County Kilkenny => Dubuque County, Iowa => Harrison County, Iowa => Beyond
Our Walsh Families
The primary Walsh families included in this article came from County Kilkenny, Ireland in the late 1840s, and settled near Dubuque, Iowa in the 1850s. This includes the families of brothers and sister Edmund, Patrick, and Alice Walsh. The focus of this article explores the names of their parents. In addition Edmund Walsh was married to a Mary Walsh, and the parents of Mary are also explored. For further information on the descendants of Edmund, Patrick and Alice, as well as other possible brothers and sisters in their family, click on the 'Walsh Family Tree' link at the top of this page.
Parents of Edmund Walsh
Edmund Walsh and Mary Walsh, both immigrants from Ireland, were married on January 7, 1857 at old St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque, Iowa. According to family lore and the marriage record at St. Raphael's, Mary was also a Walsh. Being from different Walsh families, this article attempts to look for clues about their parents and when the families arrived in America. This is based on snippets of information passed down through the family as well as from available records. Although Iowa Vital Records did not locate a death certificate for Edmund Walsh, a death certificate was located for Mary.
For Edmund Walsh, said to be born about April 05, 1829, the first clue to the names of his parents comes from a tradition of naming the eldest son and daughter after the paternal parents, and the second eldest son and daughter after the maternal parents. Edmund and Mary's eldest son was named Thomas and their eldest daughter named Mary. Edmund Walsh was not alone when he arrived in America, nor was he alone while living in Dubuque County. He had a brother named Patrick Walsh and a sister named Alice (Walsh) Brennan, who also raised families in Dubuque County. Patrick named his eldest son and daughter Thomas and Mary, and Alice named her second son and daughter Thomas and Mary.
Edmund had another sister named Mary (Walsh) Nash who also moved at a later date to Dubuque. The second clue to the name of Edmund's parents comes from a St. Raphael's funeral record of Mary, naming her parents Thomas and Mary. A third clue comes from a ship list which appears to be our Walsh family arriving in Boston harbor on June 9, 1848 aboard the ship Telassar. On board this ship included Mary Walsh (age 50), Alice Walsh (age 24), Patrick Walsh (age 21), Edward Walsh (age 18), Robert Walsh (age 16) and Mary Walsh (age 14). Alice, Patrick, Edward (Edmund), and Mary are all the right ages for our Walsh family, and family tradition mentions that Edmund arrived in Boston with his mother and other members of the family.
An interesting fact about the ship record above is another Walsh family who are listed alongside our Walsh family. This was the family of Lawrence and Bridget (Cuddehy) Walsh. Family lore mentions a brother of Edmund named Lawrence who lived in New Hampshire and had a large family. The same family of Lawrence (Leander) and Bridget Walsh onboard the Telassar are found living in New Hampshire after their arrival in America. Lawrence also named his eldest son and daughter Thomas and Mary, and both children are listed aboard the Telassar. A search for Lawrence and Bridget's family in County Kilkenny indicates their children were baptized in the area of Ballinteskin townland in Ballyhale Catholic Parish. This provides a first clue to where the Walshs may have lived in County Kilkenny. Lawrence and his family used the spelling Welch and Welsh while living in New Hampshire. Lawrence Welch died in February 14, 1893 in Hancock, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire at age 77years 10months and 15days. His death record cites the names of his parents as Thomas Welch and Mary O Keefe.
Family history mentions another possible sister (or close relative) of Mary (Walsh) Nash, Edmund's sister. This was Bridget Walsh who married John F Broderick in Ireland, and whose children were also baptized in Ballyhale Parish in County Kilkenny. They are cited in the baptism records to have lived in the area of Newmarket, about 3 miles from the Ballinteskin area. This information offers a second clue to where our Walshs may have lived in County Kilkenny. Bridget arrived in America via New York with most of her children on October 13 1851, aboard the ship Hungarian.
