Finding Our Broderick Ancestors in Co. Clare, Ireland

This blog post is the second of several that I hope will assist me in locating the townlands and parishes of my ancestors in Ireland. My brother, sister and I will be visiting Ireland and staying in Co. Clare in 2019.

My 3rd great grandparents Michael and Margaret (McNally) Broderick emigrated from county Clare, Ireland in 1843 with my 2nd great grandfather Martin Broderick (born 1831).

County Clare, Ireland 
1831-1841

In the year that our 2nd great grandfather Martin Broderick (1831) was born:

"The newspapers of spring 1831 carried many reports chronicling the disturbed nature of Clare society. Destitution, want, distress, and misery were the lot of the landless peasants and starvation and lack of work or assistance prompted the widespread insurrection against local landholders and land agents." (Source: http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/distributed_clare1831.htm)

The Illustrate London News 1849, Killard, County Clare

The Families of County Clare, Ireland:
Over One Thousand Entries from the ...
By Michael C. O'Laughlin

Between 1831 and 1841 the conditions worsened in County Clare. Let us begin in the beginning for our 2nd great-grandfather Martin Broderick.

Martin Broderick: Born in County Clare, Ireland 1831

 

A Crayon Portait of Martin Broderick (1831-1915)

In 1831, Martin Broderick was born in Ireland. All of the Ontario censuses records (1851-1911) say that he was born in Ireland. None of the census records say that he was born in Clare, Ireland but his obituary does specify county Clare.

Source: Detroit Free Press, Page 11
Tuesday, October 11, 1915

1843 Emigration

We know that Martin emigrated from Ireland around 1843 as he was twelve years old at the time. He emigrated with his parents  according to his obituary below. I have not been successful finding any ships records yet.

Source: Detroit Free Press, Page 11
Tuesday, October 11, 1915

1851 Census: Sandwich, Essex County, Canada West

The family settled in Sandwich, Essex county, Ontario. On the census there are four Broderick's listed together:

1. Father Michael (1801-1889); 
2. Mother Margaret (McNally) Broderick (1798-1875) 
3. Brother Patrick (1833-1860)
4. Martin (1831-1915)

Source: 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; Year: 1851; Census Place: Sandwich, Essex County, Canada West (Ontario); Schedule: A; Roll: C_11720; Page: 187; Line: 49

The family is living on a farm of 100 acres at Concession 3, Lot 4 in Sandwich West. This property was divided and passed down to Martin's descendants (sons) through the 1900s.

Screenshot: Source: Ontario Historical County Maps Project; Essex County Map (1877)
http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/hgis/countymaps/essex/index.html

Source: OnLand Historical Books: Essex County

 
1860 Martin's Brother Patrick Dies At 25 Years

I was not able to locate a death certificate, obituary or headstone for young Patrick Broderick (1835-1860). He died quite young at twenty-five years of age and the family must have been devastated.

Source: Diocese of London (Ontario); London, Ontario Source Information Title: Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923

1861 Census

The Broderick family (on the 1861 census) has an interesting addition of an unfamiliar family member: Marcus Broderick born in 1839 (Ireland).

• Michael Broderick (b 1806 Ireland)
• Margaret Broderick (b 1806 Ireland)
• Martin Broderick (b 1835 Ireland)
• Marcus Broderick (b 1839 Ireland)

Source: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1021

 Marcus Broderick - A DNA Match!

The photo below was sent to me in 2010 by a fellow Broderick Researcher T.S. (name withheld for privacy reasons) who said that his great grandfather Marcus was related to our 2nd great grandfather Martin. The paper trail that I had at the time failed to provide sufficient evidence that would connect the two Broderick branches however the relationship was confirmed recently through DNA.

T.S. wrote that

"This would make my Marcus the 1st cousin of Martin (married to Mary Hussey)."

I wonder if  Marcus was sent to help on the Broderick farm in 1861 because of the sudden death of Patrick in 1860?

