Signature Silhouette #2 ~Teresa (Carroll) Wynne

For many of my ancestors, we have no photographs, no treasured heirlooms, not even a funeral card to remember them by. But of those who could read and write, a few left their signatures behind. They often signed historical census returns, for example, copies of which still survive. Apart from descendants, their signature may be all that remains of them today. So, it's my intention to feature a Signature Silhouette for one ancestor, each week, until they are all are preserved.

Here's one for my maternal great-grandmother, Teresa (Carroll) Wynne:-

Teresa Carroll Wynne (1888-1958)

Sadly, I've no document containing the signature of Teresa's husband, my great-grandfather, Patrick James Wynne (1868-1937). He died intestate, so did not leave a signature on a will. He still lived with his father in 1901 and was a lodger in Cork in 1911, so didn't sign either census as head of a household. I can't think where else I may find his signature now.

If any of my cousins have a document with his signature, I'd be truly grateful to see a copy of it. 🙏

Sources:
Idea courtesy of Cathy Meder-Dempsey at Opening Doors in Brick Walls.

Source of signature: Last will and testament, Teresa Wynne, Newcastle Upon Tyne, dated 1 May 1958.

*******

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Seeking descendants of Thomas Keogh and Charlotte Lysaght

My first genealogy project of 2020 involves tracing the descendants of my third-great-grandparents, Jeremiah Keogh and Jane Crosby, mainly to see if any of them can be identified among my mother’s list of DNA matches. In addition to their daughter Maryanne, who was my great-great-grandmother, Jeremiah and Jane had three sons - Thomas, Martin and John. This post is about Thomas and his descendants.

Thomas Keogh married Charlotte Lysaght (sometimes known as Charlotte Mooney after her stepfather, John Mooney) in St Laurence O’Toole’s church in Dublin city on 13 April 1866.

Barely one month later, their eldest son was born. He was christened Jeremiah Richard Keogh in St Andrew’s church, on the other side of the River Liffey, on 21 May 1866. He was named after both his grandfathers, Jeremiah Keogh and Richard Lysaght. As far as I can tell, Jeremiah Richard was the couple's only surviving child.

Soon after he was born, Thomas and Charlotte returned to O’Toole’s parish, where three additional children were baptised - Thomas Michael born in 1868, died in 1869, Catherine Margaret born in 1870, died in 1880 and Martin, born in 1872, died that same year.

Both Thomas and Charlotte died relatively young themselves. Charlotte got nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and died at home, at 7 Ossory Road, on 15 March 1895, stated age fifty years. Thomas died of bronchitis at his son Jeremiah's home, at 14 Abercorn Road, on 12 May 1898.

Jeremiah Richard Keogh worked as a bricklayer, like his father and grandfather. He married twice. His first wife was Mary Cassidy, who he married in 1890 and with whom he had five children. Mary died of phthisis (tuberculosis) in 1902, and in 1903 Jeremiah married Christina Griffen. They made their home in Caledon Road, Dublin, and had six more children. Jeremiah died on 18 March 1940, having suffered from hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) for ten days.

DNA evidence:
After tracing Jeremiah's many descendants, only one DNA match became apparent. This lady shares a 27 cM DNA segment with my mother and 17 cM with Mam's maternal first cousin, and shares a different 15 cM DNA segment with my maternal uncle.

A relationship calculator estimates their connection as either third cousins once removed, fourth cousins, or second cousins twice removed. And, it turns out they're third cousin once removed. Our new cousin's grandmother was born Charlotte Keogh, Jeremiah's second-eldest daughter. It all fits!

And it provides genetic evidence that Thomas and my Maryanne were siblings, and helps to link me scientifically with my third great-grandparents.

Charlotte (Keogh) Stacey
(courtesy of her great-granddaughter)

Jeremiah Richard's children were:

• Bridget Charlotte Keogh (1890-1974)
• Charlotte Keogh (1893-1975)
• Mary Jane Keogh (1896-1918)
• Ellen Josephine Keogh (1898-1918)
• Thomas Peter Keogh (1901-1902)
• Jeremiah Francis Keogh (1904-1971)
• Christina Annie Keogh (1906-1917)
• Kathleen Keogh (1908-1985)
• Gretta Keogh (1910-1965)
• Charles Patrick Keogh (1913-1955)
• Patricia Keogh (1916-1963)

If you are related to anyone mentioned here, have any further questions, or have additional information about this family, please contact me at Blackraven.genealogy(at)gmail(dot)com.

