I am not sure who to thank for this revelation!! But this is a great help! My 2nd great grandmother is Mary Ann Nihil ()Nihill/ O'Neil)...born in 1832. We had a birth certificate (or facsimile----do not know where it is now) that showed her father as Thomas and mother as Margaret Simms or Simons (could not tell from the handwriting). And we were told the name was more than likely associated with County Clare. Now, we have a better clue as to the location. Any further light you can shed on the Nihill-Nihil-O'Neil family would be greatly appreciated. Your Nihill story is quite illustrious. Mary Nihil married Robert Keays/ Keyes and settled in iOntario....Bornholm and Kennicott.....near Mitchell/ Stratford THANK YOU so much for your help!
References
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Matthew Nial Patent for Flying Machine 1907 | USA | VIEW SOURCE |
Matthew Nihill, my Great Grandfather, was born in Killaloe County Clare about 1836.
He traveled with his mother, Mary Mockley, and sister Margaret, from Liverpool to New York USA in 1852. Two sisters, Mary and Sarah had been born in Killaloe but died before the family left Ireland.
The three Nihills joined Matthew Sr. and the oldest son, John, in Troy New York. All three men worked in the building trades, John as a mason, Matthew Sr. and Matthew Jr. as carpenters. Another sister, Mary, was born in 1855 in Troy NY.
Matthew Sr. died around 1856, his widow Mary stayed in Troy living with her sons. John and Matthew became US citizens and changed their surname to Nial in the late 1850s.
Matthew married Bridget Crowe of Bransha Townland in Emly County Tipperary in 1862 in Troy. Matthew was a successful carpenter, owning land and setting up his own shop in Troy. Matthew was also an inventor and was eventually awarded two patents by the US government. Matthew and Bridget had a large family, nine children in total, eight boys and one girl. Two of the children died very young and a third died in his teens. Matthew received his first patent in 1884 for an original method of attaching the ribs of an umbrella. The oldest three boys, Matthew III, John, and Daniel followed their father in the building trades, becoming very successful with their own building company, Nial Brothers Construction.
In the late 1890s there were a series of family problems that resulted in court cases against Matthew brought by his sons. The court cases were dismissed on the condition that Matthew remove himself from the city of Troy which he did, ultimately moving to New York City in 1900. He continued to work as a carpenter for many years. In 1907 he was granted a second patent, this time for a unique flying machine. He was one of just five inventors granted patents at this time which makes him a contemporary of the Wright Brothers. By 1910 he was living in Brooklyn with his sister Mary and her son Matthew Carroll. A newspaper article from 1911 describes him working alone in a shed in some woods on Long Island NY, building his flying machine.
He died in Brooklyn in 1916. In addition to the three sons who formed Nial Brothers Construction, a fourth son, William A. Nial studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and earned a degree and license in Civil Engineering. The daughter Katherine became a school teacher.
The youngest surviving son, Joseph (my grandfather), had a more varied career than his brothers. His most successful business was a carpet cleaning business which ultimately was managed by his son and grandson. Engineering and aeronautics continued to be a family interest. Two of Joseph's sons, John and Walter, became aeronautical and mechanical engineers as did their sons, John and Ward respectively. Walter, John Jr. and Ward also have earned patents during their careers. Another grandson and namesake, Matthew Nial grew up to become a member of the Blue Angels Squadron and was unfortunately killed in an accident while flying.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Matthew Nial Patent for Flying Machine PDF.pdf (926.35 KB) | 926.35 KB |
| Additional Information | ||
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| Date of Birth | 1st Apr 1836 | |
| Date of Death | 2nd Mar 1916 | |
Comments
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mjlongeway
Thursday 20th August 2020 03:56PM -
My great Grandfathers (Michael mc Keogh) had an older sister called Hanora mc Keogh.
She was baptised 10th may 1840 - christened in Lisbonny County Tipperary . Raised however in Lower Ryaninch in Ballina (Tipperary), across the river from Killaloe (County Clare).
Died 9th october 1909 in Portrane Asylum North co. Dublin. She suffered with her nerves.