Photo source: American cousin T.S.: Broderick Father and Son: Marcus Sr. and Marcus Jr

Marcus Broderick's 1867 Michigan marriage record to Aurelia Armitage confirms County Clare as the birthplace and the godparents ("parrain") in the1869  baptismal certificate (below) of first-born Marcus Jr are Michael Broderick and Margaret (McNally) Broderick my 3rd great-grandparents!

Source: Diocese of London (Ontario); London, Ontario Source Information  Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

The fact that Marcus is Martin's first cousin means that they share grandparents! This was a helpful clue in working my way back to a specific town in Co. Clare. 

In 2010, when I first corresponded with T.S., he wrote:

"My great grandfather was Marcus Broderick, born October 1838, County Clare.  I believe he came to the U.S. just after the Civil War, settling in Michigan.  He married Aurelia Armitage in 1867.  Their marriage license has Marcus born in County Clare. They had 11 children.  My grandfather, Richard, was the youngest, born 1891. Do you have Patrick Broderick (1805-1847) and Margaret O'Laughlin (1803-1893) as the parents of Martin?" 

It seemed possible that T.S.'s Patrick Broderick (1805-1847) and Margaret O'Laughlin (1803-1893) might be Martin's aunt and uncle. The paper trail had not yet confirmed this.

1862: Sailing and the Military

In the years before Martin married, it was written that he did not fancy farming and that he sailed the great lakes instead. Martin joined the Voluntary Independent Infantry Co. No. 2 in 1862

Source: Martin Broderick Obituary: Essex Free Press; Oct 15, 1915 P.1/10

1865 Martin Marries Mary Hussey

The marriage certificate for Martin and Mary Hussey has not been found despite many efforts to locate it. I have even scrolled page by page through the church records. It is likely, given the story of their relationship, that they were not married in Windsor, Ontario or Detroit, Michigan.

Source: Martin Broderick Obituary: Essex Free Press; Oct 15, 1915 P.1/10

1866 Martin and Mary Broderick's Family 

Their first child Margaret Ellen (Broderick) Dufour who was born September 14, 1866 making their probable marriage date in 1865 (record not found). In total, Mary and Martin had nine children one of whom was our great grandmother Mary Anne Elizabeth (Broderick) Moynahan (1869-1960)

Oral History: Information from Bernard Broderick 

I had the opportunity to record a family history oral interview with my 1st cousin (twice removed) Bernard Broderick (1916-1992) in November 1987. He was the son of Patrick Francis Broderick (1871-1943) and grandson of Martin and Mary Broderick.

Bernard had made several trips to Ireland in search of  his Irish Roots and he offered some clues.

Bernard Broderick (1916-1992) in 1989 at his parents new headstone
St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Maidstone, Essex County, Ontario, Canada

Bernard never met his grandfather (he was born in 1916 and his grandfather died in 1915) and he was very interested in the Moynahan - Broderick family tree. We are double cousins, his mother Clara being a Moynahan (sister to my great grandfather) and his father Patrick was a Broderick (brother to my great grandmother)

The note below (redacted to omit private information) as prepared by Bernard on letterhead from when he worked at St. John's School in Uxbridge, Ontario in 1990. This document points to Kilkeedy Co. Clare as being the birthplace of Martin!

The genealogy notes of Bernard Broderick (1916-1992) (redacted)

Kilkeady, Clare

NLI: Catholic Parish Registers, Kilkeady Parish, Co. Clare

Decades ago, Bernard Broderick had specified Kilkeedy, Clare for reasons never explained to me.