Sources:
Copy marriage register, Thomas Keogh and Charlotte Lysaght, Dublin North, 13 April 1866, Civil records on IrishGenealogy.ie.

Baptism registers, Jeramiah Keogh, St Andrew Parish, 1866; Thomas Michael Keogh, St Laurence O'Toole's Parish, 1867; Catherine Margaret Keogh, St Laurence O'Toole's Parish, 1870; Martin Keogh, St Laurence O'Toole's Parish, 1872, Church records at IrishGenealogy.ie.

Burial register index of Glasnevin Cemetery, Thomas Keogh, 25 Mabbot, aged 1 year, 1869; Martin Keogh, 29 Lower Jane Place, aged 6 months, 1872, Genealogy at Glasnevin Trust.

Copy death registers, Catherine Margaret Keogh, Dublin North, 27 May 1880; Charlotte Keogh, Dublin South, 15 March 1895; Thomas Keogh, Dublin North, 12 May 1898; Mary Keogh, Dublin South, 22 August 1902; Jeremiah Richard Keogh, Dublin North, 18 March 1940, Civil records on IrishGenealogy.ie.

Copy marriage registers, Jeremiah Keogh and Mary Cassidy, Dublin North, 18 February 1890; Jeremiah Keogh and Christina Griffin, Dublin North, 27 November 1903, Civil records on IrishGenealogy.ie.

Signature Silhouette #1 ~ Kevin Wynne

For many of my ancestors, we have no photographs, no treasured heirlooms, not even a funeral card to remember them by. But of those who could read and write, a few left their signatures behind. They often signed historical census returns, or their last will and testaments, for example, copies of which still survive. Apart from descendants, their signature may be all that remains of them today.

I've wanted to feature my ancestors' signatures for a while now, to share them with anyone interested, and to store them all together, in one place, in my online family tree. But, I was at a loss as to how best to present them. Then last month my blogging buddy Cathy showcased a Signature Silhouette for one of her ancestors. This is a grand solution to my little conundrum. And, if even one ancestor silhouette a week is created, it won't be long before all their signatures are preserved.

So, to start with, here's a Signature Silhouette for my maternal grandfather, Kevin Wynne:

Kevin Wynne (1909-1960)

How cool is that! 😍

Sources:
Idea courtesy of Cathy Meder-Dempsey at Opening Doors in Brick Walls, and The Genealogy Girl.

Source of Signature: Kevin Wynne, Student 562, 1938, National College of Ireland, Clar-Leabhar na Sgolairi 1937-42', College Student Registers, Ref. IE/NIVAL CR/CR67/561, National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL), accessed 17 Feb. 2015.

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.

My DNA Ancestor Score ~ a new way to track my progress

Happy New Year!

Ok, maybe the year is not that new anymore, but this is my first post in a while. I’m still actively researching our genealogy, just not uncovering quite as many exciting new ancestor stories as before.

Bear in mind, I’ve probably already gathered all the low hanging fruit and there may only be one or two more direct ancestors left to be harvested on our family tree. They appear out of reach at the moment, at the very top, with no discernible way of getting to them. Someday, maybe they’ll fall.

Do you remember my Ancestor Scorecard? Here's the position at the end of 2016, when only 50% of my ancestors to fourth great-grandparent level had been identified. Well, in the past three years, not one single person has been added to the score. And, it’s not for lack of trying.

Ancestor Scorecard *

Today, often my genealogy research revolves around identifying DNA matches, i.e. those cousins we share DNA with, and then documenting their branch in my tree. I meet some amazing ‘living’ cousins along the way, and even got to help one fourth cousin, adopted at birth, nail her biological father down to one of three brothers. These genetic cousins all have fascinating stories to tell, but this blog is about my long-deceased relatives.

Now, I've come up with a new way of measuring my genealogy progress - by keeping track a DNA Ancestor score. This calculates how many ancestors, to fourth great-grandparent level, have been ‘proven’ by DNA. Three years ago the score would have been close to zero. Here's that score now.

DNA Ancestor Scorecard **

Currently, the score shows 30% of my ancestors are 'proven' by DNA, not too bad considering I've only identified 50% of them. This is a score that will undoubtedly rise over time, especially now the DNA companies are beginning to deliver some ‘close-cousin' DNA matches. Plus, the results of the Christmas sales of DNA tests are due in shortly.

