Claffey Family of Bloomhill, Kings County, Ireland

The descendents of Patrick Claffey who live in Ireland have shared family information on those who lived their lives in Ireland and those who came to live in the USA. If you can make a connection, let me know.

Family101@earthlink.net

Claffey family of Bloomhill, Kings Co. (Offaly) Ireland

The title was registered in Folio 4477 County Kings. The property was vested in Patrick Claffey on 28^th February 1918. The Land Commission advance was £176.0.0 with an annuity of £5.14.6. It was part of the Williams Estate E.C. 8152 L.R. 156/16493 Collection No:88/3292 Being 35 Acres 3 Roods and 20 Perches on Townland of Cloncraff or Bloomhill Elcetoral Division of Hinds in the Barony of Garrycastle.

It is of interest to note the difference in age in the census. It appears that a lot of Irish people aged much more than ten years between the 1901 census and the 1911 census. This is explained by the introduction of the Pension Act in 1908. Perhaps people added on a few years so they would qualify earlier for the pension.

Patrick Claffey (born 1825 died 15^th Oct 1889) married Ann Flannery (born 1832 died 19^th. May 1907 though in the 1901 census she gives her age as 61) .

There were twelve children of the marriage. They were 1. Mary, 2. Patrick. 3.Bridget, 4. Katie, 5. James. 6. Kieran, 7. Annie, 8. Elizabeth, 9.Mike, 10. Margaret, 11. Ellen, and 12. Rosaleen.

MARY:- Mary married a man called Duffy and had four children namely Annie, Stephen, Joseph and James. See entry at end re Gussie Claffey

PATRICK:- He died a bachelor and lived his entire life on the farm in Bloomhill. Born 7^th Feb 1862. Pat died 6 March 1945 (In 1911 census age given 43)and a Probate to his estate issued on 14^th May 1945 to his sister Elizabeth Daly. She died 22^nd December 1947 without administering Pat`s estate and a Grant of Administration DBN issued to one Edward Daly 9 a nephew of Fr. Tom Daly) of Bloomhill a stranger in blood on 22^nd June 1949. The Bond guarantors were Edward Daly and Pat Mooney of Doon. The A.M.V. by Pat Mooney gave the farm value as £500.0.0 During a Court Application to Appoint an Administrator Notice was served on Eileen Nobilio (nee Duffy, later Fabian), P.C. Moore Solicitor appeared for Eileen but said he had no instructions. By his Will dated 1^st March 1943 he appointed Elizabeth Daly (sister) and Ellen or Eileen Duffy (niece) as executrices of Will. He gave a legacy of £40.0.0 to his nephew Joseph Claffey. He then gave the residue of his property including the farm and house at Bloomhill to his sister Elizabeth Daly "for her natural life". He then went on "if Ellen or Eileen Duffy who now resides in my house continues to work for me and after my death for Elizabeth Daly for our lives I give divise and bequeath my said residue to the said Ellen Duffy after the death of the said Elizabeth Daly. In the event of the said Elizabeth Daly predeceasing me then I direct my said residue be realised by sale and one third thereof be paid to the said Ellen Duffy and the remaining two thirds thereof be equally divided between the following four parties viz: Mrs. Lucy Moran, Ballyduff, Ballinahown, County Offaly Married Woman; Mrs. Ellen Galvin, Parkwood, Moate, County Westmeath, Married Woman; Joseph Egan, Clooniff, Shannonbridge, County Offaly and Joseph Duffy, Big Bog, Ballinahown, County Westmeath."

BRIDGET:- She died a spinster 1^st Jan 1940 born 1864 (In 1911 census age given 45). She spent her early life in Bloomhill, and she spent some time with her brother Mike in Clerhane where she helped to rear his family. She indeed moved to Clerhane with Mike.

KATIE:- She died a spinster, not sure where she lived her life. Today 15^th April 2009 Sr. Monica tells me Katie lived all her life in Bloomhill. She was a renowned singer. (In 1911 census age given was 40).

