Doherty.

The Doherty family has its origins in County Kerry, Ireland, specifically on the Iveragh Peninsula where they farmed leased land in the civil parishes of Killaha and Killarney. In the years following the potato famine, several members of the family decided to seek opportunities abroad in the United States.

Setting the Stage: Geography, Government, and Religion in Ireland.

Created 1 May 2020

Screenshot 2020-04-13 18.39.23.jpeg — Land Divisions.

The geographic divisions of Ireland, and therefore of County Kerry, are numerous, complex, and confusing. There are land divisions put in place by the civil government and there are geographic delineations prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church. The two sometimes use the same names but they have different definitions. For example, there is a Catholic Church Parish Killarney and there is a civil parish named Killarney. The former is larger than the latter and there is overlap, but they are not one in the same. County Kerry is also divided up relative to the land formation. There are two peninsulas, Iveragh and Dingle. The Doherty family is associated with the civil parishes on the Iveragh Peninsula.

Screenshot 2020-04-13 15.39.26.jpeg — County Kerry.

Geographically, County Kerry is part of the Province of Munster. From a civil perspective, County Kerry is broken down into several baronies, now an outmoded term, but useful to know when doing historical research because some documents designate locations in relationship to the barony. The Doherty family resided in Magunihy Barony, in County Kerry. Yet there are family members who came from the nearby baronies of Iveragh and North Dunkerron, for example. Within the Magunihy Barony, we find the Dohertys in two primary civil parishes, Killaha and Killarney. But do not discount other nearby civil parishes, such as Kilcummin, Aghadoe, Glanbehy, and Knockane.

Knockanes in Killaha.jpeg — Killaha Civil Parish.

The lowest level of geographic refinement is “place.” Some of these places are official townlands but some are just places, meaning streets, villages, hamlets or small groups of homes. To make things even more confusing, we find the same place names repeated all over Ireland. They are also spelled inconsistently, or simply misspelled in the official records, so it takes some informed logic to determine exactly which place is being referred to by any given name. Also, it is helpful to have some idea of the general vicinity where a person was from so that you can look at a list of possible locales within a specific civil parish and county. An example is the townland of Inch which is a very small place in Killaha civil parish that is important to this family history. Yet, it is not the most important “Inch” in County Kerry.

Knockanes Townland.

Knockanes (which is not the same as Knockane, the civil parish) is the small townland where several generations of Dohertys farmed. Knockanes is located in Killaha civil parish, County Kerry. The names Brewsterfield and Headford come up as well because they are the “districts” associated with Knockanes, but this is getting complex and it is sufficient just to remember these place names as relevant.

In his book A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published in 1837, Samuel Lewis provides a detailed description of the towns and places of Kerry at that time. He called Killarney a “market and post-town” 16 miles from Tralee and 167 miles from Dublin, with 1191 inhabitants. It is located on the river Flesk, which is bleach-green with a “fulling-mill.” The parish comprises 32,300 statute acres. There are many notable lakes and “the lakes of Killarney may be regarded as an immense reservoir for the waters of the surrounding country, descending from the mountain lakes and supplied by tributary rivers.” He states that Killaha is five miles from Killarney, with 2567 inhabitants and 38,049 statute acres, situated on the river Flesk that runs through a wild glen called Glenflesk. There is a public school with 140 children and two private schools with 110 children. The ruins of Killaha castle are there, the former residence of the O’Donoghues of the Glens.

Church Parishes.

The three Roman Catholic Church Parishes most relevant to the Doherty history are Glenflesk, Rathmore, and Killarney. Most of the family’s marriages and baptisms occurred in one of these parish churches. There are other nearby parishes to take into consideration, including those over the border in County Cork since Glenflesk and Rathmore abut that county boundary and Rathmore, as a church parish, partially lies over the border in County Cork. Unfortunately, the borders of the various parishes have shifted considerably overtime and some have been absorbed into others. Other parishes to consider, some of which may no longer exist, include Castleisland, Fossa, Kilcummen, Millstreet, and Milltown. Records often will show where someone was married and where they were baptized by stating the name of one of these church parishes. It’s logical to assume that they physically lived somewhere nearby, even if they were returning to a church parish closer to their own parents’ home to partake in these religious rituals.

People’s Names.

Besides the challenges of place names, people names present their own problem when doing Irish genealogical research. There are many variations of first names and not all search engines correctly adjust for the nuances. Ann may be Nancy, Margaret may be Maggie, Bridget may be Bridgie, Michael may be Mike, Gobinet may be Abbey. The other challenge with first names is they are limited and repetitive. There is an Irish naming pattern that may hold true in some cases but not in all. A first-born son may be named after the paternal grandfather, then perhaps the second-born after the maternal grandfather, and the third-born after the father, etc. A similar pattern may apply to female children but then again, this is not always the case. Rather than count it as a truism, it’s most helpful to consider it a hint of a grandfather or grandmother’s name. Names are repetitive as well, in concentrated geographies, making it easy to intertwine the personal histories of one or two different men named Mathew Doherty. The male names that seem to repeat in this family are Mathew, Cornelius, John, James, Patrick, etc. The female names do the same thing, being dominated by Ann, Ellen, Honora, Margaret, Mary, Gobinet, etc. Then there are the last names; they are limited as well. There are many different families named Doherty, Daly, Reilly, Sullivan, Brien. So when a Doherty marries a Doherty, they may not be marrying their cousin. Then again, they may be. It’s often difficult to tell.

The Records.

Most of this research was based upon Roman Catholic Church birth records. Other resources included civil records. But civil records were not readily available until nearly mid-way into the 1800s. And Catholic Church records become scarce before the early 1800s. The only two censuses available for County Kerry are 1901 and 1911. They are very helpful and detailed. However, most of the Doherty family members we are concerned with exited Ireland before 1900. Land records then become something of importance, but they only list the male head of the family and it’s just a person’s name, such as “John Doherty.” And when you have a plethora of John Dohertys to choose from, it can only be considered directional information. It is not definitive. Sometimes, process of elimination is helpful. There are wills and probate records available for some people, but again, these are only available for the more recent dates. The biggest gaps are death and burial records. The catholic church did not appear to record deaths. There are some records for a few burial grounds, but they are not numerous and can be tedious to examine and do not have as much detail as one would ideally like to see to confidently identify the deceased. The records appear to be better, starting in the mid-1900s, but again, not that useful for the Doherty family, since they were largely in the United States by then. The result is there is a good amount of information available about births/baptisms and marriages, but if someone died in County Kerry, and not the United States, it is likely missing.

