the finerty family
THOMAS FINNERTY ( - ) (Parents Unknown) Nothing is known about Thomas except that he appears to have been born somewhere in Co. Galway Ireland. He and his wife came to this country some time in the late 1840s and by 1857, his family was settled in Lebanon Twp. in Dakota Co. MN. At least one member of the family was known to have been living somewhere in Illinois in 1855. His wife Catherine was born in Headford Co. Galway Ireland and appears to be closely related to the Patrick Hynes family that settled in Burnsville MN.. Children
Winnifred (1829-1896) Patrick Mullery ( ) St. Joseph's
Rosemount MN Thomas does not appear on the 1860 census records so it is assumed he died some time prior to this date. Both Michael and Patrick acted as township supervisors during the 1860's but by the early 1870's the family disappeared from the Dakota Co. records. Catherine died at an undisclosed location and was buried at St. John's Cemetery in Burnsville MN in the Fahey family plot. Her son Michael may be the same Michael listed as married and with a family in St. Paul in the 1880's. Eagan Twp. records list a Michael Finnerty as having died in 1884 at 80 years of age. Nothing else is known about this individual adding to the confusion surrounding this family. The inclusion of Jane and Winnifred on this list is purely circumstantial. Winnifred was apparently married by the time she and her husband arrived in Minnesota. The settled on a farm in Lebanon Twp. hence her inclusion. The circumstances around Jane are even more confused. A marriage record from 1856 appears to list her name as Finnerty and was witnessed by Mike & Bridget Finnerty. She and her husband were living in Eagan Twp. by 1867. However, baptism records beginning in 1864 for children of Bartly & Johanna (Jane ?) list her maiden name as Maher. There was also a Thomas & Bridget Finnerty living in St. Paul in 1857. It is not known whether or not there was any relationship with this family. There was also a Bridget Finnerty listed as the mother of Mrs. Pat McCarthy of Rosemount MN but again there is no clear evidence of a relationship between these families.
MICHAEL FINNERTY (1800-1884) (Parents Unknown) This family first appears in Dakota Co. in the early 1860s and apparently settled in Lebanon Twp. There is considerable confusion regarding this family and the family listed above. No clear resolution of this problem is at this time possible. It is not known just how he would be related to the Thomas listed above, but the proximity of there settlement would appear to suggest some kind of relationship. Children
Thomas (1836- ) Rose Kane (1861) (No information available) Michael is listed in 1865 and 1870 as living with his son Thomas in Lebanon Twp. and Eagan Twp. It is highly likely that this Michael is the one listed in the death records for Eagan MM as having died in 1884. Nothing is known about Margaret except for her marriage listing and for some of the birth records of her children. She is assumed to be the daughter of Michael but be actually be a daughter of Thomas.???
THOMAS FINNERTY (1836- ) Son of Michael Finnerty &
?????? Thomas Finnerty was apparently born in Ireland and may have come to Minnesota with his family. Although no record of him exists prior to his marriage at St. Peter's church in Mendota in 1861, he is assumed to be the son of Michael Finnerty who settled in Lebanon Twp. After his marriage he and his wife continued to live in Dakota Co. first working a farm in Eagan Twp. and later moving to another farm in Empire Twp. Children
Mary A (1862-1924) Frank Caughlin (1885) Calvary Cem. St. Paul Some time before 1900 this family appears to have left the area. It is assumed that the family moved into St. Paul but there is as yet no direct evidence to support this. The marriage for Mary is listed in the records of St.Peters church in Mendota MN. It is assumes that this is the daughter of Thomas & Rose but this is not certain. The record also lists a Johannah Finnerty as a witness. The family maintained a plot in St. Peters Cemetery where there is a grave for Rose Finnerty and a Mrs. John F. Ryan and Mrs. Giles Fitch. An obituary for Mrs. John (Jane) Ryan lists John Finnerty and Mrs. Giles as brother and sister.
THOMAS FINERTY (1874-1942) Son of Thomas Finerty &
Rose Kane Children Thomas died in May of 1942. At that time he was living at 440 Roy Street in St. Paul. He is supposedly buried at St. Peters Cemetery in Mendota. He was survived by four step children.
Related Pages The Patrick and Bridget Killallea Hynes Family The Mullery Family
Resource Sites Cemetery Sites Douglas Township - St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery - Meisville, Minnesota
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updated Nov 29, 1999