James Nyhan
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James Nyhan was born about 1869 in County Cork, Ireland. He was a farmer and a cattle jobber. He married CATHERINE ADAMS, daughter of William Adams and Elizabeth O'Keefe. She was born 1878 in County Cork, Ireland. For a time after his marriage, he may have lived with his in-laws, the Adams’ as his daughter Catherine was born in their house. Sometime around 1904 he bought a house and farm of his own in Knockbrack, Burnfort. Here the rest of his children were born and raised. |
James and Catherine lived at the Knockbrack house during some troubled times in Ireland, for Ireland was in a struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. In order to police Ireland, England took prisoners from English jails and put them in uniform to patrol (or terrorize) the Irish countryside. These "patrolmen" were known as the Black and Tan’s, named from the color of their uniform. James’ daughters would often relate the story that their father would hang metal plates in the windows to prevent stray bullets from entering the house. A few times the window’s were even broken!
James and Catherine’s lived at the Knockbrack Farm together for about twenty years. In in 1923 he caught pneumonia. He died from the pneumonia and had his wake was held in the house.
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Children of James Nyhan and
Catherine Adams are:
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Of James and Catherine's children, Catherine, Christena, William, Mary and Helena came to America and settled in New York. Their daughter Elizabeth came to America and settled in Massachusetts. James and Julane stayed in Ireland.
Catherine ran the farm after her husband’s death and the farm eventually passed to her son James. He ran the farm very successfully and added to it more than tripling it's size. She lived at the house at Knockbrack until her death in May of 1960.
NYHAN WEDDING ALBUM
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(Click on a picture to enlarge) |
