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From: William Quinlivan <>
Subject: [LMK] Re: IRL-LIMERICK-D Digest V04 #33
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:59:34 -0500
References: <200402112000.i1BK0HWN031282@lists5.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200402112000.i1BK0HWN031282@lists5.rootsweb.com>


Dear Kevin,
Moments ago I saw your posting seeking information about a
Daniel
Sheahan in Limerick County Ireland who was married to a Mary Madigan ,
also of
Limerick County. Your message indicated that this couple had a son named
Patrick
Sheahan who was born in c1836 - 1838.
Now to digress briefly, I am descended from a James
Quinlivan who lived in rural
Limerick County, born in abt. 1729, died in abt. 1834. This James
Quinlivan was my
ggg-grandfather. His grandson was a John Quinlivan who married an Ellen
Sheahan and my
grandmother was one of their eleven children, born at Castletown
Canyors near Ballyagran.
Ellen Sheahan was born September 29, 1826. Ellen's Parents were: ?????
Sheahan, b. ????,
d. March 29, 1858 and his wife Johanna Lumbard (Lombard), b. ????, d.
July 15, 1833.
???? Sheahan and his wife Johanna Lombard (probably) were
therefore my
gg-grandparents. John Quinlivan and Ellen Sheahan had eleven children
and they all, parents
and children, emigrated to the USA in about 1870 and settled in
Rochestor, New York State.
A cousin of my grandmother Annie Quinlivan was a child of a
Thomas Quinlivan and
his wife, Johanna Ryan who lived in Ardagh, in County Limerick In 1848
-'49 when their son
Daniel Quinlivan was born. Thomas Quinlivan was somehow related to the
above James
Quinlivan and thus Daniel Quinlivan, who later married Annie Quinlivan
in St Patrick's Cathederal
in Rochester (in 1892), was her cousin of some degree. This Daniel and
Annie Quinlivan were my
Irish grandparents.
I have sought the connectioin between my grandparents and
the names of their ancestors
for some time with little to show for the effort.
A very talented and helpful gentleman named Paddy Galligan
saw some of my postings
several years ago and in 1999 he sent me some information which may
possibly be of use to you.
I will enclose his data below and express again my appreciation to him
for his kind assistance.
My father told me many years ago, that his Quinlivan male
ancestors were accomplished
workers of the black metal, thus blacksmiths. My father was the last of
those blacksmiths, though I
have tinkered with the art, making wood carving tools. Daniel Quinlivan
was a Fenian and reputedly
fashioned the crude weapons of iron as did other Fenian blacksmiths.
Daniel was captured for his
part in a Fenian actioin against the British and he was eventually
exported to the US and later
married his cousin in St. Patrick's Cathederal in Rochester, New York.
Paddy's message to me follows and below it I will add some
additional comment.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Subject: Re: Re. Quinlivans
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 14:00:37 -0400
From: "Arlene Colthirst" <>
To: "William Quinlivan" <>

>
>
> Bill, I have in the journal from which I quoted the Fenian history, a
> complete listing of all the headstones in Ardagh grave yard - some
> dating to
> the early 1700's.
>
> Regretfully, there are no Quinlivans, but as a footnote to the Sheahan
> grave
> is this:
>
> " In 1810 Daniel Sheahan went to Strand (remember this, Bill could
> provide
> a clue) to borrow a book from James Quinlivan. On the way he met a young
> woman with whom he fell in love, and was inspired to write a love song to
> her.
>
> A manuscript of the song transcribed from the Irish by Timothy
> O'Regan, Nat.
> Teacher in Ardagh, in 1860, for William Smith O'Brien ( a famous
> Fenian) at
> Sheahans request is now in the Royal Irish Academy (Folio 24B6).
>
> Eight more mss. written by Jas. Quinlivan were given or sold by Daniel
> Sheahan to the O'Brien family and presented by W.S.O'Brien to the RIA
> Folio 23D41).
>
> In 1846 Sheahan wrote to W.S.O'Brien at Cahirmoyle giving a list of the
> mss. in his possession ( Natl. Library G369). Daniel Sheahan secured six
> further mss. written by Quinlivan for the O'Brien family in 1847. These
> were also presented to the RIA by W.S.O'Brien.
>
> In 1856 Sheahan gave another ms of Quinlivan to O'Brien who presented
> it to
> the R.I.A., (24A8 p.15)
>
> Liam O Danachair ( Danagher) recalling "Irish Nights" at his
> grandmother's
> house near Rathkeale in 1873-84, remembered hearing poems by among others,
> Seamas O Coinliobhain ( Quinlivan) and Geraltach Sheahan of Ardagh"
>
> So, Bill here is a note about a Gaelic poet whose manuscripts are
> preserved
> and can to my know be obtaines by copies . Wonder, therefore if there is
> more to be learned about James Quinlivan by research in that direction.
>
> Now, I have not been able to find the location "Strand" but will try
> again.
> Obviously in Co. Limerick and probably near to Ardagh.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
At this point, Kevin we still dont know if the above James Quinlivan was
my ancestor
or not but we are certain that a James Quinlivan was. I mentioned that
my grandfather's
parents lived in Ardagh at the time he was born and Paddy's account
states that the
James Quinlivan being sought by Daniel Sheahan lived in Strand. That
village is in
Limerick county and it lies several miles southerly from Ardagh where my
grandfather,
Daniel was born. The Daniel Sheahan who obtained poetry manuscripts from
James
Quinlivan might be the parent of my great grandmother, Ellen Sheahan.
The death dates
for both Ellen's parents is given above from my family records. If you
have a Sheahan
with a death date which matches the one above for ???? Sheahan, then he
may be your
Daniel Sheahan. Johanna Lumbard/Lombard died some 25 years before her
husband
died and he might have married a second time to your Mary Madigan. Annie
Quinlivan,
my grandmother told my father that her grandfather, ???? Sheahan, had
been a blacksmith,
as her husband was, both working at the Castletown Canyors estate near
to Ballyagran
in County Limerick.
I would love to hear from you, Kevin if any of this is
familiar to you,
Best Wishes to you in your searching

I

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