Searching for Rafferty Family

Dear Eileen

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out.

I wasn't successful in locating a marriage record or Frances and Bernard. Given the early period of the search though this is not surprising bit is disappointing. I did have a look at the Early Birth and Marriage(1) and (2) Index and there are some Veitch entries there (not directly related to Frances) that might be of interest to you.  Do you think you have exhausted all sources your side like obituaries and Newspapers?

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that Bernard Rafferty and Frances Veitch were married in NYC in 1853. I found the record of their marriage as well as a mention in a Cavan publication. Through searches on Ancestry, I believe Bernard Rafferty's parents were Bernard Rafferty and Johana (Joanna) Meehan.  

I did find an obituary for Frances from Dec. 1912, but it only states her maiden name and that she was the wife of the late Bernard Rafferty. I have not been able to find an obituary for Bernard, but I know from family records that he died Oct. 16, 1879 in NYC. 

I have not been able to find any birth record for Frances Veitch or any of her four siblings - Jane, Margaret, James and Caroline. Their parents were Emily and James Veitch.  I have death records for both of them. 

Hi Eileen,

The notice in the Anglo-Celt, gives her father's name, James, which would indicate that he was still alive in 1853, it also states that Bernard was a compositor with the Anglo-Celt, it would be worth writing to the editor of the Anglo Celt and asking for their help, tell them what you are looking for linda@anglocelt.ie they could publish a letter.  They would love something on an old employee, if you have any photos all the better.

Have you contacted the National Archives to see does the original will exist? as this is just from the index.  If the original exists, you may get more information.  It states that James Veitch was a gentleman, so his will may be extensive.

Killeshandra is also lucky in that I think their complete 1841 Census survives there are Rafferty's  and Veitch's recorded at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie  It may take a while, but browsing may throw up spelling variations that you could miss with the searches.

 You could also contact Cavan Genealogy, they may have churchyard records, they require payment  cavangenealogy@eircom.net 

If the Veitch's were non Catholic, you could write to their church in Killeshandra, simply to the Rector, Church of Ireland, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan most likely their congregation would be smaller than the catholic congregation, which means that they may have records other than BMD's, their graveyard would be smaller, which would mean that it would be easier to locate headstones or even burial records if the headstones no longer survived.

Who informed on the death of James and Emily, it may be a family member, which would give you an additional lead.  

Rootsireland.ie may have the baptismal or marriage records, it is fee based, but is worth a try.

Best of luck with your searches and let us know how you got on.

Regards Carmel O'Callaghan

Thanks for the help Carmel

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support 

Thank you for all of this helpful information!  I will follow up.  I do no tknow who informed on Emily Veitch's death, especially since all of her children had left Ireland.  I found the attached record of her death on Ancestry.  I also have an actual letter dated April 24, 1879, from an attorney, Mr. Thomas Falls, in Dublin to my great, great grandmother, Frances Veitch Rafferty, regarding Emily's estate.  I am also attaching that letter as well as a transcription.  Do you think anything could be learned from that?

I have other letters written from Emily to Frances, if you think any of those would be helpful, I can send them as well.

Thank you.

Eileen Lynch Pfaff