Hanora married John Niall/ Nihill. (married in Killaloe, married 26th November 1860. He died in 1894.
She lived with Michael in Irish 1901 census.
Kids: Herbert Cleveland (marred 3 times),
Eugene is Hanoras brother in law.? (England doctors, maybe)
William George (died in England 1934 – took over Uncle John Keoghs doctor practice in New street, Killaloe .
Michael (j Mitchel married twice) 1873-1956 died in Drishoge Tipp.
Honóra Niall was called Nora. She was Mitchell Nialls mother, Eileen Malone was his daughter. Sheila and Brian are Eileen's children.
John Niall died in 1894 (it was in the paper). Dr John keogh was his brother in law. Dr Eugene Niall his brother and a few other people were mentioned in the article. Mitchell made a mistake on the date. Mitchell his wife Edith and 2 children Eileen and Sheila arrived back from Singapore in September 1920 his occupation given as government servent. Possibly when the people arrived in Singapore they must have been quarantined. In the station where he was in charge. He worked on John's island.
I don't know what John Niall occupation was. One the nialls one of them had 3 children who were all doctors and worked from their home.
Lua niall was Herbert Nialsl son. The lived in great Western square phibsboro then Herbert moved to Tipperary. Died there. There are a lot of doctors in the Niall family and the McKeoghs as well.
I have some photos of Nialls, would you like me to attach them to thread?
Can you break down the family tree from Hanora and John?
Kieron mc keogh
kieron mc keogh
Thursday 20th August 2020 04:53PM -
I am a direct descendent of Matthew Nial (he's my great grandfather's grandfather). Joseph is my great grandfather's father. Jack is my great grandfather. If there's any more information about them I would love to see it especially any Irish heritage.
afrosaxon
Saturday 6th February 2021 08:30AM -
Kieron McKeogh, I just saw your coment on this thread today. I would love to see the photos of the Nialls that you have. There is a strong family resemblance running though several generations of my Nial family line. It would be interesting to see if that is true with your Nialls. I have a family tree on Ancestry. It is public and I believe you can find it by searching on the surname Nial.
KRNial9
Saturday 6th February 2021 03:38PM -
afrosaxon, Do you know the dates and places associated with your Nial line? In Ireland both Nihill/Nehill/Niall are fairly rare surnames. In my research County Clare and particularly Killaloe have the highest concentration. I have heard of famiy who emigrated to Australia in addition to my line that went to USA.
KRNial9
Saturday 6th February 2021 03:43PM -
Hi afrosaxon,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. This has been one of the great family mysteries.
Mary Ann Nihill/ O'Neil was born around 1832. The daughter of Thomas and Margaret Simms (or Simmons---the names were handwritten on the document I have since lost.)
She married Robert Keays/ Keyes....most likely in Ireland.
Robert was born (stated as March 17th----isn't that sometimes a "guess"??) 1827 in County Limerick...(don't know town, perhaps Abington where records show his father, also Robert and grandfather were born)....Limerick County, of course, shares the border with County Clare.
They emigrated to Perth County, Ontario...don't know exactly when....but all of their children were born in Ontario. beginning in 1855.
I certainly appreciate your time and expertise.
Thanks so much,
Mike
mjlongeway
Tuesday 9th February 2021 12:02AM -
Hi afrosaxon,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. This has been one of the great family mysteries.
Mary Ann Nihill/ O'Neil was born around 1832. The daughter of Thomas and Margaret Simms (or Simmons---the names were handwritten on the document I have since lost.)
She married Robert Keays/ Keyes....most likely in Ireland.
Robert was born (stated as March 17th----isn't that sometimes a "guess"??) 1827 in County Limerick...(don't know town, perhaps Abington where records show his father, also Robert and grandfather were born)....Limerick County, of course, shares the border with County Clare.
They emigrated to Perth County, Ontario...don't know exactly when....but all of their children were born in Ontario. beginning in 1855.
I certainly appreciate your time and expertise.
Thanks so much,
Mike
mjlongeway
Tuesday 9th February 2021 12:02AM