The Doherty Family Lines.

Updated 13 June 2020.

Knockanes, Killaha, County Kerry, Ireland.

When did the Doherty family first come to County Kerry, then to Killaha Civil Parish, and finally to the family farm in Knockanes Townland? Members of the contemporary Doherty family who can trace their Y-DNA back have, not unexpectedly, linked back to the Dohertys in 1350 County Donegal, which is where the Doherty name originates. This at least gives us a sense that the family in Kerry was a branch from the original core family line in Donegal. But I doubt we will ever be able to close the more than 400-year gap between 1350 and the early 1800s.

Since church records disappear going backwards from the late 1700s and civil records do not appear until the early 1800s, and all the relevant censuses were destroyed before 1901, we need to look to other documents to get a sense of this Doherty family. Prior to the Irish Famine, which started in about 1845, we don’t find any evidence of the Doherty family in the 1833 Tithe Applotment Books for Knockanes. The primary landowner is Daniel Lombard, who would continue to be a landholder for years going forward. Other heads of households include Thadius Murphy, John Keeffe, Patrick Gaustican, John Donoghue, Michael Walsh, Daniel Hegart, and Timothy Murphy.

The 1848 Valuation Office Books.

Something changed between 1833 and 1845. The 1848 Valuation Office Books for Knockanes show three Doherty families. This is in the heart of the early years of the Great Famine. The Dohertys include Mat Doherty, John Doherty, and Mathew Doherty. We can feel confident that one of the Mathew Dohertys was Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly. They had been married in 1832 in Killarney and starting with their third child Daniel in 1837, all of their children were born in Knockanes. Perhaps the absence of local church birth records for their two older sons James and Cornelius suggests something about them moving to the area from elsewhere. But it certainly could not have been from very far since both Mathew and Honora were baptized in Killarney and Mathew’s parents Mathew Doherty and Ellen Leahy were married in Killarney in 1794. Given the small amount of information available, one conjecture is that the second Mathew Doherty in Knockanes in 1848 was Mathew’s father Mathew.

This leaves us with John Doherty. He can be traced forward in time by reviewing the land records to reveal he was born about 1817 so would have been about 31 years old at the time. There is no obvious connection between this John Doherty and the two Mathew Dohertys. It is likely that John was not another son of the senior Mathew Doherty since no records of a relationship have been uncovered. Records show that the two John Dohertys born around 1817 in Killarney were both fathered by two different men named James Doherty. This is not very helpful.

The 1851 Valuation Office Books.

The next available land record is the 1851 Valuation Office Books for Knockanes There are three households, one headed by Mathew Doherty and the other two by John Dohertys. Now we are up one John Doherty and down one Mathew Doherty. A likely explanation is that the senior Mathew Doherty died between 1848 and 1851. He would have been about 70 years old at the time. But now we have a new John Doherty. Who was he? That’s something that has not yet been determined, and the 18551 Valuation Office Books just tell us bits about the property he lived in and nothing more about him other than his name.

1901 Census Records.

As we move forward 50 years, we find in the 1901 Census of Knockanes that there are four households headed by four Dohertys, including Michael, James, John, and James. Michael and one of the James were the two sons of Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly. They inherited the family farm from Mathew after his death in 1875 and divided it up. John Doherty was the son of the aforementioned John Doherty born about 1817. We know this because the census also shows the elder John Doherty living in the household of his son John Doherty and the younger John Doherty’s wife Ellen Brian. In reviewing the marriage record for John Doherty and Ellen Brian in 1873, we find that their witnesses included Michael Doherty, who was married to Anne Brian. This indicates some sort of familial relationship since we have two Dohertys marrying two Brians. Michael’s father Mathew was born in 1801, not too far off from 1817, but there is no record of the two men having the same father. Although we can feel confident that Mathew’s parents were Mathew Doherty and Ellen Leahy, we have no records to indicate that they were also the elder John’s parents.

The fourth family in Knockanes in 1901 is headed by another James Doherty. He was age 65 at the time and married to 60-year old Catherine. A review of the available records suggests they may have been James Doherty and Catherine Sullivan who were married in Kilcummin 20 February 1879. His father’s name was Patrick Doherty and her father’s name was Denis Sullivan. Again, nothing in this information provides any clarification of their relationship to the other Dohertys residing in Knockanes.

1911 Census Records.

After ten more years we find only three Doherty households remaining in Knockanes in the 1911 census. Michael Doherty and his family still lived there. And since his brother James had died early in 1911, we find Johanna (Hegarty) Doherty heading up the other household. The third family is made up of John Doherty and his wife Ellen Brian along with some of their children and grandchildren. Once again, their relationship to the other two Doherty households in Knockanes is unclear.

An educated guess is that the elder John Doherty, born about 1817, was John Doherty who married Margaret Murrinane 4 February 1839 at Glenflesk Church Parish. They are about the right age and their son John Doherty who married Ellen Brian, the younger John Doherty being born in 1847. John and Margaret had at least ten children. Significantly, four of their sons; Cornelius, Michael, Patrick and James; left Knockanes sometime before 1880 and moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts where they lived with Mathew Doherty, who was a younger brother of Michael and James Doherty who had farms in Knockanes. This is further evidence of familial relationship.

Over the years we have records of several Doherty families living in Knockanes Townland. We know the relationships of some of them but others remain unknown at this time. No doubt there was some sort of familial relationship that may have gone back a generation or more. It appears they had lived in the general Killarney area for at least a generation or two before they landed in Knockanes Townland in Killaha Civil Parish. It would be rewarding to understand this better.

Starting Point: Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly (Generation One).

One place to start the story of the Doherty family is with Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly. They established the family farm in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, Ireland. The family’s connections with the past and future, as well as the various branches that emigrated from Ireland start with this couple, who married 9 February 1832 in the Killarney Church Parish. Mathew was born and baptized 26 April 1801 at the Roman Catholic Church in Killarney Parish, County Kerry. His parents were Mathew Doherty and Ellen Leahy, who married 20 February 1794 in Killarney Church Parish. (see “Who Were the Parents of Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly?”) It appears that Mathew was the only surviving child of this couple. They had another son born before Mathew, also named Mathew, who was born and baptized 22 March 1797 in Killarney, but it is safe to assume he died as an infant, being replaced by the second Mathew.