One account in family history also mentions a brother named John Walsh who later moved to California. In January 1852, John, Edward and Patrick Walsh were deeded 40 acres of land in Washington township, Dubuque County, Iowa, the area that Edmund and Patrick farmed and raised their families. Robert Walsh may be the unnamed brother mentioned in family lore who lived in St. Louis. Robert is mentioned with the family aboard the ship Telassar and a Robert (of his age) is also found living near Lawrence in 1850 New Hampshire. Robert seems to be the unmarried Robert Welsh who was living in St. Louis in 1860 and 1870.
An 1889 History of Hancock, New Hampshire (the place Lawrence lived) mentions another possible member of the Walsh family. This was Anna who married James Cuddihee (Cuddihy/Cuddehy) in Ireland and immigrated to New Hampshire. In the genealogical section of the history she is mentioned as a sister of Lawrence Welch, having died sometime in the 1860s. She is listed as Stacey Cuddihee, age 44, in the 1860 Cheshire, NH census, and her name is listed as Anastatia Walsh in the Ballyhale-Aghavaller RC baptism records of her older children (two baptisms confirmed in Ballinteskin). It seems more than a coincidence that Anna named her second son and daughter Thomas and Mary. Anastatia is believed to have arrived in America via New York with her two youngest children on October 13 1851, aboard the ship Hungarian. On the ship manifest her family is listed after the family of Bridget (Walsh) Broderick, mentioned above.
A search of early Irish baptism records turns up the most likely possibility for the parents of Edmund Walsh and his brothers and sisters. The family of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe (or Keeffe) lived in the Ballinteskin area of County Kilkenny, and available baptisms for their children include John (1824), Bridget? (1826), Edward (1829), Robert (1832), and Mary (1834). In this family Edward, Robert, Mary and possibly John are close matches to our Walshs. Lawrence (Walsh) Welch, mentioned above, was also a son of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe.
From this research there is every indication the parents of Edmund Walsh were named Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe (Keeffe, O'Keeffe), who lived in the Ballinteskin area of County Kilkenny (located in the civil parish of Aghaviller, and the Catholic parish of Ballyhale). This was the area our Walsh family was raised before coming to America. This area is in the heart of what was commonly called the "Walsh Mountains", an area that many Walsh families have lived since the 13th century.
| Edmund Walsh told his family about the Coat of Arms that belonged to his family in Cromwell's time, describing it as "a silver shield with a chevron in the center and at the top of a spear head pointing upward on each side of the chevron, and a spear head on the lower part, midway between both sides of the chevron". These are the arms of Walsh of Castlehale (i.e. "Walsh of the Mountain") who were large landowners in the area prior to the dispossession and confiscation of Catholic estates during the latter 17th century. For further historical reference on the legacy of Castlehale, see this article. |  |
County Kilkenny Baptism/Birth Records:
Children of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe:
- Elder children were baptized before available records were kept. The death record of Lawrence Welch of Hancock, New Hampshire cites his parents as Thomas Welch and Mary O Keefe. He died February 14, 1893 at age 77y 10m 15d. The 1889 history of Hancock, New Hampshire mentions a sister of Lawrence Welch named Anna Welch Cudihee, deceased wife of James Cudihee, who died there in the 1860s.
- The name of Bridget Walsh, wife of John Broderick, and perhaps the eldest of the children, should be included here. Her connection to the family is mentioned in family lore as a sister of Mary (Walsh) Nash. Her connection to the family is also suggested from immigration records, where members of her family apparently arrived (on multiple occasions) with members of the family of Anastatia (Walsh) Cuddihee. The name of Anastatia (Anty) Walsh also appears as a sponsor at the baptism of Bridget Walsh's 2nd child.
- John Walsh, child of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keeffe, dated May 7, 1824 in Ballentiskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were James Delahunty and Mary Dalton.
- Patrick Walsh (not found), born about 1826.
- Bridget Walsh, child of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe, dated July 27, 1826 in Ballyinteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Costello and Ellen Phelan. (NOTE: this seems to be a transcription error for the baptism of either Patrick or Alice.)
- Alice Walsh (not found), born about 1828.
- Edward Walsh, child of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe, dated February 15, 1829 in Balenteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Brodrick and Catherine Walsh.