JAMES:- He emigrated to the U.S.A. where he lived out his life and died a bachelor. Born 1sr April 1873. We do not know where James lived in the USA. There was a James Claffey born in 1873 who lived in Hartford, CT on the 1900 and 1920 census. He was married to Minnie and apparently had no children. Hartford is the same city where James' sister Ellen lived. More research is required.

KIERAN:- Born 2 September 1855. Like James he also emigrated to the U.S.A. where he to lived out his life and died a bachelor. The information regarding his emigration may be incorrect. Stephen McNeill discovered Kieran was baptised on 2^nd September 1855 the sponsors were James Flannery and Anne Flannery (nee Rigney). He discovered that he died in Bloomhill on 15^th August 1887 aged 31 the cause of death bed `the decline`. My mother Margaret Turley (nee Claffey) gave me the original information. Today 15^th April 2009 Sr. Monica confirmed that she had the same story as my mother. The `decline` was an euphemism for T.B. (tuberculosis) and it appears his death caused shame and was really a family secret. Kieran might have immigrated to USA and then returned to Bloomhill when he contracted TB.

ANNIE:-Born 10 August 1855. Anna Claffey was married to Patrick F. Gaffey and they immigrated to the USA. Their children born in Hartford CT were: Anna Gaffey b 2 Dec 1895 d 26 Feb 1968 married Edward Mccarthy; James P. Gaffey b 2 Jun 1894 d 10 May 1981 married Marie Clark; Lucy A. Gaffey b 2 Oct 1891 d Jan 1980 married Morgan J. Burk, Mary E. Gaffey b 20 May 1890 d 1987 Baileys Island, Cumberland, ME married Alfred W. Tyrol.

ELIZABETH:- Born 7 Feb 1874. She married a man called Daly, and there were no issue of the marriage. She died 22 December 1947 and a Grant of Probate to her estate issued to Edward Daly of Bloomhill, a stranger in blood, on 9 March 1948. She only had a life interest in Bloomhill given to her under her brother Patrick`s Will but she clearly believed she owned the Bloomhill property outright. By her Will dated 14 July 1947 she appointed Edward Daly to be her executor, and then bequeathed the Bloomhill property to her niece Mrs. Lucy Agnes Moran subject to the payment of £100.0.0 to her grand-niece Kathleen Galvin. She then went on to deal with the rest of her estate including her property in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare She directed that this property and contents be sold and from the proceeds to pay £120.0.0 to Christopher Ryan of Navan, County Meath provided he accepts this as full payment for work and repair he carried out to her house. The balance to be given in equal share between my nieces Mrs. Mary Ryan, Mrs. Margaret Turley and my Grand Niece Mrs. Mollie Duffy.. She made a codicil the same day, in which she gave the life policy on her own life to her niece Kathleen Galvin and the two policies she held on the life of her brother Michael Claffey to her grand niece Mrs. Ellen Mary Galvin

MIKE:- This man was my grandfather. He married one Elizabeth Molloy from Parkwood, Moate in February 1914. Mike lived in Bloomhill until 1910 when he bought his farm at Clerhane. Mike and Elizabeth had three children, Margaret my mother born 29^th December 1914 and who died 30^th May 1997, Joe who died 18^th Dec 1976 and Annie. Annie who became a nun with the Sisters of Cluny and took the name Sr. Monica is still alive. She is aged ninety and would talk to you if you think she could be of help to you. She lived in Bloomhill from 1936 until she entered the convent in 1942 as indeed did Eileen Duffy a granddaughter of Mary Duffy nee Claffey. Eileen lived there until 1944 when she went to the U.S.A. (In 1911 census age given 42).

MARGARET:- Born 8^th February 1862. She married Pat Mooney of Doon. They lived in the old R.I.C. station. The walls of the old barracks are still in place although there is no roof. Mick and Mamie Ryan built their new house a couple of hundred meters up the hill.