Honora Daly was born 24 January 1810 in Maulagh Townland, Agahadoe Civil Parish, which is adjacent to Killaha. Her parents were Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara, married 15 January 1806 in Killarney Church Parish. The Griffith’s Valuation of Rateable Property in Ireland in 1853 (Griffith’s Valuation) documents a Daniel Daly, a farmer of 171 acres in Knockannucuddoge Townland, Killaha, County Kerry. He leased the land from Edward B. Hartopp.

In 1853 Mathew and Honora lived on and farmed 27 acres of land in Knockanes that they leased from Daniel Lombard (Griffith’s Valuation). They sublet portions of it to William Murphy and Thomas Stannton. At the time, a family headed by a John Doherty also lived in the small townland of Knockanes. A Cornelius Daly, likely a relation to Honora, also farmed land owned by Daniel Lombard in Knockanes. Mathew and Honora had at least eight children, seven sons and one daughter. Mathew died 1 May 1875 in Knockanes and Honora died 1 Mar 1878 in Killarney.

Children of Mathew Doherty and Honora Doherty:

James (Jim) Doherty, likely born about 1833 in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, Ireland. Family lore has it he stayed in Ireland and he and his brother Michael inherited the family farm in Knockanes. He likely died 22 January 1911, Knockanes Townland, Killaha, County Kerry. He married Johanna Heagerty 19 February 1860 at Glenflesk Parish Church, County Kerry. Johanna was likely born 12 February 1835 in Carrigafreaghane, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry to Denis Hegarty and Margaret Casey.
Children of Jim Doherty and Johanna Heagerty:
a. Cornelius Doherty, born 6 April 1861, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
b. Mathew Doherty, born 11 July 1863, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
c. Honora Doherty, born 3 March 1866, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
d. Daniel Doherty, born 28 October 1869, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry. He married 24 February 1895, Ellen Burke, daughter of David Burke. They had four children together before she died. Daniel married for a second time 28 April 1910, Mary Leary, daughter of Ignacious Leary.
e. John Doherty, born 1 November 1871, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
f. Michael Doherty, born 24 October 1874, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
g. Abigail Doherty, born 29 May 1876, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
h. Catherine (Kate) Doherty, born 29 July 1878, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
i. Mary Doherty, born 17 April 1880, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
j. Margaret Doherty, born 3 May 1882, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
k. James Doherty, born 30 July 1885, Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
Cornelius Doherty, born about 1835 in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. He married 20 January 1858, Ellen Donoghue in Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry.
Children of Cornelius Doherty and Ellen Donoghue:
a. Mathew Doherty, born 1 October 1858 in Dromavrauka, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
b. James Doherty, born 29 September 1860 in Killeen, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
c. Daniel Doherty, born 12 August 1862, Killeen, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
d. John Doherty, born 4 August 1864, Killeen, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
e. Michael Doherty, born 19 August 1866, Killeen, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
f. Patrick Doherty, born 15 July 1868, Killeen, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
g. Honora (Nora) Doherty, born 4 April 1874, Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Daniel Doherty, born in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry and baptized 7 May 1837. He married 31 January 1867 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Kate Callanan, born 14 November 1841, County Cork, daughter of Michael Callanan and Ellen Sullivan. Daniel died 14 September 1901, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
John Doherty, born in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, 12 May 1839. Family lore has it that he moved to Australia but no records have been located.
Michael M. Doherty, likely born about 1843 in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Parish, County Kerry and died 3 April 1912, County Kerry, Ireland. He married 2 March 1867, at the Roman Catholic Church in Killaha, County Kerry, Ann (Nancy) Brien, likely born 9 October 1848, Inch Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Patrick Doherty, born in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Parish, County Kerry and baptized 15 December 1845. He married 25 February 1867 in Glenflesk Parish Church, County Kerry, Margaret Carey, born about 1851, County Kerry.
Children of Patrick Doherty and Margaret Carey.
a. Julia Doherty, born about 1876, County Kerry.’
b. Cornelius (Con) Doherty, born about 1879, County Kerry.
c. Catherine Doherty, born about 1883, County Kerry.
d. Margaret (Maggie) Doherty, born about 1885, County Kerry.
e. Bridget Doherty, born about 1888 and died 1970, Killarney, County Kerry. She married her first cousin, Daniel M. Doherty, born Knockanes, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, 20 May 1877, son of Michael M. Doherty.
f. John Doherty, born about 1891, County Kerry.
Mathew Doherty, born 29 March 1859, Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. He died 29 July 1895 from kidney disease in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts where he worked as a police officer. He migrated to the United States, arriving at Castle Garden in New York on 5 May 1871. He married 21 June 1873 in Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts, Margaret (Peg) Dougherty, born in Ireland, the daughter of John and Margaret Dougherty.
Children of Mathew Doherty and Margaret Dougherty:
a. Honora Doherty, born about 1874, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
b. Mary Doherty, born about 1879, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
c. Mathew (Matt) Doherty, born November 1880, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts; worked as a plumber.
d. Catherine (Kate) Doherty, born December 1882, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
e. Ellen (Nellie) Doherty, born December 1884, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Gobinet (Abbey) Doherty, born in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, 12 May 1856. Based upon the 1880 United States Census, she relocated to Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts sometime before 1880, likely after the death of both of her parents in 1875 and 1878, and resided with her brother Mathew Doherty there. It is assumed she died in the United States.

Of the eight Doherty children, four appear to have left Ireland. Daniel and John moved to Australia, around the mid-1860s. Mathew relocated to the United States, arriving in New York on 29 March 1871 and settled in Holyoke, Massachusetts, shortly thereafter marrying and beginning a family. His sister Abbey arrived before 1880 and lived with him at 167 Lyman Street, Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1880. Mathew and Abbey were also joined by children of their brothers James and Michael. Jim’s son James and Michael’s son Cornelius immigrated to Holyoke. Mathew started off as a laborer in Holyoke but became a police officer. He died 29 July 1895 from a kidney infection, leaving his wife Margaret to raise their five children. Margaret’s older brother John moved in with her in Holyoke to help with the task.

The timing of the Doherty exodus from Ireland coincides with a period of time when there was a large emigration from the famine-ravaged country of Ireland, and most notably County Kerry. Although the farms were coming back by the time these individuals chose to leave, they had likely grown up in harsh conditions, and did not leave earlier because they had not reached the age of majority (age 21). It appears they chose to leave to seek new opportunities in Australia and America where living conditions would be more hospitable. (see “The Great Hunger and Emigration from Ireland.”)

