Fitzgerald Fitz-Gerald Fitz Gerald of Rathkeale

Reverse Genealogy Initiative

Seeking descendants of Tobias Fitzgerald and/or Richard Fitzgerald.

both likely came from Rathkeale, county Limerick, Ireland.

Initial Information Source

Historic Newspaper notice by presumed relative

Challenge

There are/were many individuals apparently with the same name of Tobias Fitzgerald, and also from Rathkeale. We are attepting to clarify and  distinguish the various individuals of the same name, and map out the connections, generations, descendants, and ancestors, of these various Fitzgerald families from and/or associated with Rathkeale Limerick.

Migrations

We know that some of the name migrated to Canada? Australia (and/or New Zealand?) and the US. If you are descended or have an interest in this research, we welcome your participation in this study.

The following might represent a possible bridge link.

In 1860 there is an unknown Tobias Fitzgerald in Cass county Indiana. post Office Logansport Indiana. eastern township ? south and east of broadway street in Logansport?
Tobias age 35. laborer, 25 persnal value, born ire.
presumed wife bridget 25 born ire
presumed chidren
Mary 10 ? ohio
John 8 new york
Margaret 5 vermont
Richard 4 delphi indiana
Patrick 2 logansport indiana

1870
logansport, cass county, indiana
jefferson towp.
tobias  age 56, laborer, ire, 300 dollars
mary age 35, ire
thomas 9 indiana
anne, 5 indiana
joanna 6/12 december indiana

1910 unclear
Penn township
Michigan
Bunt or Hand? county?
jonas or Tobias (index) 57 irish canada, ire Irish, Ire irish, farmer daywork? rent?
Lizzie R.37, marriage 17years, mich, scot scotch?, iredl canada?, 9children 5 living
Wm? 14 mich
Gertrud 12 mich
Thomas 10 mich
Edward 8 mich
Joseph 5

There are many, at least 32, individuals from ireland by the name of Richard Fitzgerald in the US census for 1860.

 likely relatives(?):

Seeking descendants or relatives of Honnora Griffin and/or Thomas Griffin.

John Griffin and Honora Griffin, both likely came from Glen, county Limerick, Ireland,

There are many places, with varient spellings, that this location might represent in Limerick.

possibly represented by the following migration individuals:

1860 Ware Hampshire Massachusets
Annora Griffin age 40 seamstrees, ire
in household with George H. and Mary Lyon, merchant, ma

1870Robsson? hampshire county MA
Honora Griffin age 55 ireland, in cotton mill (with other workers?)

1880
belchertown, Hamshire, MA
Michael Griffin 45 farmer, ire ire ire
Margaret 40 ire ire ire
Michael 16 ma
Jerry 14 male ma
john 12 ma
mary 10 ma
patrick 7 ma
kate 5 ma
bridgit 2 ma
james 8/12 sep ma
hannora 80 mother no occupation ire ire ire

There are many other Griffin's named Hannah, Hannora, or Annora in the 1870, and 1880 US censuses.

likely relatives(?):

Mary Crimmin

possibly represented by the folloing migrations:

Berghampton NY?
4th ward
year and county obliterated
mary 18 servant, ire, household of henry hitccock ny

1900 bronx ny ny
east 177th street servant mary may 1862 age 38 cook, number of years in us unknown, ire ire ire

1880 queensburry, 3rd elect district, warrn ? county NY
mary wife of john age 50 ire ir ire
quarry age 40 ire ire ire
tim 20 ny
john 18 ny
denis 16 ny
kate 14 ny
mary 11 ny
philip 10 ny

There are other possibilities for a Mary Crimmin from Ireland, in the 1880 and 1900 census in New York state.

likely relative(?):

John Sullivan

lived in 10 Washington Street, New York

 Have not been able to locate this indivual yet in the US census. The exact years of probability have yet to be determined.

Tobias project?

Tobias is a rather unique first name, and particularly that, and when, found in combination with Fitzgerald, and could it also represent a former surname in the family? Who was named after whom?

There was a Tobias Fitz-Gerald of Rathkeale, a subscriber to Samuel Lewis Commercial Directory of Ireland 1837. The name also appears a subscriber to earlier directories. (exact sources tbd)

There was a Tobias Fitz-Gerald stated as affiliated with an emmigrated to Australia, according to an internet posting (Shine and Sheehy Burke and Coffey Families) who was born circa 1790 at Cappagh Parish, Callon, Co Limerick, where he married approximately 1820, and whose daughter Maria is said to have been born about 1825.

There was a Tobias Fitzgerald of Newpark and/or Rathkeale, county Limerick whose daughter Catherine married Francis Spring (1780-1868) of the Spring family once Castlemaine, county Kerry, Ireland. (Australian Dictionary of Biography) (Clyone and Kilcoleman county Clare)

There was a Tobias Fitz-Gerald who with one Dermot O’Meehan was an occupier of the Townland Ballylanidy in county Clare in 1659. (History of Clare by Frost, in the Clare county Library) 

There is a Tobias Fitzgerald, in Ballycar South Townland, in O'Briensbridge parish, county Limerick, recorded 1852 or 1855. (Griffiths Valuation)

There was a Tobias Fitzgerald, sponsor of a baptism in county Carlow, Ireland,, Roman Catholic church Parish of Rathvilly 20 March 1834, to Mary Bryan daughter of Thomas Bryan and Rose Whelan, co-sposored by Margo Byrne. (county Carlow Ireland Genealogy Project TM)

We also saw a notation about the name to Canada.(exact details and source tbd) perhaps being:

There was a George Tobias Fitzgerald was appointed adjutant of the Sixty-second Foot, October 26, 1775, and fell at Saratoga on October eleventh. (Battle of Saratoga, Diggs Journal)

Follow the progress here as we investigate this connection, or better yet, join us in building the bridge.

More will be posted here as gathered and learned.

If you recognize any of the proposed or theoretical relatives, we would also like to hear from you.

If you an interest in, or have a Tobias Fitzgerald in your family tree history, and/or have trails through Rathkeale Limerick,

join us here.

Sucessful "Reaching Out" near as Project Continues

One Living Relative Identified

We have located a likely living relative/descendant; need to try and find an email or contact, and will either attempt to politely introduce ourselves, and/or determine if an Ireland Reaching Out official ROI government certificate letter can be issued.