Hi All,
I'd love to learn anything about my great x2 grandfather, Peter Kavanagh of Athy. He was a car driver between 1876-1880. He lived on Stanhope St, and Leinster St. I do't know his parents names. I don't have birth information. There was a Miles Kavanagh who was a sponsor/ godparent for one of Peter's children and also a car driver at this time - close family? FYI - There's another Myles at this time, related to the well known Martin Kavanagh and Alice Kennedy of the Kavanagh Hotel. I still think my Peter may be a relative of their's some how - not a close or important one., however
Peter's wife was Mary Doody, also of Kildare. They had 5 children by 1881: William, Mathew, John, Kate, Mary. Peter first went to USA by 1872/3. Had his first son, William born, in US, in 874. He and his wife, Mary, are on the US census 1875. She may also be from Athy - parents - John Doody and Mary White. Mary Doody b. about 1855. No marriage cert for Peter Kavanagh an Mary Doody anywhere - not in Irelan or US. After a few years of marriage together in Brooklyn, they RETURNED to Athy, 1876. Peter was known to be getting sick from an illness (BENDS/ diving building the Brooklyn Bridge), but is working at this time as a car drive in downtown Athy, according to his children's civil birth records. His children, after William are born in Athy, dowtnown - Stanhope St, Leinster St, etc. and baptised in St Michaels. Peter is deceased somewhere between mid 1879 - early 1881.
**There is a grave in Old Saint Michaels for a Peter Kavanagh who died 23rd December, 1879. Age 27 years. This could be him. I would LOVE to get ANY information on this Peter buried here. I tried to get info from Elaine at St Michaels but we were nable to locate a death record with the parish. I couldn't find a civil record either.**
FYI - Family story - Maryanne, the youngest daughter, born in Aug 1881, her baptism says "Peter Kavanagh, father deceased before birth." The family story goes that Mary Doody Kavanagh had MaryAnne OUT OF WEDLOCK - so Peter was not the father. He was either deceased, incapacitated (ill/hospitalized), or left/ not around. The story goes that the family (Kavanaghs, presumabley) shunned Mary and forced her to leave Athy, and return to the US with her children. Mary had a relative (cousin?) back in the US - Bridget nee Doody Williams (Married to Henry Williams in Athy 1867).
I believe Mary went back to the US with her childrenin 1883, possibly with a Patrick Kavanagh (mabe her brother in law?) and her 5 children.
And help shining a light on my Kavanagh family and clarifying the Peter Kavanagh buried in S Michaels who died 23 Dec 1879 would BE GREAT! Thank you, Veronica