The Story Continues: Michael M. Doherty and Ann Brien (Generation Two)

Our story continues with Michael M. Doherty (child of Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly), who stayed in Knockanes to tend to the family farm. His exact birth date and place were not recorded in the church records or the civil records. Since he was born about 1842, we can surmise he was born in Knockanes. He lived his whole life there, dying 3 April 1912 in County Kerry in the Killarney Asylum from an abscess of the prostate gland. His family was living in Knockanes when the 1901 and 1911 Censuses of Ireland were taken. Michael married Ann Brien (Nancy), 2 March 1867 in Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry. Ann’s birth is a bit difficult to pin down but it appears she was born 9 October 1848 in Inch Townland, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry. The records are difficult to read but on that date Ellen Ann was born to Denis Brian and Ann Doherty of Inch. (see “The Likely Family History of Ann Brien.”) Ann’s date of death is not known. Michael and Ann had at least ten children.

Children of Michael Doherty and Ann Brien:

Mathew Doherty, born Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, and baptized 7 December 1867 at Glenflesk Church Parish. He married 20 August 1895 in Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts, Bridget Fogarty, born May 1868 in Ireland, the daughter of Daniel Fogarty and Johanna Sullivan. Mathew died 20 May 1900 from Typhoid Fever in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Bridget is shown in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census as a widow, living in Holyoke with her younger brother Michael. As stated in the census, Mathew and Bridget had no children.
Cornelius Doherty, born in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, Ireland and baptized 10 December 1870. He married 22 July 1896 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Ellen (Nellie) O’Reilly, born 6 April 1871 in Goortahoonig Townland, Killarney Civil Parish, Ireland. (see “The O’Reillys/Rahillys of Killarney”)
Honora Doherty, born Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry, baptized 1 January 1873. She married 17 February 1900 in Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry, Patrick A. Moynihan, born about 1870. They lived in Bellahacommane Townland, Killarney Rural Parish, County Kerry, as evidenced by their presence there in the 1901 and 1911 Ireland Censuses.
Children of Honora Doherty and Patrick Moynihan:
a. Mary (May) Moynihan, born about 1901, County Kerry.
b. Andrew Moynihan, born 20 November 1902, County Kerry.
c. Patrick Moynihan, born about 1904, County Kerry.
d. Michael Moynihan, born about 1907, County Kerry.
e. Daniel Moynihan, born about 1909, County Kerry.
f. Hannah Moynihan, born in County Kerry.
Mary Anne Doherty, born 20 March 1875 in Inch Townland, County Kerry. She emigrated to the United States, arriving 3 July 1896 in New York on the ship Germanic, accompanied by Ellen O’Reilly who was to marry her brother Cornelius. Mary died 25 Dec 1961 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. She married in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts on 18 June 1902, Timothy Moriarty, who was born 16 Sep 1873 in Ireland. He died 20 October 1967, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Children of Mary Anne Doherty and Timothy Moriarty:
a. John Moriarty, born about 1904, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
b. Joseph Moriarty, born about 1905, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
c. Timothy (Ted) P. Moriarty, born about 1907, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
d. Mary Moriarty, born about 1909, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
e. Patrick Moriarty, born Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
f. Annie Moriarty, born Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Daniel M. Doherty, born 20 May 1877 in Knockanes Townland, County Kerry, died about February 1921 Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. He married 20 February 1912 in Killarney, County Kerry, Bridget Doherty (his first cousin and daughter of his uncle Patrick Doherty). She was born in 1888 in County Kerry and died 1970 in Killarney, County Kerry, Daniel and Bridget resided in Knockanes Townland, as evidenced by the 1901 and 1911 Ireland Censuses.
Children of Daniel M. Doherty and Bridget Doherty.
a. Michael Doherty, born County Kerry, Ireland.
b. Patrick Doherty, born County Kerry, Ireland.
c. Mathew Doherty, born County Kerry, Ireland.
d. Annie Doherty, born County Kerry, Ireland.
John Doherty, born 27 August 1879 in Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.
Abigail (Abbie) Doherty (twin of Ellie), born 26 September 1880 in Knockanes Townland, County Kerry. She married 4 February 1909 in Killarney, County Kerry, Andrew Moynihan, born about 1872. In 1911 they lived in Ardaneanig Townland, Killarney Rural Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Children of Abbie Doherty and Patrick Moynihan:
a. Mary Moynihan, born 1911, Ardaneanig Townland, Killarney Rural Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Ellen (Ellie) Doherty (twin of Abbie), born Knockanes Townland, County Kerry 26 September 1880. It is likely she may have married 9 Feb 1911, County Tipperary, Ireland, William O’Toole.
Patrick Doherty, born 6 March 1885 in Knockanes Townland, County Kerry and baptized 7 March 1885 in Glenflesk Church Parish. Moved to Dublin. Died 4 August 1945, Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Annie Doherty, born Knockanes Townland, County Kerry, and baptized 2 May 1888. She married 2 March 1916 in Killarney Parish, County Kerry, John Leahy. In 1901 and 1911 Annie Doherty and John Leahy lived in Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.

Michael Doherty and Ann Brian had more luck keeping eight of their ten children in Ireland. Only Cornelius and Mary Anne headed to the United States to join their cousins in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The story continues with Cornelius Doherty and his descendants.

In America: Cornelius Doherty and Ellen O’Reilly (Generation Three).

Cornelius Doherty (child of Michael M. Doherty and Ann Brien) was born 10 December 1870 in Knockanes Townland, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. He left Ireland from Queenstown, Ireland for the United States and arrived on 7 May 1893 at the age of 21 in Boston, Massachusetts aboard the ship Pavonia, traveling in steerage. He married 22 July 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, Ellen (Nellie) O’Reilly. She was born in Gootahoonig Townland, Killarney Civil Parish and baptized 6 April 1871 at Rathmore Church Parish.

Cornelius and Nellie certainly must have known each other in County Kerry. She had only arrived in the United States on 3 July 1896 in New York on the ship Germanic. She had traveled with Cornelius’ sister Mary Anne, both of them listing Holyoke, Massachusetts as their final destination, where the American Dohertys had created their new home. Nellie would later be joined in Massachusetts by two of her three sisters, both of whom would settle closer to Boston. (see “The O’Reillys/Rahillys of Killarney”). Cornelius worked as a laborer but established himself as a driver of a coal wagon for the Union Coal and Wood Company in Holyoke. He died 1 August 1917 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts from sun stroke, while driving that coal wagon. Nellie would later attempt to receive compensation for his death from the Travelers’ Insurance Company but lost the lawsuit. Nellie died 30 May 1952 at the Boston home of her eldest daughter Annie.