Hopefully, soon, my genetic cousins will help increase the Identified Ancestor score as well.

* Ancestor Scorecard, idea courtesy of 'Family History All Done? What’s Your Number?', Ancestry blog, 16 August 2012.

** A DNA Ancestor is deemed to be the common ancestor (or ancestral couple), shared with at least one DNA match, if we both descend from different children of that common ancestor (or ancestral couple). My direct ancestors on the path to the common ancestor (or ancestral couple) also qualify as DNA Ancestors. And, all common ancestors are documented by conventional genealogy methods.

Joseph Tucker ~ the whole truth about a lie

Joseph Edward Tucker was the son of James Tucker and Catherine Hynes, born in Dublin city about 1868. He was a first cousin of my great-grandfather, Patrick Wynne. Overall, Joseph lived a seemingly ordinary life in Dublin city, working hard and raising his family. And, true to form for my extended Hynes family, the only time he made the headlines was in a case involving the 'demon drink'. But, at least in Joseph's case, it makes for an amusing story.

Joseph's birth
No actual record of Joseph's birth has been found in Dublin, despite the legal requirement to register all births in Ireland, since 1864, but that's where his parents lived and all his siblings were born. To compound the issue of the missing birth cert., his baptism must have coincided with the gap in the records of St Catherine's Church, his home parish, between July 1866 and June 1871. So, Joseph's birthdate of 'about 1868' can for now only be estimated based on his age at the time of the 1901 and 1911 censuses of Ireland, and his reported age at death.

Joseph's family
On 17 June 1889, Joseph Tucker married Mary Ramsey in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, and the couple went on to have nine children:- Elizabeth Esther Tucker born on 8 April 1890; Kathleen Josephine Tucker born on 21 December 1891; Margaret Mary Tucker born on 20 April 1896; James Ernest Tucker born on 1 April 1898; Leo Tucker born on 27 February 1901; Gertrude Tucker born on 23 November 1903; Francis Leonard Tucker born on 19 May 1906; Florence Mary Tucker born on 20 December 1909 and Joseph Edward Tucker born on 14 September 1912. They all survived to adulthood, apart from baby Kathleen who tragically died from 'burn convulsions' aged only twenty-two months.

Joseph Tucker's day in court
Joseph Tucker was caught drinking 'out of hours' in the Brazen Head Hotel on Sunday, 29 March 1908, and instead of coming clean with the Inspector, he lied. He claimed he had travelled to Dublin that morning by tram, from Lucan in Co. Dublin, and was staying in the hotel for the night. However, he was unable to produce a return tram ticket, or any other evidence to support his claim, and the Inspector didn't believe him. Both Joseph and the hotel proprietor were prosecuted for breaching the alcohol licencing laws.

Irish Independent, 2 May 1908, p. 6

The resulting court case went like this:

Inspector Mockler stated he visited the hotel on the day in question, where Tucker was found at the bar and in reply to his questions Tucker said he was 'a curate', living at 'O'Briens over the Bridge.'

Mr. Tobias, the prosecutor, asked if he mentioned which church he was curate of (to which there was laughter in court).

The Inspector added Tucker later admitted he lived in Dublin, and had falsely represented himself at the door of the hotel as coming from Lucan, because he'd been feeling shaky and in need of a drink. The magistrate asked for Tucker's address and the Inspector replied 'Olive road - your worship.'

The magistrate asked 'How do you spell that?' to which Mr. James O'Connor, for the defendant, replied 'O-l-a-f - probably a Danish word.'

The prosecutor said that if you wanted to give it the Danish touch, you would have to include two "f's" in it, as in O-l-a-f-f road

and Joseph Tucker cheekily replied 'If you do the summons will be bad' (to more laughter in court).

The prosecutor responded 'Oh, indeed! I thought you said you belonged to the Church rather than to the Law' (and there was further laughter in the court).

Mr. O'Connor then confirmed he did not wish to cross-examine the Inspector. He thought what happened was perfectly obvious and said,  Tucker, as his worship must have observed, was a well-dressed, respectable-looking fellow. The hotel had admitted him, honestly believing he was a traveller from Lucan.

Tucker was examined next and told, as he himself asserted, 'the whole truth about the lie.' He was quite sure he had deceived the hotel proprietor in being admitted to the bar.

The prosecution argued the hotel proprietor had failed to take reasonable precautions in ensuring Tucker was a bona fide traveller, and had merely asked him where he'd come from.

