The Dennigans of Tomiskey

Therefore it would seem that from 1907, both Mary and Michael were in the United States. Searches have not revealed Michael’s whereabouts on the 1910 U.S. Census but in 1920, a Michael Dennigan, who appears to match, can be found in Sea View Hospital, Richmond County, New York. There is no indication of the reason he was in hospital. (See Page 43.)

There is no trace of Mary on either the 1910 or 1920 U.S. Census.35

This still leaves the 3 youngest girls, Elizabeth, Bridget and Ellen, unaccounted for on 3rd April 1911.

A search of the census, however, shows that in the townland of Glebe, in Cloondara district, an Ellie Dennigan, aged 19 could be found. She was the niece of James Lennon and Mary Lennon. It will be remembered that Mary Dennigan, the sister of Laurence Dennigan (born 1840) married a James Lennon, and so it can be safely assumed this is Ellen Dennigan, Laurence’s daughter. A copy of the Census page is on Page 41.

Of the other two Dennigan girls, Elizabeth and Bridget, no trace has been found of either on the 1911 Census. As Anne Clyne stated on the 1911 Census form that she’d had 10 children, but only 8 of whom were still alive, it follows that either Bridget or Elizabeth had died (the first Bernard having died in 1884). However, no trace of the deaths of either, or indeed of the marriages of either, has been found. On the basis that Elizabeth, then aged no more than 11, was not on the 1901 Census either, it must be assumed that she died sometime before 1901 and that Bridget, while still alive in 1911, was in a household that did not properly complete the census form.

The eventual fates of Anne Agnes and of Bernard are not further explored in this document. There is, however, some information on Laurence, all of which is presumably known to the readers, but which is included for completeness. Dates are sourced from the Dennigan Pedigrees (see Page 7).

In 1924, he married Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, presumably in Bornacoola Parish church.

The 6 children of this marriage were:

Laurence Dennigan died on September 29th 1957 (see Page 43).36 His wife Mary Elizabeth McGlynn died 5th March 1963.37

It is possible that Mary C. Dennigan lived until 1961. A tombstone in Holy Cross Cemetery, Flatbush, Brooklyn reads:

“Goldrick, Annie, 7/7/1924, 79, Longford; By nephew Patrick Dennigan, 5/27/1942. Mary C Dennigan, 6/17/1961”

Ellen Dennigan is said to have died in June 1945.38

Clearly without further investigation it is impossible to say if it is the correct woman, but it is certainly interesting. And if it is the correct Mary C, then the implication is also that her brother Michael Gregory had a son, Patrick.39 

 

35 U.S. Censuses, Ancestry.com. URL: www.ancestry.co.uk

36 Leitrim Observer, 05/10/1957, online at www.irishnewsarchives.com

37 Dennigan Pedigrees

38 Same

39 Joseph M. Silinonte, Tombstones of the Irish Born, Cemetery of the Holy Cross, Flatbush, Brooklyn, Maryland, 2006. Accessed on Google Books. URL: http://books.google.ie/books?id=0qEnz2N5r3MC

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