In 1900, it appears that Cornelius and Nellie returned to Ireland for a visit. They left New York on the ship Anchovia, arriving in Donegal, Ireland on 30 October 1900, returning to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 28 November 1900. It appears they had three if their four children with them, Annie, Michael and Mary Agnes. Cornelius’ occupation is listed as “driver.” Cornelius’ and Nellie’s ages are correct and their children are listed as United States citizens. The manifest for their return journey to the United States also states that Cornelius had previously traveled to the United States seven years prior to this arrival, which is consistent with his original arrival date in the United States in 1893. The major discrepancy is that Michael’s name is listed as “Rose” on the ship’s manifest in both directions. If this was them, it raises the question about why they would have chosen to make the journey at that time, especially since Mary was only a few months old. A guess would be it may have had something to do with Cornelius’ mother Ann Brien’s health. We do not know when she died but we do know that both of Nellie’s parents lived at least until 1911 and that Michael Doherty, Cornelius’s father did not die until 1912.

Children of Cornelius Doherty and Ellen O’Reilly:

Annie Marie Doherty (twin) born 9 April 1897 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. She married in Holyoke, Massachusetts on 22 April 1924, Patrick J. Finnegan. They had no children.
Michael Francis (Joseph) Doherty (twin) born 9 April 1897 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He married 29 Mar 1924, New York City, New York, Catherine Alice Hawke, child of Fredrich W. Hawke and Catherine Broderick. Michael and “Alice” would later divorce.
Children of Michael Francis Doherty and Catherine Alice Hawke:
a. Michael Francis Doherty, born 15 January 1926, New York, New York.
b. George Doherty, born 2 March 1927, New York, New York.
c. Virginia Doherty, born 4 March 1928, New York, New York.
d. Joan Doherty, born 22 May 1929, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
e. Harold Doherty, born 9 Sep 1934, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Francis John Doherty born 19 May 1898 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died July 1969 in Phoenix, Arizona. He married Agnes F. Murphy, daughter of William Murphy and Mary, at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. She died 11 April 2004 Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
Children of John Frances Doherty and Agnes F. Murphy:
a. Frances Doherty, born 1923, Amherst, Massachusetts, died 1968. She married Gerald F. Scanlon in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts and died in 1990 in Amherst, Massachusetts.
b. James Doherty, born 1940, Amherst, Massachusetts. He married Christine Gamache.
c. Marjorie Doherty, born 1925 in Amherst, Massachusetts.
d. Eleanor Doherty, born 1926, Amherst, Massachusetts. She married Eugene Reardon.
e. Rita Alice Doherty, born 13 April 1928, Amherst, Massachusetts. She married, 19 May 1962, at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst, Massachusetts, Charles Edward Bennet, born 16 May 1930, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
f. John Doherty, born 1929, Amherst, Massachusetts, married Estelle Szynal.
g. David Doherty, born and died 1932, Amherst, Massachusetts.
h. Anne Doherty, born and died 1933, Amherst, Massachusetts.
i. William Doherty, born 1935, Amherst, Massachusetts, married 1962, Northampton, Massachusetts, Donna Magnolia, born in Northampton, Massachusetts.
j. Robert Doherty, born 1937, Amherst, Massachusetts, died 2009. He married Helen Jackson.
k. Bonita Doherty, born 1943, Northampton, Massachusetts, married 1963, Amherst, Massachusetts, Michael Curtin, born in Amherst, Massachusetts.
l. Gary Doherty, born 1947, Northampton, Massachusetts, married Theresa Fortier.
Mary Agnes Doherty, born 10 July 1900 Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 1986, Holyoke, Massachusetts. She married 12 November 1929 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Leonard Peter Hickey, son of John Hickey. He was born in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 1973, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Children of Mary Agnes Doherty and Leonard Peter Hickey:
a. Ellen Anne Hickey, born 1931, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
b. Maureen Kathryn Hickey, born 1935, died 2001.
c. Leonard Peter Hickey, born 1937, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
d. Anne Patricia Hickey.
Mathew Stephen Doherty, born 15 December 1901 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 28 March 1988, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He married in 1923, Chicopee, Massachusetts, Rosemary Thomas.
Children of Mathew Stephen Doherty and Rosemary Thomas:
a. Eva Doherty, born and died 7 July 1925, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
b. Patricia Doherty.
c. Helen Doherty, married Neil Doling.
d. Mathew Doherty, married Anne Cavanaugh.
Patrick Joseph Doherty was born 17 March 1903 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 6 July 1942 in Bronx, New York, New York, buried 11 July 1942 in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Cornelius (Neil) Aloysius Doherty was born 5 July 1904 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 27 November 1969 in Holyoke, Hampden, Massachusetts. He married 1928 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, Anna Walsh, born 1907. Neil worked for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1964.
Children of Neil Doherty and Anna Walsh:
a. Cornelius (Neil) A. Doherty, Junior, born 20 January 1929 and died 2007. He married Marie Larochelle, born 19 March 1931, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
b. Anne Marie Doherty born about 1932, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 16 January 2001, Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Eugene Stevens.
c. John Doherty, born 9 September 1934, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 10 October 2002. He married Judy Riley.
d. Mary Lou Doherty, born 1937 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dennis Jerome Doherty, born 29 September 1905 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He married 23 November 1935 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, Anne Elizabeth Larkin.
Daniel Joseph Doherty, born 1 February 1908 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He died 23 July 1843 from a heart condition. He married 27 August 1928, Northport, Long Island, New York, Bernice Moulton King, born 11 December 1909, Willimantic, Windham County, Connecticut, daughter of Robert Kimberly King and Grace Edna Brown. Daniel and Bernice divorced 8 January 1932, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Child of Daniel Doherty and Bernice King:
a. Muriel Louise Doherty, born 9 April 1929, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, died 10 May 2011, Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts. She married 23 July 1952, San Antonio, Texas, Douglas Dean, born 19 June 1928, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. They made their home in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
John James Doherty, born 22 June 1914 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He married in 1943 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, Nancy Henderson, born 30 April 1920.
Children of John J. Doherty and Nancy Henderson:
a. Bonnie Doherty.
b. Leah Doherty.
c. Judith Doherty.
d. John Doherty.

Who Were the Parents of Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly?