ELLEN:- She went to the U.S.A. where she married a man called Hynes. They had two children Margaret and Mary. Ellen spent forty years in Hartford, CT. and returned to Eire in the twenties. She was widowed and her children came home to Ireland. Margaret lived with Pat Mooney and Margaret. She died 13^th Oct. 1973. Mary married a man called Crawl and had no children. Mary her daughter predeceased her by one day in we think 1938. My mother and Sr. Monica were at the funeral of Mary Crawl.

ROSALEEN:- Born 29^th March 1860 we think. (In 1911 census age given 46) She married John Egan ( b. Feb 1866, d. 16^th Nov.1950 who in 1911 census age given was 48) and she had four children namely Annie Jane (In 1911 census age given 15), Joe (In 1911 census age given 10), Ellie or Aileen Mary (In 1911 census age given 14) and Agnes or Lucy Agnes (In 1911 census age given 12). Agnes may be of interest to you; she married Bill Moran of Clonaderg and had four children namely Willie, Johnny, Michael and a baby who died very young. Some of the Moran boys still live in Clonaderg and might be able to help you.

Question:- Was Anne Flannery a sister of James Flannery married to Anne Rigney. I discussed this with my aunt last evening and she feels the answer may by yes. She thought it was Martin Flannery, but it could have been James. There was certainly a marriage between the Flannery and Rigney, and my aunt was aware that she had Flannery cousins some of whom went to live in Athlone. It seems Anne Flannery had more sisters, one married a Kennedy of Bloomhill, one married a Hunt, and one married Henehan. There is monumental cross to the Kennedy family in Clonmacnoise just to the left of St. Kierans Chuch if you are coming from the Pilgrims road. One member of that family was a Fr. Michael Kennedy C.S.S.p., a Holy Ghost father who became President of St. Mary College, Rathmines. On 16 March 2010 Fr. Patrick J. Henehan died. He was a nephew of the above mentioned Fr. Michael Kennedy. Fr. Henehan was born 26 November 1926 in Ballykeeran, Athlone, County Westmeath, he was an only child his parents were both teachers. He was Ordained on 8^th September 1946. He was known as Paddy Joe all his life.

There is a monumental headstone in Clonmacnoise to Patrick Claffey and Anne Claffey (nee Claffey). It was in the old cemetery but was moved to the new one and is now located in the new cemetery.

I and Sr. Monica believed that Ann Flannery came from Corrigeen.

Stephen McNeill informs me that Bloomhill was sold in 1952 for £1,200.0.0

Also information Annie (Sr. Monica) Claffey was engaged to Tom Claffey, who subsequently married a Coakley.

Gussie Claffey nephew in law of James Duffy married Maura Mitchell

New Haven, CT

There was a Claffey Clan from Nicoll St in New Haven Ct. Deceased are Margaret (1987) and Daniel (1974) Claffey parents of Barbera Claffey Ross (2009), Daniel (2008), Elizabeth Claffey Chapell (1983), William ( 1994) , 3 siblings still living

Salem, MA Claffey Family

Contact author at Family101@earthlink.net
The following additional information pertains to this family on The Claffey Home Page at
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~camounts/ann_sts/ann_ma.htm


#08 Alice Claffey, Michael's second wife's maiden name was Walsh.
#06 John Joseph Claffey, Sr. notes state that "after father's death in 1903, stepmother sent him to live with his aunt Bridget Theresa Claffey Flynn". This is true but it was well before his father's death in 1903 that he was sent away. The details are unknown as he would never talk about the situation.
#07Hannah Agnes Heffernan's "two other daughters names unknown". One daughter was Alice Heffernan who lived in Boston and never married. She was a companion for the rich and traveled the world.

