My family tree

Frances Cavanagh

Frances Cavanagh was my great grandmother.

She was born in Carrowhugh, Co. Donegal about 1841. She was the daughter of Michael Cavanagh, and had two sisters, Mary and Nancy, and a brother John. Her sister Nancy married Hugh McCann.

Frances married Thomas Doherty in Moville on 06 October 1864. Tom was a groom working on the Duncreggan Estate in Derry. They had eleven children, of whom eight were still alive in 1911, including Lizzie, Ellen, Thomas (my grandfather), Mickey, William, Mary Anne, John and Josephine.

The first three children (born up to 1874) were all born in County Donegal, probably Carrowhugh. Those born after this date were all from Derry. Either the family lived in Donegal until 1874 or, more likely, Frances returned to her mother's home for the births. By the time of the 1901 Census, the family was living at 5 Hawthorn Terrace, Derry.

Frances and Tom first met when she was with a group of her friends on the Wee Loanin' in Carrowhugh, and said

"I'm going to marry the next man who comes round that bend on a horse..."

And she did ....

My mother could always recall the front room of the wee house in Hawthorne Terrace full of gleaming horse brasses. She always came away from her grandmother's home with an apple or a banana, and a penny to spend on sweets.

Frances died at Hawthorn Terrace in January 1925, following a short illness.

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Frances' links

Frances' family links

  • Parents

    • Michael Cavanagh
    • Unknown
  • Siblings

    • Mary
    • John
    • Anne (Nancy)
  • Spouse

  • Children

    • Lizzie
    • Ellen
    • William
    • Mary Anne
    • Thomas
    • Micheal
    • John
    • Josephine
    • Unknown
    • Unknown
    • Unknown