Honora Daly was born 24 January 1810 in Maulagh Township, Agahadoe Civil Parish, County Kerry to Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara. It appears that at some point Daniel Daly started operating a farm, certainly by 1853, in Knockannacuddage Townland which is in Killaha Civil Parish, approximately seven kilometers from Knockanes. Honora was the eldest of five children born to Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara. They were all born in Maulagh. Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara were married 15 January 1806 at the Killarney Parish Church, County Kerry. At the time of their marriage, Daniel was from Fossa Townland, Agahadoe Civil Parish. Although Griffith’s General Valuations of Rateable Property in Ireland does not show a Daly in Fossa in 1853, there is a Michael Daly in Maulagh.

Determining the parentage of Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara is more challenging. Before 1800, the civil records in Ireland do not exist for the most part and the church records are also limited. Based upon available information, it appears that the most likely candidates for Daniel’s parents are William Daly and Julia Horgan, putting Daniel’s birth and baptism at 10 June 1787 in Tralee, County Kerry. Tralee is a good distance from Aghadoe and Killaha Civil Parishes but a possibility if Daniel and Ellen had decided to relocate to lease a farm. Ellen O’Mara’s parents appear to be John O’Mara and Mary Whelan. Ellen would have been born and baptized 6 November 1779 in Tralee, County Kerry.

Children of Daniel Daly and Ellen O’Mara:

Honora Daly, born 24 January 1810, Maulagh Township, Agahadoe Civil Parish, County Kerry, died 1 Mar 1878, Killarney, County Kerry.
Margaret Daly, born 20 April 1812, Maulagh Township, Agahadoe Civil Parish, County Kerry, died before 1821.
Daniel Daly, born 18 July 1819, Maulagh Township, Agahadoe, Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Margaret Daly, born 4 February 1821, Maulagh Township, Agahoadoe, Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Julia Daly, born 24 June 1823, Maulagh Township, Agahadoe Civil Parish, County Kerry.

Mathew Doherty was born 26 April 1801 and baptized in Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry, the child of Ellen Leahy and Mathew Doherty who were married 20 February 1794 in Killarey Parish, County Kerry. Ellen Leahy appears to have been born and baptized 19 July 1777 in Tralee, County Kerry, the child of Timothy Leahy and Joanna Cronin. In Griffith’s General Valuation of Rateable Property in Ireland, Timothy Leahy is shown farming 14 acres of land in the Town of Killarney that he leased from Mary Purcell. Records for Timothy Leahy and Joanna Cronin prior to their marriage were not located. No records for Mathew Doherty can be found in County Kerry. There is a Mathew Dougherty who was born 25 September 1770 in Dublin and baptized at St. Nicholas Church. His parents were Andrew Dougherty and Mary Holeran.

Children of Mathew Doherty and Ellen Leahy:

Mathew Doherty, born 22 March 1797, Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry. Died 1 May 1875, Knockanes, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Mathew Doherty, born 26 April 1801, Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry, died about May 1875.

The Great Hunger and Emigration from Ireland

The Irish Potato famine, also known as the Great Hunger, began in 1845. It was caused by a fungus on the potato crop that quickly spread throughout Ireland. Half of the potato crops were ruined that first year. Before the famine ended in 1852, starvation killed an estimated one million people and forced another million to leave Ireland as refugees. The potato had only been introduced to Ireland about 100 years before the famine began and only one variety of potato was grown in the country, the “Irish Lumper.” The severity of the famine was more pronounced in western Ireland, particularly Connaught, and the west of Munster, where County Kerry is located.

At the time, Ireland was being governed as a colony of Great Britain. Catholics were prohibited from owning or leasing land, voting or holding elected office under the Penal Laws until about 1829 when the laws were repealed. Still, even at the time of the famine, Irish Catholics were left to work as tenant farmers on leased land and were not landowners themselves. That is the case with the extended Doherty family.

The Great Hunger was just the beginning of emigration from Ireland to the America. At least eight million people left Ireland between 1801 and 1921. This was driven by the demand for immigrant labor in the United States and the lack of employment and opportunities for the average person in Ireland. About 80% of the emigrants were young people between the ages of 21 and 30, which describes the Dohertys who chose to emigrate.

The Likely Family History of Ann Brien.

The name Brien can be found spelled many different ways, including Brian, Bryan, Breen, O’Brien, or even Breen. Ann Brien was known as Nancy, Anna, Annie. To identify who her parents were, we have the following information. She was married 2 March 1867 in Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry to Michael Doherty and her father’s name is listed as Denis Brian, a farmer from Inch. Inch is a townland in Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. In the 1853 Griffith’s Valuation of Rateable Property, Denis Brien is a tenant farmer of 23 acres owned by Daniel Lombard in Inch, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. Denis Brian was born 8 August 1824 in Killarney and his wife Honora Doherty was born 30 July 1827 in Killarney. They married 18 February 1841 at Glenflesk Parish Church, County Kerry. Denis Brian and Honora Doherty had six children, the latter four were born in Inch, the two eldest were born in “Cousane,” likely a misspelling of Coolcaslagh.

The original records for the Glenflesk Parish Church can be very difficult to read. But it appears that Denis and Honora first lived in Coolcaslagh, then relocated to Inch between 1846 and 1848. Ann’s name in the church records raises questions. Although she was always known by a version of Ann or Nancy, the child born on 9 October 1848 is named Ellen Ann. The other problem with this record is the mother’s name is shown as Ann Doherty, not Honora Doherty. But this is the only female child, of all the recorded births, who could be Ann because the other two girls would have been too young to marry in 1867. The other possibility is that Ann’s birth was simply not recorded, perhaps having occurred during the period (1846-1848) when the family relocated to Inch.

Children of Denis Brian and Honora Doherty:

Timothy Brian, born 20 February 1842 in Coolcaslagh, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Daniel Brian, born 12 May,1846 in Coolcaslagh, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Ellen Ann Brian, born 9 October 1848 in Inch, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Margaret Brian, born 18 September 1856 in Inch, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Honora Brian, born 18 September 1856 in Inch, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.
James, born 12 June 1859 in Inch, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry.

Honora Doherty was the sixth of seven children of James Doherty and Margaret Connor, who married 31 July 1806 in Killarney Parish Church.

