I haven’t attempted to write their story yet because there are too many unanswered questions, lack of documents etc. so I am still searching for clues…
Mary’s address was Ballyvologue on her marriage certificate in 1883. It is also the address of the house Martin and herself lived in. The description on her marriage certificate, which I can’t find for now, says “farmer’s daughter.” – I cannot find any records of her O’Shea family prior to or after the marriage, in Ballyvologue, other than she fits in as a child of James O’Shea and Margaret Meehan, as well as in family oral history. When I click through the record above, it leads to Daniel baptized on 24 Feb 1962 not Mary baptised 26 Feb. I am also aware that her brother John J. was baptised in March of 1863 so Mary (if born in 1863) would have been born around Dec 1863.
1850 – Widow Mary Mahony held tenure on the property in Ballyvologue that was to become the home of Mary O’Shea/Martin Chawke.
I am assuming, in the absence of any documentation, that when her grandfather James in Kilmacanerla, died in 1874, his widow Margaret moved to the plot of land in Ballyvologue. Question remains as to who else might have moved with them…and did Widow Mary O’Mahony die and the tenure get passed to the O’Shea’s?
Marriage – 27 Jan. 1883 • Ireland
1883 Martin Chawke (1846–1931) from Kilmeedy, Mary O’Shea (1862–1898) from BALLYVOLOGUE. Witnesses John Flynn and Mary Hartigan—no family—why not?
Martin was from Kilmeedy. Mary was the daughter of farmer James O’Shea, (farmer not cooper). On the date of their marriage, Martin was 27 and Mary was 20 years old.
Margaret O’Shea, widow of James O’Shea, farmer died on March 20, 1890 and Martin Chawke was present at the time of her death – I am assuming that Margaret was his wife’s grandmother.
Mary O’Shea passed away on March 20th, 1898, at the age of 47. Martin Chawke was by her side at the time of her passing.
Martin Chawke passed away on September 10th, 1931, noted as a widower at the age of 77. His son, John Chawke, was present at his death in Ballyvologue.
Children of Mary O’Shea and Martin Chawke:
- 1883 – 14 Dec Rev Fr. William Chawke 1883–1936
- 1885 John Chawke 1885–1954 married Katherine McCann
- 1887 – James Chawke 1887–1934
- 1889 – Michael Chawke 1889
- 1891 – Alice Chawke 1891–1976, married John Bennett
I find it a bit odd that the people mentioned and addressed in the newspaper below are the Chawkes and others with no mention of his wife’s family, the O’Sheas and there are no O’Sheas listed among the chief mourners – again, unless she was from a different O’Shea family and all were dead.
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Saturday, September 26, 1931; Page: 14
MR. MARTIN CHAWKE, BALLYVOLOGUE, BALLINGARRY “
The sad tidings of the death on the 10th inst. of Mr. Martin Chawke, which took place at bis residence, _Ballyvologuo, Ballingarry, has occasioned deep feelings of regret and sincere sympathy amongst all classes in the district where deceased was widely and popularly respected, and deepest sympathy is extended to .his family, relatives and large circle of friends in their sad bereavement.
An exemplary Catholic and kind neighbour, always ready to generously support any object of a charitable kind or help the promotion of man’s welfare, deceased stood high in the esteem of his fellow men, earning their lasting gratitude and admiration for his many fine traits of character.
Of his three sons the Church claims one—Bev. Father William Chawke, who ministers as P.P. in far away Kingman, Kansas, U.S.A. —and this should he a source of great consolation to the deceased in the last moments of his well spent life on this earth ere he passed peacefully away to his everlasting reward.
The remains were removed on Friday evening to the Parish Church, Granagh, where they lay overnight. High Mass was celebrated the following morning, and the clergy in attendance and at the graveside were:—Eev. Father Hogan, P.P., Ballingarry; Bev. Father Murpliy. P.P., Croagh; Bev. ” Father Connolly, P.P., Bauogue; Eev. Father Kelly, C.C ” ., _Ballincarry; Hev. Father O’Brien, Kathkeale; Eev. Father O’Sullivan, C.C, Croom; Eev. Father Costelloe, Banogue.
Chief mourners:—John Chawke (son) and Mrs. Chawke, Ballyvologue; James Chawke (son) and Mrs. Chawke, Banogue; John Bennett (son-in-law) and Mrs Bennett (daughter), _Graigacurragh Richard Chawke, manager, Granagh Co-operative Dairy Society (nephew), and Mrs. Chawke, Ballyvologue; John Chawke (nephew) and Mrs. Chawke, Adare; Michael Chawke (nephew) and Mrs. Chawke, Ballyalinan; Wm. Chawke, Clounlehard; John Chawke, Kilcoleman; James Chawke, Ballyalinan; Patrick Chawke, Kilmeedy; John Chawke, Mitchelstown (nephews); .James J and Mrs. Moloney (niece), Mohanagh. Ballyhahill; Thomas and Mrs. Geary (niece), Abahbccn, Feenagh; Daniel and Mrs. Storan (niece), Ballingarry; Martin, John and May Chawke, May, Martin and Patrick Bennett, Martin and J. Chawke (grand children); Master Stephen, William and Edward Chawke, Ballyvologue; John Chawke, Duxtown; Mrs. Chawke, N.T., Kilacolla; John, Mrs. and Nellie Power, Knockfierna; James, Phil, John and Mrs. Thomas O’Connor, Ballyvologue; James Hynes, Howardstown; Patrick _Hynes, Granagh; Mrs. McCann and Batt McCann, Ballingarry; Mrs. Kennedy, Adare; Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Ballyvologue; James and Mrs. Sheeliy, Kilmore House, Bruree; Mrs. Carmody, Kilfinny; Miss Madge Moloney, The Square, Newcastle West; Thomas Chawke, Kilmeedy (cousins).
VOTE OF SYMPATHY.
At a meeting of Granagh Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Society a resolution was adopted expressing sympathy with the manager (Mr. Richard Chawke) on the death of his uncle, and with Mr. John Chawke, Ballyvologue, on the death of his father.
NOTES: Paddy Bennett, living in Seattle, now aged 91, uncle to John Bennett (married to Marie Chawke): “my one recollection is the following:. When my sister Anne and Mary O’Shea decided to go to secondary school in Mercy Convent in Doon, County Limerick, both families got a discount on tuition because the girls were cousins. I remember my mother saying that they were actually double cousins but I never got the details.” This Paddy Bennett apparently wrote an autobiography and John Bennett has a copy but found nothing in it to do with O’Sheas.