More will be posted on this family as it becomes available from descendents

Charles Claffey b 27 Apr 1884 Co. Westmeath

Contact author at Family101@earthlink.net
A researcher in Ireland shared the following information:
Charles Claffey b 27 Apr 1884 in Moate, Co. Westmeath died 1 July 1964 age 79 and Elizabeth (Lilly) Atwell b 16 May 1910 in Briskil, Co. Longford died 15 Mar 2003 age 92 had five children. Charles' birth certificate lists his father as Michael Claffey, occupation as a baker and mother Anne Coughlan. Charles and Lilly had the following children:
1) Elizabeth Catherine Claffey (known as Bernadette) b 11 June 1928 Rathmines, Dublin, married, died 1982 in Wales age 54. Had daughter named Carol.
2) Charles Mansfield Claffey b 19 Sep 1930 Dublin, d 18 Dec 1999 age 69. Had two daughters.
3) Nuala Claffey b 20 Dec 1932 married Tommy Callaghan, lived in London, child Charles.
4) Mary Gonzaga Claffey (Gonzie) b 9 Dec 1934 married Gerry Marry, Co. Meath.
5) James Noel Claffey b 17 Dec 1937 Dublin, married to Joan, child Yvonne.
Charles' first wife, was Mary Ellen Tynan and they had one daughter.

Melbourne, Australia

Contact author at Family101@earthlink.net
Peter Claffey 1842-1900 was born in Kings Co. (Offaly) Ireland the son of Peter Claffey and Mary Anne ne Mortershoe. He arrived in Melbourne on the Black Eagle in 1859 as a single assisted immigrant. He married Mary nee Fraser (c. 1853-1930) in 1870 at St. Joseph's Church in Warmambool. His sister Jane was married to Michael Kelly and they were living in the Warmambool area, where Peter and Mary also lived after their marriage for the rest of their lives. Peter worked as a laborer and died on Kelp Street and is buried in the Warmambool Cemetery. They were Roman Catholic. Their children were:
Mary Anne 1871 - unknown, did not marry
Elizabeth 1872-1956 three marriages
Jane 1874-1944 did not marry
John 1876-1956 did not marry
Peter 1878-1958
Simon 1883-1977 spouse 1=Jane, spouse 2=unknown
Alexander 1886-1959 married Ruth nee Morgan
Michael 1889-1964 suffered from cerebral palsy, never married
Margaret 1892-1945-did not marry
Thomas 1895-1977
Above information from the Warmambool Pioneers Register

Thomas Claffy b 1799 & Winifred Ford Higgins

Contact author at Family101@earthlink.net

Descendents of this family continue to share additional information. See also
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~camounts/index.html
The Claffey Home Page, Locating your Claffey Ancestors, Illinois and pages 1 & 2 of obits.