The magistrate concluded the hotel might well have exercised a little more caution, but agreed with the defense that 'reasonable precautions' varied under different circumstances. He decided it was not a very serious case one way or the other and thought full justice would be served by cautioning the hotel proprietor and fining Tucker 10s.

And that was that.

Joseph's death
Joseph Tucker got cancer of the oesophagus and died of pneumonia at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital in Dublin, on 25 May 1931, stated age sixty-two years. He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery, Co. Dublin.

Funeral Notice, Joseph Tucker, Evening Herald, 26 May 1931, p.8

This post continues a series of articles about my Tucker family. Click on links below to see posts about Joseph's brothers:
John Tucker ~ kept the gun as a souvenir
James Tucker ~ a bad husband.

Source of information on court case: Irish Independent, 2 May 1908, p. 6; Evening Herald, 1 May 1908, p. 5.

James Tucker ~ a bad husband

I can't believe James Tucker! He was a first cousin of my great-grandfather, Patrick Wynne. All my first cousins are kind, decent people and I expected the same of my 'past' cousins. But, James Tucker, my first cousin, three times removed, doesn't quite fit the bill.

James was born on 21 July 1862, the fourth child and third son of James Tucker and Patrick Wynne's maternal aunt, Catherine Hynes. At the time, the Tuckers and my Wynne family shared a home at 104 Thomas Street, Dublin city. James grew up to be a brushmaker, like his father, like his brothers and like most of the Wynne boys. They were a close-knit family.

James Tucker was a civic-minded man. In 1887, along with his brothers Thomas and Joseph, he joined the Arran Quay branch of the Irish National League, and campaigned for political franchise and self-government in Ireland. He was also an active member of the United Society of Brushmakers, and represented the trade union in their disputes. It was inside closed doors the difficulties arose.

On 12 February 1888, James married Ellen Dorrington, née Bolger, a widowed shopkeeper, with an address at Upper Bridge Street, Dublin. The couple made 22 Upper Bridge Street their home and began a family. They had five surviving children:- Edward was born in 1889, Mary in 1891, Catherine in 1896, Annie in 1898 and Eileen in 1902. 

And, as might have been expected for this period in Irish history, they lost a number of children along the way. Their baby son James died of renal failure in 1894 when he was a year old, their son John died of measles in 1897, aged two years, and in 1900, their seven-month-old daughter Louisa died from convulsions. All in all, life seemed tragically normal for a family of the era.

Except, James Tucker was a bad husband!

Source: Evening Herald, 19 August, 1899 p. 4

Can you believe that? Nasty or what! It's too sad!

I suspect James Tucker may have been an alcoholic, and a mean drunk to boot. Alcoholism was perhaps a disease shared by other members of my Hynes family. There are some indications James' aunt Bridget, my great-great-grandmother, may also have suffered from this condition.

James spent much of the next decade of his life in and out of prison, and not just for assaulting his poor wife. He committed some pretty shameful crimes.

Further incarcerations:

• In March 1902, for another assault on Ellen Tucker, he spent 14 days in Mountjoy Prison, before being bailed and discharged. 
• In June 1904, he was committed to Kilmainham Gaol for a month, for 'having carnal knowledge of Lizzie Tracey, a woman aged 18 years.' 
• In August 1904, he'd only just been released from Kilmainham, when he was charged with a crime of indecent assault, and sentenced to serve six months hard labour, in Mountjoy. 
• In October 1906, he served seven days in Mountjoy for using 'profane and obscene language'. 
• In July 1908, he was sentenced to two months in Kilmainham, for again assaulting his wife, but his sentence was commuted to one month. 

Life must have been tough on the family, without their main breadwinner, during James Tucker's many stints in jail. Perhaps for poor Ellen, his periodic incarceration was a mixed blessing. It might explain why Ellen was working, outside the home, as a brush manufacturer, when the 1911 census was enumerated. It's not clear where James was at this time, although the Dublin electoral rolls place him at their home address in 1910 and 1912. Perhaps he was locked up somewhere.

Physical description:
The prison registers do provide a very good physical description of James Tucker. He was marginally over 5 foot, 4 inches tall, and of slim build, averaging between 129 and 140 pounds. He had brown hair, blue-grey eyes, a sharp nose and a fresh complexion, with a cut mark on his forehead.

James Tucker got cancer of the rectum and died in the Mater Hospital in Dublin, on 8 June 1921. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Ellen survived him by twenty-eight years.

Sources available.