- Robert Walsh, child of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keeffe, dated February 27, 1832 in Ballentiskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Thomas Hearns and Bridget Keeffe.
- Mary Walsh, child of Thomas Walsh and Mary Keefe, dated April 9, 1834 in Ballenteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Shea and Ellen Kelly.
Children of Laurence Walsh and Bridget Cuddihy:
- Mary Walsh, child of Laurence Walsh and Bridget Codehy, dated January 19, 1841 in Ballinteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Ned Walsh and Bridget Shea.
- Ellen Walsh, child of Laurence Walsh and Bridget Cuddehy, dated December 25, 1844, in Ballenteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Walsh and Ally Walsh.
- Thomas Walsh, child of Laurence Walsh and Bridget Cuddihy, dated August 1, 1846 in Ballinteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Walsh and Margaret Shea.
Children of James Cuddihy and Anastatia Walsh:
- Ellen Codehy, child of James Codehy and Anastatia Walsh, dated May 22, 1841 in Ballenteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Pat Shea and Cathrine Millea.
- James Codehy, child of James Codehy and Anastatia Walsh, dated March 14, 1843 in 'Elseware', Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were William Codehy and Nelly Walsh.
- Thomas Cuddihy (not found), born about 1846.
- Mary Cuddihy, child of James Cuddihy and Anastatia Walsh, dated September 12, 1848 in Ballinteskin, Aghaviller RC parish. Sponsor was Catherine Cuddihy, the other name was not recorded.
Children of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh:
- Edmund Brodrick, child of John Brodrick and Bridget Walsh, dated March 28, 1834 in Ballenteskin, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Luke Power and Mary Broderick.
- Michael Broderick, child of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh, dated October 2, 1836 in Croan, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Walter Broderick and Anty Walsh. (NOTE: Anty is an abbreviation for the name Anastatia)
- Margaret Broderick (not found), born in the 1830s.
- Walter Broderick, child of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh, dated April 27, 1841 in Newmarket, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were Michael Dewyer and Mary Carty.
- Thomas Broderick (not found), born about 1842.
- Mary Broderick, child of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh, dated September 26, 1844 in Newmarket, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were John Ryan and Judith Dermody.
- Bridget Broderick, child of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh, dated January 18, 1846 in Newmarket, Ballyhale RC parish. Sponsors were James Grennan and Margaret Lee.
- John Broderick (not found), born about 1848.
- Patrick Broderick, child of John Broderick and Bridget Walsh, dated March 9, 1851 in Newmarket, Aghaviller RC parish. Sponsors were James Broderick and Anty Lee.
Parents of Mary Frances Walsh (wife of Edmund)
This is the second Walsh family dealt with in this article. Mary Walsh, born March 01, 1839, came from a different Walsh family than her husband Edmund Walsh. Mary Frances Walsh has an Iowa death certificate on record which indicates her parents were John Walsh and Kathryn TRYMAN. However, in the 1925 Iowa State census Mary lists her parents as John Walsh and Margaret TYNAN/TRYNAN? (the trailing 'YNAN' fairly clear).
The following excerpt was provided by Mrs. Ellen Veronica TeBockhorst about her mother's family: "Mary Francis Walsh, was born in southeastern Ireland in County Kilkenny and came to this country when she was nine years old [about 1848-1849] with her parents, brothers and sisters. Her father was a tailor but took up farming. They lived in New Jersey awhile and when she finished grade school she had one year of schooling in a convent in New York. They moved to Bellevue [Jackson County] Iowa where her father bought a farm of 120 acres and built a nice home. She was married near there. One of her brothers was a lawyer in Philadelphia, one brother was a salesman and her youngest? brother was studying for the priesthood when he went swimming, took cramps, and drowned. Two of her sisters married and one taught school and remained single. Lucian's (TeBockhorst) grandma Walsh died in 1926 at the age of 86."
