CORNELIUS SULLIVAN AND JOHANNA CUNNINGHAM

My great grandfather Cornelius/Connor Sullivan was born in Co. Clare around 1856, possibly in Kilrush, Killard or Kilmacduane parish, where there were Sullivan leaseholders in 1855.  I have a good deal of information regarding my great grandmother's family, very little regarding my great grandfather.  Johanna, daughter  of George Cunningham and Bridget McCormack, was born at Clohanes in the parish of Killard.  Clohanes itself is not a townland, but encompassed the townlands of Cloonmore, Carrowmore North, and Cloonnagarnaun. Johanna's baptism is recorded as 02 May 1859; her godparents were Pat and Hannah McCormack (possibly her mother's brother and sister).

My second great grandfather George Cunningham was the son of William Cunningham and Kate (..?..) Cunningham. Bridget McCormack, my second great grandmother, was daughter of Michael McCormack and Catherine Carmody.

In the Griffiths Valuation, George Cunningham is shown to be a tenant in the townland of Carrowmore North. Other tenants were Patrick M'Cormack (possibly brother of Bridget McCormack); Catherine Meskill; John Meskill (possibly brother-in-law of Bridget McCormack); Patrick Carmody (possibly Bridget's cousin), and John Cunningham (related to George?). Several families from this area eventally settled in New Britain, Connecticut.  In the "old" St. Mary's Cemetery in New Britain there are Meskill gravestones which make reference to Clohanes and Doonbeg.

 Cornelius (listed as "Connor") Sullivan and Johanna Cunningham were married on 07 January 1880; their marriage is recorded in the register of the Roman Catholic parish of Doonbeg.  The marriage witnesses were Patt Haley and Mary Duggan. Although civil registration of marriages commenced for all residents  in 1864, I do not find their names in the indices for 1880. It was a big disappointment, as I have not found any records in Connecticut which list the names of Cornelius' parents, nor his place of birth.

By December 1880 my great grandparents were in England, in the  county of Essex, where my grandfather George William Sullivan was born at Plaistow on 7 December.  Four more children were born there before the family emigrated in 1889, settling in New Britain, Connecticut near Johanna's parents (George and Bridget Cunningham) who had arrived some years earlier.

 
 
 

IRISH LINKS PAGE

Sullivan family in ENGLAND

Sullivan/Swieton HOME