Patrick Joseph O'Donnell  born Ardnaree, Co. Sligo abt 1834 died Chicago 1881 & Catherine Nealis born Crossmolina, Co Mayo abt 1831 died Chicago 1904

Uncle Will Connery told Helen that the family of his maternal grandfather Patrick Joseph O'Donnell was from Ardnaree across the River Moy from Ballina in County Mayo.  My understanding is that Ardnaree was in Co. Sligo during the time that Pat lived there (abt 1834-1866), but the area was transferred to Co. Mayo in 1898.  About 1908, Pat's daughter Maria Theresa O'Donnell Connery visited Ireland (click on "Rye Visits Ireland" to see photos from that visit).  

This is a postcard sent to Uncle Will.  The caption reads (I'll put this info in when the postcard surfaces again).

The earliest birthdate given for Pat is 1834 (death cert.) and documents generally show Cate Nealis to be at least 4 years older than her husband.  Cate's son's baptism record says she is from Laughly (which I think to be Laughil, a townland in Crossmolina Civil Parish, County Mayo).  Crossmolina is about 6.5 miles west of Ballina.  The name "Deroslick" was also given by Uncle Will as the place where she was from, but I have not been able to determine what this name refers to (maybe it's the name of the property).  Uncle Will told us that Cate's mother was a Rea and that Cate's ancestors were buried at Rake St. cemetery near Crossmolina.  When we visited in 1964, the cemetery was in disrepair and we could not find anything.  Uncle Will said Pat's ancestors were buried in the churchyard on the River Moy in Ballina.

We don't know the names of Pat and Cate's parents for certain, but do have some clues.  Pat had a sister Jane born about 1845 and, since there were 11 years between them, perhaps there were other siblings.  From census info, it appears that Jane emigrated to Chicago about 1863 at about age 18.  A Jane Sweeney age 25 is listed living with Pat and Cate in the 1870 Census, so Jane may have first been married to a Sweeney.  Jane's husband (that we knew of) was Peter Coan (also a Mayo/Sligo name) and I assume they were married before they left Ireland.  Peter was listed in Chicago in the 1880 census as a blacksmith.  In 1880, the Coans are living with Joseph Summers, a blacksmith, and his wife Amelia (don't know who they are).  Jane died in 1883 at age 38 (obit notice said "Kansas City and Rutland, VT papers, please copy", but I don't know what the connection is) and Peter died in 1915 (about age 72).  Peter died at the home of Molly McCabe, the daughter of his brother John Coan.  Peter and Jane are buried in Patrick O'Donnell's plot in Calvary, Evanston, IL.   

Uncle Will said that Cate Nealis had sisters Amanda (Ann) and Ellen, but did not mention that she also had a brother Michael.  Since he did not know about Michael, perhaps there are other siblings.  I have not proved for certain that Michael was Cate's brother, but among the evidence is that a Michael Nealis was godfather to Cate's son Michael O'Donnell.  In addition, Michael is related to the same Also Michael O'Donnell purchased the plot at Calvary cemetery in Evanston, IL where Michael Nealis (abt 1843-1893) is buried.  Amanda (abt 1839-1894) and Ellen (abt 1833-1908)  are buried in the O'Donnell plot at Calvary, as is Ellen's son James Leonard (abt 1855-1897), but not his family.  Ellen married Unknown Leonard and son James was born in England.  James married Marie? Dwyer and two of his three daughters had families.  Ellen also had a daughter Ellen Leonard, who apparently remained single.  Ellen's second husband was Daniel Donovan, but I don't know anything about him either.  More research needed about this whole paragraph.  Here's some links to Nealis photos; we are trying to figure out how (and if) these folks are related:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mckinley/o'donnell_nealis.htm

http://www.ottercreek-web-design.com/nealisphotos.htm                 

Uncle Will said that the O'Donnells were "landed gentry" and that when they emigrated they were able to bring their household possessions with them.  They left Ireland to pursue better educational opportunities for their children.    When I find the ship they arrived on, it will be interesting to see their class of travel (i.e., steerage vs. first class).  I wonder if this photo was taken when they   emigrated.   Census documents show that their 3 children were born in Ireland and give their date of emigration as 1866.

The two photos below were passed down in matching frames, so it appears the individuals were very close to Cate and Pat Nealis.  The children are those of Pat and Cate:  Maria (1862-1932) pronounced Mariah, nickname was "Rye"; Joseph (1859-1933); and Michael O'Donnell (1864-1930).  I wonder if the woman is the mother of Pat or Cate, and what her name was.  Is she Maria Gardner (who married a Pat O'Donnell 13 Feb 1822), Celia Timlin (who married a Pat O'Donnell) , Bridget Rea Nealis (who lived on Garden St. near Patrick O'Donnells, Jr. and Sr.), or Mary Caden (who married a Martin Nealis)?  These are some of the women I have as candidates for mothers of Pat and Cate.  

 

Kilmoremoy Parish Register, Baptisms

Date	Name	Father	Mother	Sponsors
7 May 1860	James	Pat O'Donnell	Cate Nealis	John Sawton (Lawton?), Jane O'Donnell
23 Mar 1862	Maria	Pat O'Donnell	Cate Nealis of Laughly	Michael Nealis, Eliza Murphy
27 Jan 1864	Michael	Pat O'Donnell, horsebreaker	Cate Nealis of Laughly	Michael Walsh, Eliza Murphy

Here's Pat & Cate's first census enumeration (1870 Fed Census) after their arrival in the U.S. (abt 1866):

Here's Pat & Cate in the 1880 census.  The birthdates below show whole family as younger than other records indicate:

Here's Pat & Cate's death notices:

Patrick J. O'Donnell - Chicago Tribune, Sat, Dec, 17, 1881 - O'Donnell at his late residence, No. 117 West Ohio St (1), Patrick J. O'Donnell a native of Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland aged 47 years. Funeral Sunday Dec. 18 at 12 o'clock noon to St. Stephens Church thence by cars to Calvary Cemetery. May his soul rest in peace. New York, Scranton (Pa) and Canada papers please copy.  Who were the relatives in these cities? 

Catherine Nealis O'Donnell - Chicago Tribune Dec 1904 - O'Donnell Dec. 25 Catherine, widow of the late Patrick O'Donnell, mother of Joseph A. Donnell, Mrs. James P. Connery and Michael O'Donnell, native of Crossmolina, Co Mayo, Ireland. Funeral Wed. Dec. 28 at 10:00 AM from her daughter's residence at 821 Washington Blvd. to St. Malachy Church, corner of Western Ave. and Walnut St. where solemn high mass will be celebrated thence by carriages to Calvary. 

Info Wish List:

Marriage info on Patrick O'Donnell & Cate Nealis, and Peter Coan & Jane O'Donnell in Ireland, probably Crossmolina or Ballina, Kilmoremoy Parish.

What ships brought O'Donnells, Nealises and Coans to the U.S. in the 1860s?

Naturalization info on Patrick Joseph O'Donnell and Peter Coan.

Who were the parents of Patrick Joseph O'Donnell and Catherine Nealis?

Need death cert. for Michael Nealis/Nellis, died abt 5 March 1893.