Other family members mention that Mary Francis had a sister named Anna Walsh, who married Robert G. Graham in the Dubuque County area. Provided by one researcher in Anna's family are the probable names of Mary Francis Walsh's siblings, which included Anna (above), Catherine, William, and Nicholas. A single Catherine Walsh was listed with her widowed sister Mary Walsh in the 1915 Harrison County, Iowa census, and in 1920 she was listed with her widowed sister Anna Graham in the Dubuque, Iowa census. The death certificate for Anna (Walsh) Graham suggests her mother's name was Margaret PINAN, and her father as William Walsh. Unfortunately, Anna does not list the names of her parents in the 1925 Iowa State census, the census enumerator writing 'don't know'.
When analyzing U.S. records, the descriptions provided above match closely to the family of John and Marg. Welsh who were living in Julien twp, Dubuque, Iowa according to the 1856 census. John is listed as a tailor in this census, matching the occupation given by Mrs. TeBockhorst. Their children included Mary (age 17), Kate (14), daughter B. (12), Ann (10), William (8), Joseph (5) and son N. (3). The children were born in Ireland except for the last two who were born in New York (New Jersey?). The Mary Welsh listed here is the age Mary Francis Walsh would have been, and she married Edmund Walsh in Dubuque in 1856.
In 1860 the family of John and Margaret Walsh were farming in Prairie Springs township, Jackson County, Iowa, an area adjacent to Washington township in Dubuque County where Edmund and Mary Walsh were raising their own family. According to the 1860 census, members of John and Margaret's family included Catherine (16), Bridget (14), Anna (12), William (11), Joseph (8) and Nicholas (5), the older children born in Ireland and the younger two in New Jersey.
In 1870 the family was farming near near Bellevue, Iowa, in Washington township, Jackson Co., Iowa. Listed are John (55), Margaret (55), Mary (24), Joseph (19), Nicholas (16) and Willie (3), all born in Ireland except Nicholas who was born in New Jersey and young Willie who was born in Iowa. It is known that daughters Mary and Anna were raising families in Dubuque County at this time, and it is presumed from a family history that single daughter Catherine had moved to eastern Pennsylvania. Also from a family history it would seem to have been son William Walsh who was studying to become a priest about this time.
During the 1870s it is apparent that John Walsh had passed away. John's widow Margaret was living in 1880 Dubuque, Iowa with single son Nicholas (a salesman), and a married daughter named Philomena and her son William Mattox (perhaps Willie of the 1870 census). Daughters Mary and Anna continued to raise their families in Dubuque, while single daughter Catherine seems to have been a housekeeper in the Philadelphia household Rev. Nicholas J Walsh (a possible younger brother of John Walsh). Philadelphia also appears to be the place that son Joseph Walsh, a lawyer, had also relocated to.
During the 1880s it seems likely that Margaret Walsh passed away. Her son William had died a few years before this, while son Joseph passed away in 1882 Pottsville, PA. Daughter Mary's family relocated to western Iowa during this time, while daughter Anna's family remained in Dubuque. Single daughter Catherine had likely remained in the Philadelphia, where Rev. Nicholas J Walsh passed away in 1888. Son Nicholas J Walsh, a salesman all his life, was married in 1887 Philadelphia and later relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. The daughter named Philomena (perhaps Bridget?) had also moved to Philadelphia where she and her married son William were living in 1900. Based on available records remaining family members Mary passed away in 1926, Catherine perhaps in the same time frame, Philomena in 1906, Anna in 1932, and Nicholas in 1931.
Additional analysis of this family suggests they were living in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1850, the household including John (34), Margaret (34), Mary (10), Catherine (9), Bridgett (7), Ann (5), and William (3) - all born in Ireland. Again, the Mary Welsh listed here is the age Mary Francis Walsh would have been.
Looking at available immigration records the family of John and Margaret Walsh may have landed in Boston on June 10, 1848 (a day after Edmund's family). Family members listed aboard that ship included John Walsh (age 35), Mrs. Walsh (age 35), Mary (age 9), Catharine (age 7), Biddy (age 5), and Ann (age 3). Notes: Biddy is a nickname for Bridget. According to the 1910 census, Mary Walsh cites her immigration year as 1848.
