Mary (Mulvihill) Kennelly (abt. 1790)

Born about 1790 in Ireland

Descendants

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Biography

Mary Mulvihill was born about 1790.

She married John Kennelly. They had at least two sons:

1. Martin b. c1815
2. Thomas b. c1820

Both sons immigrated to Canada, settling in Northumberland County.

Research Notes

While lacking traditional vital record confirmation, strong DNA evidence indicates that Thomas Kennelly’s mother was a Mulvihill, and other evidence points to her name being Mary:

• Descendants of Thomas through multiple children of his are matching scores of Mulvihills on autosomal DNA, on multiple segments of a significant cM size, representing different branches of that family in both Co Kerry and Co Limerick, along that border. The ancestral home seems to be Shronowen, Listowel Parish, Co Kerry, so either she was from there or her father or grandfather was almost certainly.

• Her name being Mary would fit traditional Irish naming patterns (Thomas’ second daughter named after paternal grandmother).

• The Mulvihill surname is common in Glin Parish (Kilfergus) in early Co Limerick records, where the DNA points to for Thomas’ origin. There are Mulvihills living very close to Kennellys per land records.

• There was a Mary Mulvihill and John Kennelly who lived in the right time period in a location that makes sense based on the DNA connections, close to the Athea and Glin Parish borders. Baptism records do not start early enough to confirm it, but their existence is documented by a rare 1851 census extract. More in the notes of her husband John Kennelly.