Thomas Claffy b 1799
+Winifred Ford Higgins b 1809
-----Charles Claffy b 1843 d 1934
-----+Anna Gannon b 842 or 44 d 1937
----------Thomas James Claffy b 1870 d 1958
----------+Emily Gainford Grogan b 1873 d 1942
---------------Dorothy Margaret Claffy b 7 Aug 1900 d 24 Oct 1982
---------------Aileen Patricia Claffy b 1902 d May 1920
---------------Cecile Winifred Claffy b 17 Jan 1906 d 25 Feb 1981
---------------Imelda Claire Claffy b 28 Sep 1915 d 19 Feb 1997
---------------+Charles J. Rausch b 12 Aug 1913
----------John Michael Claffey b 1872 d 1965
----------+Margaret Magner Wagner b 1877
---------------Margaret Claffy
---------------+George Stehney
----------Charles Francis Claffy b 1874 d 1908
----------+Gertrude Fraley b 23 Dec 1875 d 1910
---------------Sylvene Ann Claffy b 4 Nov 1898 d 27 July 1964
---------------+Mathias VenderKloot b 1895 d 16 May 1958
---------------------Mary Louise VanderKloot b 30 Sep 1924 d 1997
---------------------+William Elliot Colburn b 16 Feb 1923 d 2000
---------------------Carol Marie VanderKloot b 12 Aug 1927
---------------------+Louis Lawrence Orlin
---------------------Cornelia VanderKloot b 27 Apr 1929 d 1959
---------------Charles Byron Claffy b 21 June 1900 d 27 Sec 1971
---------------+(1)Henrietta Memmesheimer d 1928
---------------------Helen Marie Claffy b 1926 d 5 July 2009
---------------------+Richard Berg
---------------+(2)Estelle Roberts d 1960
---------------Thomas Vernon Claffy b 8 July 1902 d 12 Apr 1947
---------------Leo Francis Claffy b 16 Feb 1904 d 1 Apr 1920
---------------Ralph Maurice Claffy b 2 Sep 1906 d 24 Feb 1975
---------------Ruth Marie Claffy b 2 Sep 1906 d 4 Dec 1982
---------------+Gregory Charles Brock
---------------John Edward (Jack) Claffy b 8 July 1908 d 1921
----------Edward Claffy b 1877 d 1886
----------Mary Elizabeth Claffy b 1879 d 1883)
----------Anne Winifred Claffy b 1882 d 1886
----------Joseph Andrew Claffy b 1884 d 1997
----------+Marie Agnes Mercil
---------------Mary Louise Claffy b 25 Jan 1913
---------------+Earl W. Sando b 5 Nov 1912
---------------Bernadette G. Claffy b 9 Oct 1914 d Oct 2006
---------------+Charles McGowan b 5 Nov 1918
---------------Joseph Andrew Claffy, Jr. b 31 May 1917
---------------+Jocelyn Ruth Tracht b 8 May 1919
---------------Robert Mercil Claffy b 15 July 1918 d 17 Jan 1986
---------------John F. Claffy
----------Edward Benedict Claffy b 1887 d 1953
----------+Anne Swaine b 4 June 1893 d 8 Feb 1974
---------------Robert Claffy
---------------Sally Ann Claffy b 28 Oct 1929
---------------+Roger Schmitz
---------------Edward W. Claffy b 23 Sep 1933
---------------+Margaret McGovern b 21 May 1934
-----Thomas Claffy b 18?? d 1924
-----Winifred Claffy b 1854 d 1885
Note that because genealogy data contains birthdate, maiden name, mother's maiden name, etc. we do not list living people to protect from identity theft.

Another Chicago researcher who is not a Claffy researcher often kindly sends me items of Claffy interest and he has shared an article from the April 25 1929 edition of the Chicago Evening American as follows:
Wed for 60 Years and Still Happy
With four sons, fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to rejoice with them, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Claffy celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary yesterday in the home that has been theirs thirty-seven years.

The house is at 5922 Emerald ave. When the Claffys bought it, it was out in the country and they thought it would be a good place for the boys to grow up in. Since then the city has crowded in upon them and they are in the heart of a thickly settled neighborhood.

Mr. Claffy was born in Lemont, Ill., eighty-five years ago but moved to Chicago five years later. Mrs. Claffy was born in Buffalo, N.Y. They were married in1869 and their sons are John, Joseph, Edward and Thomas. The latter is an official of the department of health.

Photos accompanying the article show a happy couple (he with a full head of white hair) with the following captions: (1)Still in Love--Mr. and Mrs. Charles Claffy, 5922 Emerald av., celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.(2) Mr. & Mrs. Charles Claffy, 5922 Emerald av., celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary yesterday. They are still sweathears and Mrs. Claffy doesen't really have to brandish a rolling pin to persuade him to wash the dishes.

A newspaper article by Dan Fogle dated 12 Dec 1936 shows their son Thomas J. Claffy who went to work for Chicago as a plumbing inspector in 1897. By 1903 he was head of the plumbing division of the sanitary bureau of the board of health.

Patrick Claffy married Mary Joice

Contact author at Family101@earthlink.net

One Claffy researcher reports that Patrick Claffy was married to Mary Joice who died 07 Mar 1856 at age 70. Patrick Claffey & Mary Joyce are presumed to be buried in Mount Temple. Co Westmeath.

According to another Claffy researcher they had two daughters who emigrated to California: Ellen born 1819 and Mary born 1830 and possibly one son or cousin named James born 1835 who joined them in California.