Children of James Doherty and Margaret Connor:

Cornelius Doherty, born and baptized 6 Dec 1811, Killarney, County Kerry.
Margaret Doherty, born and baptized 11 June 1814, Killarney, County Kerry.
Mary Doherty, born and baptized 12 November 1816, Killarney, County Kerry.
Ellen Doherty, born and baptized 16 June 1819, Killarney, County Kerry.
John Doherty, born and baptized 17 June 1824, Killarney, County Kerry.
Honora Doherty, born and baptized 30 Jul 1827, Killarney, County Kerry.
James Doherty, born and baptized 7 May 1830, Killarney, County Kerry.

Denis Brian was the seventh of eight children born to Patrick Breen and Johanna Keliher who married 25 November 1809 in Killarney Parish Church

Children of Patrick Breen and Johanna Keliher:

Patrick Breen, born 14 March 1811, Killarney, County Kerry.
Mary Breen, born 11 June 1814, Killarney, County Kerry.
Gobinet Breen, born 10 February 1817, Killarney, County Kerry.
John Breen (twin), born 21 April 1819, Killarney, County Kerry.
Elizabeth Breen (twin), born 21 April 1819, Killarney, County Kerry, died before 1829.
Johanna Breen, born 24 February 1822, Killarney, County Kerry.
Denis Brian, born 8 August 1824, Killarney, County Kerry.
Elizabeth Breen, born 26 July 1829, Killarney, County Kerry.

The O’Reillys/Rahillys of Killarney.

Nellie O’Reilly went by the name O’Reilly at the time of her marriage. Although she could read and write, just a couple of generations before her time, people signed their names with their mark, “X.” As a result, the family name was spelled many different ways, oftentimes determined by a church or civic official who was creating an official record on their behalf. Her father, and generations before him, spelled it Rahilly. Her sisters, two of whom came to the United States, varied their spellings as well, one using Riley and the other Reilly. Perhaps the adoption of the “O’” was the American concept of what an Irish name should be. It mattered little though since Nellie and her three sisters adopted their husbands’ family names. Her two surviving brothers continued the tradition of using the name Rahilly.

Cornelius Doherty married Ellen (Nellie) O’Reilly 22 July 1896 in Boston, Massachusetts, she was born 6 April 1871 in Goortahoonig Townland, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry, child of Denis Rahilly and Mary Sullivan. Nellie was baptized at Rathmore Parish Church. As a young woman, she must have known Cornelius Doherty who left Ireland for the United States in 1893. She decided to join him and left Ireland to marry, landing in New York on 3 July 1896. She traveled to the United States with Mary Anne Doherty, the younger sister of Cornelius. Although they settled in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where Cornelius’ uncle Mathew had established his home, they married in Boston, Massachusetts. Nellie gave birth to twins, Annie and Michael, in 1897 in Holyoke, the first two of her ten children.

As far as we know, Nellie’s two surviving brothers stayed in Ireland. Her sister Mary came to the United States and married in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 November 1897, Clarence E. Quigley from Nova Scotia, settling in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her sister Margaret (Maggie) married 21 October 1900 in Boston, Massachusetts Frederick Johns, settling in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. Her youngest sister Bridget remained in Ireland, and along with her husband Timothy Lynch, took in her parents, Denis Rahilly and Mary Sullivan, as evidenced by the 1911 census in Gortacareen, Doocarrig, County Kerry.

Children of Denis Rahilly and Mary Sullivan:

John Rahilly, born and baptized 8 August 1862, Rathmore Parish Church, County Kerry and died before 1864.
John Rahilly, born 18 June 1864, County Kerry, Ireland.
Patrick Rahilly, born 30 March 1869, County Kerry, Ireland.
Ellen O’Reilly, born 6 April 1871 in Goortahoonig Townland, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry, died 30 May 1952, Boston, Massachusetts. Married 22 July 1896 Boston, Massachusetts, Cornelius Doherty, born 10 December 1870, Knockanes, Townland, County Kerry, died 1 August 1917, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Mary Reilly, born and baptized 10 April 1873 at Rathmore Church Parish, County Kerry.
Margaret (Maggie) Reilly, born 7 March 1875, County Kerry, Ireland.
Bridget Rahilly, born 21 June 1877, Gortahirn, County Kerry, Ireland, married 7 February 1904 in Killarney Church Parish, County Kerry, Timothy Lynch.
Children of Bridget Rahilly and Timothy Lynch:
a. Hannah Lynch, born 1905.
b. Mary Lynch, born 1907.
c. Bridget Lynch, born 1909.

Denis Rahilly was born 17 July 1836 in Knockearagh, Killarney Civil Parish, County Kerry, the youngest of seven children of John Rahilly and Johannah McCarthy. Denis married 6 October 1861 at Rathmore Church Parish, County Kerry, Mary Sullivan, born 23 February 1840, Stagmount Townland, Kilcummin Civil Parish, eldest of three children of Michael Sullivan and Ellen Cronin.

Children of John Rahilly and Johannah McCarthy:

Daniel Rahilly, born 6 June 1826, Knockearagh, Killarney, County Kerry.
Mary Rahilly, born 19 March 1828, Upper Park, Killarney, County Kerry.
Michael Rahilly, born 27 April 1829, Knockearagh, Killarney, County Kerry.
Cornelius Rahilly, born 12 May 1831, Knockearagh, Killarney, Count Kerry.
Ann Rahilly, born 29 July 1832, Knockearagh, Killarney, County Kerry.
John Rahilly, born 27 September 1834, Knockearagh, Killarney, County Kerry.
Denis Rahilly, born 27 July 1836, Knockearagh, Killarney, County Kerry.

Children of Michael Sullivan and Ellen Cronin:

Mary Sullivan, born 23 February 1840, Stagmount, Kilcummin Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Julia Sullivan, born 9 July 1845, Stagmount, Kilcummin Civil Parish, County Kerry.
Patrick Sullivan, born 17 March 1844, Stagmount, Killcummin Civil Parish, County Kerry.

Into the Twentieth Century: Daniel Doherty and Bernice King (Generation 4).

Our story concludes with Daniel Joseph Doherty, the second youngest child of Cornelius Doherty and Nellie O’Reilly. He was born 1 February 1908. He, a Roman Catholic, married Bernice Moulton King, who was an American Baptist Protestant on 27 August 1928 in Northport, Long Island, New York. At the time, this intermarriage of religions was frowned upon by both families and it appears they eloped. Their daughter, Muriel Louise Doherty, was born 9 April 1929 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Daniel and Bernice divorced after less than three years of marriage, on 8 January 1932. At the age of 34 on 2 March 1942, Daniel enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, after

unsuccessfully attempting to join the U.S. Navy. After being honorably discharged from the military service, he died on 23 July 1943 in Holyoke from heart failure. Bernice Moulton King died after a long illness on 16 November 1994 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Their daughter, Muriel Louise Doherty married 23 July 1952 in San Antonio, Texas where Douglas Dean was stationed with the U.S. Army. They returned to Holyoke, Massachusetts to raise a family. Although she continued to live in Holyoke, Muriel died at the medical center in Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts on 10 May 2011 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Doherty Family in the

United States.

