A sixth cousin?

I was looking through the Gen Forum Clancy listings http://genforum.genealogy.com/clancy/ the past few weeks and came across several interesting posts that mentioned several of the names of Clancys mentioned in Sister Phyl’s Meet the Clancys 1654-1997. 

Though the postings themselves were from 2001-2002, I was able to contact Hugh McKiernan.  Hugh has been extremely helpful and kind with his time helping me better understand how to find information in Ireland. 

Check out http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ and http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Ireland-civil-registration.html

I have yet to search through these and will soon looking for the Clancy-Sullivan-Kelly-Gleeson family lines.  Feel free to look yourself and let me know if you do. 

And Hugh might very well be my 6^th cousin. 

Within a span of 2 months I have made contact with a 3^rd cousin, Kevin Clancy of the Boston area, formerly of Oughterard, County Galway, Ireland; a second cousin twice removed, Sister Phyl Clancy currently living at a convent in Ard Bhride, The Lawn, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland; and now Hugh McKiernan who resides in Delvin, County Westmeath, Ireland.

It’s been kinda fun.

Jim

What do I know about Michael and Nora … and what’s next?

What do I know about Michael and Nora … and what’s next? 
Following is what I’ve found.  This gives an overview of his life but there remain many questions.  

Why did Michael immigrate?

What led him to immediately enlist?

How did he meet Nora Kelly?

Why did he decide to settle in St. Louis?
Why was his younger brother John the only other sibling that immigrated?


Do you have other questions?  Do you have any other facts?  Let me know.


April 11, 1863 or 1865 - Michael's birth in Oughterard, Galway County, Ireland to Patrick Clancy and Catherine Sullivan

April 30, 1868 or 1869 - Nora's birth in Burtherula (?), Ireland to James Kelly and Bridget Sullivan

1884 – Michael immigrated to US (via New York or Boston?)

June 17 1885-June 16, 1890 – Michael’s military service stationed at Fort Clark, Texas

1889 – Nora immigrated to the US

Oct 1893 – Michael and Nora wed

Sept 9, 1895 – daughter Catherine M is born

April 11, 1899 – daughter Mary L is born

June 5, 1900 – they lived at 3409 S Second St in St Louis, MO; Michael was employed as a gripman (cable r.r.)

Sept 30, 1901 – son James Joseph was born

Sept 8, 1909 – son Edward P was born

April 23, 1910 – The lived at 2720 Indiana Ave in St Louis, MO; Michael was employed as a foreman at the gas works.
 

Jan 14, 1920 - The lived at 2720 Indiana Ave; Michael was employed as a foreman at the gas works

1926 – They moved to 7550 Wise Ave in Richmond Heights in St Louis

March 2, 1951 – Michael died at age 87, still living at 7550 Wise Ave

March 15, 1951 – Michael was buried at Calvary Cemetery, (sect 025, lot 0568, grave 09003)

Aug  22, 1955 – Nora died at age 86.

Besides the information above, I understand that Michael was also diabetic and lost part of a leg, below the knee.  He was confined to a wheelchair at least since 1951.  

I am still looking for Michael’s immigration documents, his military pension records, his naturalization papers, and hopefully, his birth certificate.  Then on to Nora Kelly.  All in due time.

the Oughterard connection

3/2/2011
Most of the family research I've done was 1997-2002 when my kids were young.  I took a scattergun approach; I went to the library and looked for all my family members in a particular document ex. a census.  I didn't focus on a particular person.  I found the easy stuff and created a skeleton of the family tree, my parents and Kathy’s.  At that time I basically stopped due to the time it would take to do in-depth research.  Most of what can now be found on the internet was not there then. 

 One of the last things I did before stopping was to place a few posts on the internet in the GenForum, a genealogical bulletin board.  Check it out at http://genforum.genealogy.com/clancy/
My “Clancy” post, which I forgot about, follows.  This was Oct 2002. 

I am looking for any relatives of Michael J (March 14, 1863-March 02, 1951) and his brother John Clancy (September 04, 1871-1960). Brothers married sisters, Michael to Honora (Nora) Kelly and John to Margaret (Maggie) Kelly.

Michael immigrated with younger brother John. 1878-1881? joined Army Calvary unit and was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO. After duty in Texas (Fort Sam Houston) he returned to St. Louis. He then brought younger brother John from Ireland with Michael's future wife Nora and her sister, John's future wife Margaret.

On January 3, 2011, after committing myself to again dig deeper, I found my Oct, 2002 post.  There was a response dated Jan 9, 2010. 

I am a Clancy from Oughterard. My name is Kevin Clancy I am 32 so a bit young to remember those names you have mentioned but they have to be related to me as all the Clancys in Oughterard are related one way or another. My great Grandfather was James Clancy and as far as I know Michael and John were his brothers. If I can find out more I will let you know.
Regards
Kevin Clancy

There was an email address attached so I emailed Kevin.  We eventually spoke on the phone.  Kevin was born and raised in Oughterard where he still has family.   Kevin currently lives in the Boston area where he met his wife and recently had their first child.  He told me a little about his family and mentioned that a relative, a nun, wrote a history of the family entitled “Meet the Clancys”.

I then did an internet search on “Meet the Clancys”.  I found an obscure reference and the name of the author, Sister Phyl Clancy, a sister of Mercy.  I could not actually find the book anywhere.  I then searched for Sisters of Mercy and found that they have 8 districts “convents” in Ireland.  I emailed each one on Jan 13.

I am attempting to contact Sister Phyl Clancy of Ireland.  I am not sure which convent Sister Phyl belongs.  I believe Sister Phyl is a long lost cousin.  I am especially interested in a book Sister Phyl authored in 1997, Meet the Clancys: 1654-1997.  If possible, please forward my message to her.

The next morning I had a response. 

Your email in relation to Sister Phyl Clancy, was received here today.  Sr. Phyl lives here and will respond to your email during the coming days.  She does not use the computer herself.  I brought your email to her attention this evening.  She will dictate a response in due course and I will email it to you.

She has written the book about the Clancy family that you referred to.  She has 2 copies of it here and will be pleased to post one to you if you so wish. Phyl lives here in this "support living" environment.  She is 81 years of age.  Phyl is a wonderful character.

With very warm wishes, 

Sister Kathleen Friel

(on behalf of Phyl)

I was excited; I had made contact with 2 living, probable Irish cousins in less than 2 weeks.  The next day I get a phone call from Ireland and spoke to both Sister Kathleen and Phyl.  We spoke abut 15 minutes.  Sister Phyl did have the book (only 200 copies were made) and did mail one to me.  Phyl also gave me permission to copy and share.  I was able to copy the book as a pdf and hope to post the book soon.  You will need Adobe Acrobat to open.