Introducing the Keogh family

As far as my maternal grandmother is concerned, much of my genealogy research has concentrated on her father' side, while little work has been done on her mother's ancestors. Likewise, until recently, I had not identified any DNA matches linked to her mother, Christina Devine. My first project this year sought to change that.

Except, it was easier said then done. All Christina Devine's siblings either died in infancy or died childless, so Granny had no maternal first cousins. And, nothing is known about Christina's father John Devine, prior to his marriage to Maryanne Keogh. John's parents were named in the church register of their marriage, but that remains frustratingly illegible. So, my best chance for success was on Maryanne Keogh's side.

Maryanne Keogh, was the eldest daughter of Jeremiah (also known as Darby) Keogh and Jane Crosby. She was baptised in Lucan parish on 9 February 1834. Her parents married under licence in the same parish, on 26 April 1833. I wrote about their possible reasons for obtaining a licence, rather than the usual practice of announcing their impending marriage by banns, here and here.

Subsequent records for this couple are scarce, but three additional sons have been identified.

Thomas Keogh was named the son of Jeremiah Keogh and Joanna (Latin for Jane) Crosby, when he married Charlotte Lysaght in St Laurence O’Toole’s on 13 April 1866. His baptism record has not been found. He became a bricklayer, like his father. When their mother died in 1891, my great-great-grandmother, Maryanne (Keogh) Devine, registered her death, but Thomas organised her burial. 

Martin Keogh married Ellen Ryan in St Andrew’s parish on 4 September 1871. His father was named Jeremiah Keogh, whose occupation was left blank on Martin's marriage register. His mother was named Jane, her maiden name wasn’t given. There’s no record of Martin's baptism, but there is plenty of circumstantial evidence connecting him to my family.

For example, his eldest daughter was called Jane (i.e. after his mother) and Thomas Keogh (i.e. his brother) was her Godfather. Martin worked as a bricklayer (i.e. like his father). Jane Keogh of Jane Place (where his mother is known to have lived) registered the birth of his second son. His third daughter was Charlotte, not a common name in Dublin (i.e. after his sister-in-law, Thomas Keogh's wife), and her Godmother was Catherine Devine (i.e. his niece, and my great-grandaunt). Plus, he named his youngest daughter Maryanne (i.e. after his eldest sister). And, Thomas Keogh (i.e. his brother) named one of his sons Martin. 

John Keogh was baptised in St Andrew’s parish in Dublin city, on 15 July 1844. His parents were named as Darby and Jane Keogh. And, when he married Maria Brien on 26 February 1869, in St Laurence O’Toole’s church, his parents were confirmed as Jeremiah Keogh, a bricklayer, and Joanna Crosby.

The next step was to discover more about Thomas, Martin and John Keogh, and trace their descendants forward, to see if any of them could be identified among my mother's lists of DNA cousins.