Willoughby Chapter (Draft Edition)

Past Tracker, Associates

The Willoughby (Wilby[1]) family is from County Clare[2], Ireland. Because of the lack of Irish records they have been difficult to trace. Michael Willoughby, a descendant of John Willoughby, has obtained some records from the County Clare Heritage House and shared the findings with this author. (See the transcribed letter below.) More searches can and should be commissioned with the Heritage House. The other known family names from County Clare are GALVIN and COLLINS.

At this time it is not known exactly when the Willoughby family arrived in County Clare but further research should help to find this information. It is important to remember that during a time when spelling was based on the sound of the word there are several possible spellings for Willoughby: Willaby; Willabee; Wilaby; Wilbee; to list some possible spellings.

[1] Alternate spelling for name found in the records from the County Clare Heritage House.

[2] HANLEY-WILLOUGHBY Marriage Certificate; Jefferson County, Marriage record volume 10: page 256, Probate Court, Steubenville, Ohio. “Miss Mary Teresa Willoughby --- native of Clare County State of Ireland ---”

County Clare, Ireland

CLARE COUNTY[1]

“County Clare, situated on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster suffered greatly from emigration over the last two hundred years. Between the years 1850 and 1880 an estimated 112,000 people emigrated from Co. Clare. By comparison the present population stands at just under 90,000. Emigration has created a Clare Diaspora which has resulted in millions of people world-wide who can trace their ancestry to County Clare. From the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and Argentina, many thousands of people seek a greater understanding of the lives of their ancestors, and an awareness of their own personal heritage.

            Some of the place names in County Clare include Ennis, Kilrush, Kilkee, Miltown Malbay, Ennistymon, Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-On-Fergus, Killaloe, Tulla, Scariff, Feakle, Quin, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Liscannor, Broadford, Kildysart, Mullagh and Quilty.

Famous People with Clare Connections:

v      Brian Boru – High King of Ireland

v      Former Present of Ireland, Patrick Hillary

v      Frederick William Burton, former director of British National Gallery

v      John Holland, inventor of the modern submarine

v      Michael Cusack, the founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association

v      Paddy Hannon, who discovered the Golden Mile in Australia

v      The “Liberator”, Daniel O’Connell

v      Eamon De Valera, former President of Ireland

v      Archbishop Clancy of Melbourne

County Clare has many attractions to interest visitors:

ü       The Cliffs of Moher

ü       Bunratty Castle

ü       The historic town of Ennis

ü       Cysart O’Dea Archaeological Centre

ü       Poulnabrone Dolmen

ü       The Burren

ü       Ailwee Caves in ballyvaughan

ü       Clare heritage and Genealogical Centre”

[1] From the Clare County Heritage Center (http://www.clareroots.com)

The parish that our Willoughby family originated is Kilrush. (See the extracted letter below.)

KILRUSH[1]

“--(Cill Rois in Irish) is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland. It also features a popular eighteen-hole golf course, a marina with access to the Shannon Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, plus an impressive walled garden on the grounds of the old Vandeleur estate (landlords of Kilrush up to the end of the 19^th century). Kilrush also hosts a traditional Irish music festival in august of each year – Eigse Mrs. Crotty festival, so named after a famed concertina player from the town. -”

[1] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilrush)

Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland

Malthouse Lane, Kilrush, Ireland

aken by Albert Karsenter abt 2002 - this is the address listed in the christening record of 1880

THE FAMILY IN IRELAND: FIRST GENERATION

1. Patrick WILLOUGHY (WILBY[i]) was born about 1833. He died on 24 Apr 1878[1] in Leadmore, Kilrush Parish, County Clare, Ireland. Patrick died before the immigration of his wife and most of his children. He was listed as a laborer in his death record and died at age 45 with ‘inward cancer’. He may have had a sister[2] named Margy who died in a workhouse. Patrick married Hannah[3] GALVIN[4].

The only one of the first generation in the United States, Hannah (GALVIN[5])[ii] WILLOUGHBY is living with her daughter and son-in-law, Bridget & Thomas DONAHUE, in Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio for the 1900[6] census.

Hannah’s age at the time of her death was listed as 84 years making her birth year 1824. This would mean she was about 10 years older than her husband. This was possible but I don’t think it was probable. I believe she may have been 74 years old when she died, making her birth year 1834. The 1900 census[7] record was not informative about her birth year because the enumerator listed her birth as ‘unknown’. Hannah dies[8] 21 December 1908 and is buried[9] in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Union Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

[1] Antoinette O'Brian, Letter from County Clare Heritage House (np), Ref: 23423, 6 Aug 2003, “On the 24th of April, 1878 Patrick Willoughby (Wilby) whom we are assuming to have been your ancestor’s father died at Leadmore, Kilrush. His age was given as 45. His occupation was given as a labourer. Inward Cancer which he had for 3 months was recorded as the cause of death. While Hanna Willoughby who signed her name with an “X” was shown to have registered the death.”

[2] Antoinette O'Brian, Letter from County Clare Heritage House (np), Ref: 23423, 6 Aug 2003, “--- On the 29th of June, 1878 a Margy Willoughby died at the Workhouse in Kilrush. Her age was given as 36. Epilepsy was recorded as the cause of death.---”

[3] 1900 U. S. census, Tuscarawas Co., OH, pop. sch., Uhrichsville, Mill Twp., ED 125, SD 16, pg. 24 ( 99B), dwelling 533 (crossed out 595), family 547 (538 crossed out): Thomas Donahue household: “Willoughby, Hannah; Mother-In-Law [to head of household]; ---”

[4] Michael Willoughby, Descendants of Patrick Willoughby (Wilby), page 1

[5] Michael Willoughby, Descendants of Patrick Willoughby (Wilby), page 1

[6] 1900 U. S. census, Tuscarawas Co., OH, pop. sch., Uhrichsville, Mill Twp., ED 125, SD 16, pg. 24 (99B), dwelling 533 (crossed out 595), family 547 (538 crossed out): Thomas Donahue household: “ --- Willoughby, Hannah; Mother-In-Law [to head of household] ---”

[7] 1900 U. S. census, Tuscarawas Co., OH, pop. sch., Uhrichsville, Mill Twp., ED 125, SD 16, pg. 24 (99B), dwelling 533 (crossed out 595), family 547 (538 crossed out): Thomas Donahue household: “ --- born & age unknown; --- born in Ireland ---”

[8] Hannah Willoughby entry, Tuscarawas County Death Record Book (1867-1924), page 582, number 122; Probate Court, New Philadelphia, Ohio: Microfilm no. 0890361, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah. “Willoughby, Hannah; [residence] Uhrichsville; DOD December 12, 1908; age 84 years; cause-Pneumonia; Female; White; Widow; parent’s names-Unknown; place of birth-Ireland; place of death Uhrichsville; occupation-Unknown; undertaker-J.V. Ficks; place of burial Mt. Calvary Cem”

[9] Michael Willoughby, Descendants of Patrick Willoughby (Wilby), page 1.

[i] RESEARCH NOTES: Another request for more information about the Wilby family as found in the records of Clare County Heritage House would be a next step.

[ii] RESEARCH NOTES: 1. Her age at the time of her death puts her birth year at 1824. I am not sure of the accuracy of that information. Since her birth information was not available from the one census record (1900) she is found enumerated on, finding her headstone might find the missing information (birth year). 2. Since the previous research commissioned at the Clare County Heritage House was for the Willoughby family, another request for Hannah and the Galvin family might uncover more family information about the Galvin family lines and possibly a christening record for Hannah.

The Burren, Galway Bay, County Clare, Ireland