Patrick Conway : Short Biography

From my research Patrick Conway was born in County Kerry in around 1792. He was the father of 8 children from 2 wives (Mary Joy and Margaret McNamara). He lived in Clashmealcon in 1824 at the time of the birth of his daughter Honora, but maybe earlier as I am told the family was there for many generations. He had 3 additional children w/ Mary Joy, Thomas (1826), John(1833) and Ellen (1836). Mary Joys whereabouts after this date are uncertain.

He married Margaret McNamara Feb 3, 1838 and had 4 additional children, James (1838) Patrick (1841) Eugene (1844) and Janet (1846). 1846 Griffiths shows he was farming land during the Potato famine in Clashmealcon. Records show he emigrated to the US in November 1848 aboard the Lord Ashburton arriving in New Orleans Louisiana Feb 7 1849 accompanied by his oldest son Thomas and son-in-law Maurice Lynch, who was married to his oldest daughter Honora. His remaining family was evicted in 1849 after he left by Wilson Gun where they were put up in a stable by a family friend in Clashmelcon. Record of Margaret Conways death in 1887 was found showing that Cornelius Slattery was present at the time in Clashmelcon. She is interred in a tomb in Killury Parrish. 

Documentation from a 1856 Boston Globe entry made by Honora from Ontario Canada (West Canada) states that upon their arrival they were to live with Maurices brother Patrick in Ohio. There are no census records indicating this occurred. A second inquiry was made in an 1858 Boston Globe from Honora while living in Bridgeport Chicago Illinois searching in Missouri where it was said they were to working on the Pacific Railroad. It is documented in a journal that Patrick died approximately 9 months after his arrival and the family did not find out for two years afterward his whereabouts unknown.