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I have found a marriage between Cornelius Keeffe and Johanna Buckly on 4 March 1851 in the Parish of Clonmeen, Co Cork. Many years ago, I was given some oral family history that my great-grandfather, James O'Keeffe, was born 16 September 1854 in Cork, Ireland. His father was Cornelius O'Keeffe, a cab driver, and his mother Norah Buckley. James had a sister, Norah, who I was told had moved to the USA.

James O'Keeffe arrived in Australia before 1885. On 26 October 1885, he married Emily Godier in Tocumwal, New South Wales. They had 13 children and lived the rest of their lives in Tocumwal.

After much research over the years, I have not been able to verify James O'Keeffe's date and place of birth.

I found a Cornelius O'Keeffe in Griffiths Valuation living in Kanturk. As Kanturk is not far from Clonmeen, I am guessing that the Cornelius Keeffe married in Clonmeen is the same Cornelius O'Keeffe in the Griffiths.

Any help here would be greatly welcome.

Carl Parkinson

Carl Parkinson

Sunday 22nd Oct 2023, 06:05AM

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  • Carl,

    The subscription site Roots Ireland has the marriage record you reference above...perhaps you already have this information:  Cornelius Keeffe married Johanna Buckly on 4 Mar 1851. It shows his residence as "Lacca", no residence is given for Johanna. The two witnesses were Patrick Buckly & Thomas Keeffe. Marriage took place in the RC parish of Banteer (Cloonmeen civil parish). 

    I did numerous searches for the birth of James and Norah, but there were no results. The Roots Ireland site is pretty comprehensive; and I looked in all counties for their births with these parents, but there were no results. I found no children at all for this couple. 

    Also, while searching, I did see the Cornelius Keeffe from Kanturk that you mention, and he is married to Johanna Tarrant. That couple had three daughters. I think that Banteer and Kanturk are too far from each other for this to be the same person. Finally, if your Cornelius was a cab driver by profession, would he be in the Griffith's holding a land tenancy? 

    Regards,

    Carolyn

    Wednesday 25th Oct 2023, 03:41AM

  • Hi Carolyn

    Thank you for doing all this research for me. I have looked at Griffith's Valuations and found a number of Cornelius O'Keeffe's. As I was told Cornelius was a cab driver, I tend to think I may have found our Cornelius in the Parish of St Peter, Townland, Duncan Street, Municipal Borough of Cork, Co Cork. He was listed as renting a house and yard in Duncan St. This stands to reason that if he was a cab driver in the 1850's he would have needed somewhere to keep his horse and cab?

    I have searched for a baptism for James O'Keeffe in the Parish St Peter's. However there is a baptism register from December 1853 to March 1855 missing. I was told James was born 16 September 1854.

    Thanks again for your help with the research.

    Regards Carl

    Carl Parkinson

    Friday 27th Oct 2023, 03:34AM

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