In regard to Margaret's last name, one family member suggests her last name was TYMAN or TYMEN. Taken in combination with the name appearing in the 1925 Iowa census and the names on the death certificates of her children, i.e. TRYNAN or TYNAN, TRYMAN, and PINAN, the surname TYNAN is the closest match to a documented Irish surname. It is more than coincidence the name TYNAN has its strongest Irish presence in county Kilkenny.
From the above information Mary Frances Walsh's father was named John Walsh and her mother was Margaret Tynan. Research into Irish records for John and Margaret and their childrem them turns up the following information:
Marriage Record: John Walsh (address: Higginstown) and Margaret Tynan married May 24, 1838 in Gowran Catholic Parish, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. John and Margaret were Roman Catholic. Ages and Parents names not given. Witnesses were John Butler and Anne Tynan.
IGI Record: John Walsh (born abt 1813) and Margaret Tynan (born abt 1817) were married on May 24, 1838 in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
Baptism Record: Mary Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Margaret Tynan, baptized February 28 1839 in St. John's RC Parish. Address given as Johns Green. Sponsors were John Butler and Anne Tynan
Baptism Record: Catherine Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Margaret Tynan, baptized May 9, 1841 in St. John's RC Parish. Address given as Barrack Street. Sponsors were John Loughlan and Mary Tynan. Mother given as Peggy.
Baptism Record: Bridget Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Margaret Tynan, baptized May 7, 1843 in St. John's RC Parish. Address given as Barrack Street. Sponsors were Patrick Walsh and Catherine Tynan.
Baptism Record: Anne Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Margaret Lynan, baptized February 23, 1845 in St. John's RC Parish. Address given as Barrack Street. Sponsors were Michael Murphy and Margaret Murphy. Child given as Ann.
Baptism Record: William Walsh, son of John Walsh and Margaret Walsh, baptized March 6, 1847 in St. John's RC Parish. Address given as Barrack Street. Sponsors were Nicholas Walsh and Mary Tynan.
Research Notes: Based on the children's names and aproximate birth dates from the U.S. census records, a County Kilkenny wide search of baptism records was done. All occurrences of the Irish-born children's known names, with a father named John Walsh, occurs only in the St. John's Roman Catholic parish records. The actual baptism records confirm that Margaret Tynan was the mother's name.
The marriage record was located through a County Kilkenny wide search for John Walsh and Margaret Tynan. There were no surnames in that index which begin with Tym*, Try*, or Pin*. The Gowran RC parish record was the only one found with the same marriage year. The witnesses at the marriage, John Butler and Anne Tynan, are also the names of the sponsors at the baptism of the eldest child of John and Margaret.
Gowran RC parish (the place of marriage) borders St. John's RC parish (the place of children's baptisms) on the southeast, so the marriage location of John and Margaret was likely in the northern part of Gowran RC parish, which became what is now Clara RC parish about 1852.
The address given in the marriage record was Higginstown, a townland located in the civil parish of Blackrath in the northeastern corner of (what was then) Gowran Catholic parish. Higginstown is located a few miles east of Kilkenny City. The baptismal addresses of Johns Green and Barrack Street are adjacent (parallel) streets within Kilkenny City, located about 250 meters east of the River Nore, and both are included in St. John's Catholic parish. The street named Johns Green connects with Hebron Road, the road to Higginstown.
Based on records of the Tithe Applotment (ca. 1834) and Griffiths Valuation (ca. 1849-1850), Higginstown, Blackrath, Co. Kilkenny may have been the home of the Tynan family. The names James and Martin Tynan appear in both records, the name John Tynan in 1834, and the name Daniel Tynan in 1849-50. The Walsh name is not apparent in those records.
Article compiled by Dennis Walsh, August 2005. Updated in October, 2009.
Acknowledgements: there are many relatives to thank for making this article possible, including John V Walsh, Tim Donohue, the late Ellen (Walsh) Tebockhorst, the late Don Green, the late Pat (Kelehan) Crosser, and others.