My grandmother was Mary Kate Masterson. Baptised Cavan .08/10/1892. Cavan parish. Her mother Mary Masterson. No father. Witness to baptism Kate Dempsey.
No official birth recorded. I have exhausted all lines .
She was found on 1911 census in shrigley killyleagh co down. Married here and burried here.
I know she went by th name kellagher.
I found a marriage of a Mary Masterson o a George kellagher. they did lived in belfast 1901 but are in a townland in Cavan by 1911.
Does the name Kate Dempsey crop up on other baptism records.
My theory is she was born in the workhouse.
When could read and write so she was educated but where??.
Any help and pointers to further research is appreciated
Eileen
Pat
Saturday 5th Dec 2020, 10:45AMMessage Board Replies
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I found a marriage of a Mary Masterson o a George kellagher. they did lived in belfast 1901 but are in a townland in Cavan by 1911.
--Perhaps this is Mary Kate's mother, with George Kellagher being Mary Kate's stepfather?
--The 1901 census notes George was from Cavan, Mary from Longford.Patricia
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Hi Eileen,
I looked at the civil marriage certificate and her mother signed her name so she was able to read and write, perhaps she educated her daughter.. The priest that married them in Cavan was Thomas Masterson, I wonder was he a relative or coincidental? I looked up the details of this priest and he was born in Lackan, Killeshandra. You could contact
Cavan Genealogy
1st Floor, Johnston Central Library, Farnham St., Cavan
Tel: +353 (0) 49 4361094
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.netThey may have details from the workhouse.
Kate Dempsey may be a friend or a neighbour or someone that worked in the workhouse or church, I looked at marriage and census records for a Kate Masterson to Dempsey without luck. In 1901 Census states that George is from Cork & Mary from Longford, though in 1911 it states he is from Cavan & she is still from Longford. it could be an error made by the enumerator. But where is little Mary in 1901?
Best of luck with your quest. Regards Carmel O'Callaghan
Bailieborough Cavan
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I was in touch with the Cavan genealogical society and that is where I got the baptism record . There didn't seem to be anything of use in the workhouse records. I've also questioned where she was in 1901.
If she was in the industrial school system, surely there are records kept somewhere.
I will look at the marriage a bit and see what turns up.
She's one hard lady to find.
Thank you
Eileen
Pat
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The Masterson's appear to be very difficult to find !!!
I too have Masterson relatives that I have been searching for with no luck. They moved to Belfast to work in the Mill no doubt during the latter famine years.
There is some debate as to whether they originated from Monaghan or Cavan. I will try the cavan genelogy site to see if they can assist me with my search. I have been trying to find birth record for GG Grandfather Thomas Masterson, Marriage record for Thomas and birth records for their children. I have summarised details below:-
GG Grandfather : was Thomas Masterson who married Ann (don't have a maiden name or marriage record). Thomas died in 09.02.1881 Age 51 in railway carriage accident and Ann died 15.10.1902 Age 62 of Cancer. If my research is correct Thomas and Ann had at least 4 children (they may have had more???) Again I can't find birth records for any of them
- Bridget born C1855, not married, died 11.07.1912 - Acute Bronchitis
- Rose born C1857, not married, believe had 2 children out of wedlock, Patrick born 02/01/1876 and John born 18/11/1878 (both to be verified). Rose died 09/12/1924 Age 71 from chronic nepritis and cardiac failure.
- Susan born C1862, Married 14.11.1885 to Charles Grham and Died: 01.11.1921 – Liver Cancer
- James born c1856 or c1863 - Marriage record states he was 24 when he married in 1880 but Census and death records ages do not match !
G Grandfather: James born C1863. He married married Annie Toner in 28.03.1880 in Belfast. According to the census he stated he was from Ballybay which is County Monaghan but searches have proved unsuccessful for his birth ! James died 17/01/1907 and Annie died 21/08/1918
They had 4 children:
- Thomas 01.03.1881 - died at birth
- James 15.05.1883 - my grandfather
- Maggie 04.04.1885 - my great aunt
- Annie 22.03.1887 - my great aunt
Grandfather: James Masterson was born 15.05.1883 married Agnes Hillis in Belfast.
James died 23.03.1939 Age 55 (Bronchial Asthma/Cardiac Failure) and Agnes died 19.08.1928 Age 38 (Bowel Disease)
ValerieM
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Thank you all for getting in touch. Valerie, my e mail is eileenpat at aol.com we may as well swap info .Masterson's are hard to find. My Mary Kate worked in the mills and here we call them Millie's. She worked in Belfast too.
I am looking at the newspaper archives and have found an article connected to Mary kate .I'm sure the railway accident was covered.
Eileen
Pat
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Thank you all for getting in touch. Valerie, my e mail is eileenpat at aol.com we may as well swap info .Masterson's are hard to find. My Mary Kate worked in the mills and here we call them Millie's. She worked in Belfast too.
I am looking at the newspaper archives and have found an article connected to Mary kate .I'm sure the railway accident was covered.
Eileen
Pat
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Hi Eileen,
I have one relative that was conceived outside of marriage (though her mother was married, but thats another story) and I could not find her in the census, it was not until someone was able to tell me who her father was and under that name she was in a house across the road from her mother and sisters as a 3yr old boarder, so you may have to search for all Mary Kates of that age. I think the mother had to pay for her keep. I dont know where the young children were kept in Cavan, Poor Clare's Convent on Main Street was one of those places, but I don't know if it was open then.
Regards Carmel
Bailieborough Cavan
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Thank you Carmel.
I did find one ,right age, different townland, but she may well be working there.
It's been a while since I researched her, simply because I hit a wall. I will look at this new lead plus look at the people she lived with. The George and Mary need further research.
I'm so glad I've came across this site. In all the years of looking for Mary Kate this group is the only one who came back with anything of help.
Much appreciated
Eileen
Pat
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Not to muddy the works, in my dataset for Gilroy search, I see a James Masterson and Mary Gibney, sponsors, for the baptism of Mary Gilroy, Meath diocese, Kilbride parish, Cavan Oct 8, 1841 (MounNugent/ Mountpallas).
Through searching extensively in newspapers of the time I located 2 for individuals of my family both obits pub US and Belfast provided the Townland and county which nailed the origin of the family.
Bill
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Hello bill
Co Meath is a possibility too. I will rule nothing out at the moment and I'm glad for any tips.
Thank you
Eileen
Pat