Our American cousin T.S., had seen Kilkeedy (or Kilkeady), Co. Clare in his research as well. I decided to scroll through some Catholic Parish records for Killkeady Parish in the diocese of Killaloe, County Clare (online records begin in 1833) and I found a number of Brodericks including some of the Brodericks in T.S.'s family tree. I found:

• 1833 Mary Ann: d/o Michael Broderick and Mary Ann Harrigan
• 1833 Timothy: s/o Timothy O'Kelly and Bridget Broderick
• 1834 Michael: s/o Andrew Broderick and Honora Egan
• 1834 Mary: d/o Michael Broderick and Margaret Hinnelly
• 1835 Mary: d/o Timothy O'Kelly and Bridget Broderick
• 1838 Michael: s/o Patrick Broderick and Margaret O'Loughlin
• 1838 Bridget: d/o Timothy O'Kelly and Bridget Broderick
• 1840 Norry: d/o Andrew Broderick and Nory Egan

Source" NLI: 1838 Michael: s/o Patrick Broderick and Margaret O'Loughlin

It does seem to me that Kilkeady should be the primary focus for research and I will update this blog page whenever new information is located.

The list of outstanding records needed and actions to be taken:

• Populate my Ancestry tree with information provided by American cousin T.S.
• Clare, Ireland: birth record for Michael Broderick (1801-1889)
• Clare, Ireland: birth record for Margaret (McNally) Broderick (1798-1875)
• Clare, Ireland: birth record for Martin Broderick  (1831) and/or his brother Patrick (1833)
• Clare, Ireland: marriage record for Michael Broderick and Margaret McNally
• 1843 Emigration Record for family Michael, Margaret, Martin and Patrick Broderick
• Connect to Co. Clare genealogical societies, libraries etc and share this page in the hope of finding new clues.

Some Clare, Ireland Research Links

Searchable Databases

• Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary Records, Co. Clare (Searchable)

Browse-able Databases

• RC Baptism records for the Parish of Tubber (Kilkeedy) 1833 - 1881

Geography Links

• Historical Maps of County Clare: Clare GenMaps (New!) By Surname 
• Clare places and placenames http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/places.htm
• 1837 Topographical Dictionary - Kiljeey, Clare http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/K/Kilkeedy-Inchiquin-Clare.php
• A Map of Kilkeedy, Clare showing the Townlands
  

Clare History Links

• Clare History from the Clare County Library http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/intro.htm 

Kilkeedy History Links

• A History of Kilkeedy Church and Graveyard by Deirdre Keane http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/kilkeedy_church.htm   
• From Ireland XO: Those who are interested in the parish of Kilkeedy (nowadays the parish of Tubber) would do well to read the book "The Parish of Kilkeedy - a local history" compiled by Frank Brew. 310 pages, packed with information on the families and social history of the parish.
• Wikipedia: Tubber, Co. Clare 
• The Families of Tubber (Co.Clare, Ireland)    (under construction) 

Irish Famine & Emigration Links

• STORY OF EMIGRATION  Article by Dr. Naoise Cleary, Founder of Clare Heritage & Genealogy Centre  http://www.clareroots.com/clareemigrationmore.htm

Miscellaneous Links

• County Clare Library Links: an extensive list of links!!
• Clare Library Genealogy Page
  
• Check-list and Tips for Family Historians Intending to Visit Clare http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1548

My Previous Blog Posts About Martin Broderick

• 2014: The Brodericks
• 2014: 52 Ancestors # 34: Mary (Hussey) Broderick
• 2015: 52 Ancestors No. 7: My Oral History Interview with Bernard Broderick
• 2015: 52 Ancestors No.17: The Broderick "Crayon Portraits"
• 2015:100 Years After His Death - A Wonderful Find - Martin Broderick's photo 
• 2016: 52 Ancestors No. 50: Martin Broderick's Fenian Medal
• 2016: List 279: Martin Broderick's Fenian Raid Volunteer Bounty Claim 
• 2016: 52 Ancestors No. 49: Last Will and Testament of Martin Broderick (1831-1915) 
• 2016: The Irish Surnames of Maidstone, Essex and Detroit
• 2017: Distant Broderick Cousins On Paper Now Confirmed Through DNA
• 2018: Using The NEW OnLand Portal To Get Martin Broderick's Property Details