas Carlyle Rabbitt, and his two brothers were names James Francis and John Charles.  All three are dead, died young of heart disease, runs in the family, however they also smoked like chimneys, so I am sure that didn't help either.  Anyhow, I am looking forward to being back in Ireland and coming to the area so I can at least take pictures of where we came from, and hopefully find some records to make copies of.  By the way, I have my Irish passport, due to my grandfather having been born in Ireland.

Thanks again,

Gretchen Metz

Hello Gretchen

Please see picture of my grandmothers sister. Mollie Conheeney(nee Kelly) and her husband Michael Conheeney. Unable to upload it directly here. Please see picture in the Caltra photo gallery.

Regards

Paula

Hello Paula:

I do not know where or how to access the Caltra photo gallery.  Could you please email me with directions.  I would love to see the photo.

Gretchen

Came across this post while reading some others on Ahascragh/Fohenagh.  The Irish language name for a rabbit is 'coinin' (not sure if I've spelled that right).  Sometimes families may have changed to the Irish version of their names if they were trying to escape or avoid the authorities at particular times in history!!

Paula

My neighbour's gran was Bridget Wade born 1871 from Ballinahattna Her
parent's seem to be Michael Wade and Honoria Rabbit

When I looked at the other children of Michael their mother was
Honoria Conheeny

I thought it was 2 different people until I saw this by another
Conheeny family about their roots
(http://www.shamrockfarminn.com/family_history.html) which Kate has
also spoken about above

Honoria's grandson and Bridget's nephew John seems to be living with
his Conheeny relations for some reason
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Galway/Caltra/Greggaunnagroagh/466267/
rather than with his own parents
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Galway/Castleblakeney/Ballynahattina/466324/

Just wondering is this the same Conheeny family as yours and Gretchen's ?

Martin

PS There are also Raftery's in Ballinahattna in the extended tree that
I am doing - any connection?