Updated 13 June 2020

The Doherty Family came to the United States and settled in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. The first member of the immediate Doherty family to arrive was Mathew Doherty, son of Mathew Doherty and Honora Daly. He was born 29 March 1849 in Knockanes, Killaha Civil Parish, County Kerry. Based upon available passenger lists, it appears that he traveled in steerage on the ship France from Queenstown, Ireland to Castle Garden in New York City, New York, arriving on May 5, 1871. We find his name appearing for the first time in in the Holyoke, Massachusetts City Directory in 1876, residing at 36 Chestnut Street. Mathew’s name does not appear in the Holyoke Directory prior to 1876. It may be that he did not first go to Holyoke or that his actual arrival in the United States was sometime between 1871 and 1876.

We also find another Doherty residing at 36 Chestnut Street, Cornelius Doherty. Cornelius was also from Knockanes Townland, Killaha, County Kerry. He was born and baptized 28 April 1852 at Glenflesk Church Parish County Kerry, the son of John Doherty and Margaret Murrinane. The relationship between Cornelius’ family and Mathew is not known but they both have the same surname and they came from Knockanes Townland, County Kerry.

Cornelius worked for Whiting Company Mill No. 2 and Mathew worked for Thomas Dillon in 1876. By 1879, Cornelius starts working for G.W. Prentiss where he was a dyer and Mathew continued working for Dillon over the years. By 1879 they had relocated a short distance to 167 Lyman Street. They continued to live together, in the same general area until 1888 when Cornelius married Hannah Donoghue and they relocated to Dwight Street, where they lived for many years. Mathew stayed at on Lyman Street, even after he married Margaret (Peg) Dougherty on 21 June 1873. Margaret was also born in Ireland. Although Mathew listed his occupation as clerk for Thomas Dillon, it is not clear in which of the Dillon businesses he was employed. Dillon operated two primary businesses at the time, a grocery store and an undertaker. Those family businesses both continue on in 2000s, although the grocery business evolved into a liquor store. Based upon his job title, clerk, Mathew likely worked in the grocery business. Mathew left the grocery business and became a policeman in 1892. He died from kidney disease in 1895 at the age of 46, having lived in the United States 24 years.

In reviewing the 1880 United States Census, we find the Doherty household full of many relatives. Mathew and Peg have had their first two children by then, Honora and Mary. Mathew’s sister Gobinet (Abbey) had joined him in the United States as well. She was born 12 May 1856, seven years younger than Mathew. This is the only time we find her in the U.S. Census and her name does not appear in any of the Holyoke City Directories, however, women’s names generally do not appear, unless they were a head of a household. Abbey was working in one of the city mills at the time of the census. She likely married and her name changed but no records have been identified.

Three of Cornelius Doherty’s brothers had joined the household by 1880. They were Michael, age 26, Patrick, age 24, and James, age 22. James worked at Albion Paper company in the mill. James Doherty continued to live in Holyoke over the years, as shown in future City Directories, eventually working at Parsons Paper and then by 1886 he became an employee of T & J Dillon, where Mathew worked. Michael worked for the Holyoke Water Power Company and then in subsequent years worked for Prentiss Wire works. We no longer find him in Holyoke City Directories after 1884. A total of three of the sons of John Doherty and Margaret Murrinane of Knockanes Townland, County Kerry had moved to Holyoke by 1880. There is clearly a relationship between this family, headed by John Doherty, and the families headed by Michael Doherty and James Doherty, who took over their father Mathew’s farm in Knockanes after his death. However, it is not known who John Doherty’s father was.

Finally we find one more Cornelius Doherty, born about 1861, living in the Mathew Doherty household. He was the son of Mathew Doherty’s uncle, James Doherty, born about 1836 and his wife Johanna Heagerty. They also lived in Knockanes. This Cornelius Doherty would marry Mary Reardon in 21 October 1884.

Next comes the story of Cornelius Doherty, born December 10, 1870 to Michael Doherty and Ann Brian. According to passenger list records he arrived in Boston aboard the ship Pavonia on 7 May 1893 at the age of 22. He first appears in the Holyoke City Directory in 1894 as a helper, working at Long & Walsh, boarding with his brother Mathew at 167 Lyman Street. However, in 1895 Cornelius is no longer listed in the Holyoke City Directory, where it states he removed to Boston. This may explain why he and his fiancé Ellen O’Reilly married in Boston on 22 July 1896. Ellen had arrived in New York earlier in July with Cornelius and Mathew’s younger sister Mary Anne, aboard the ship Germanic from Queenstown, Ireland on 3 July 1896. In 1896 we, once again, find Cornelius boarding at 167 Lyman Street while Mathew and his new wife Bridget Fogarty have moved next door to 161 Lyman Street. Cornelius and Nellie move to 77 Pine Street in 1897 where their twins Michael Francis and Annie Marie are born on 9 April 1897. Later that year they move to 77 Pine Street and then to 125 Sargeant Street where their third child, Francis John is born on 19 May 1898. By 1900 they have relocated to 103 Maple Street where their fourth and fifth children are born Mary Anne on 10 July 1900 and Mathew Stephen on 15 December 1901.

After the birth of Mary Anne, the Dohertys make their only known return trip to Ireland, arriving there on 30 October 1900 on the ship Anchovia. They bring three of their four children with them, the twins, Annie and Michael, along with the three-month-old Mary Anne. They leave behind in Holyoke their one-and-a-half-year-old son Francis John, likely in the care of one of their relatives. The family returns to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island in New York on 28 November 1900.

Before the Dohertys next three children are born, they move next door to 113 Maple Street where Patrick Joseph is born on 13 March 1903, Cornelius Aloysius on 4 July 1904, and Dennis Jerome on 29 September 1905. By 1908 they have relocated to 19 John Street where Daniel Joseph is born on 1 February 1908. The family is back to where they started at 196 Lyman when their final and tenth child John James is born 22 June 1914.

When Cornelius first arrived in the United States, it appears that he worked as a general laborer. However, by 1900 he listed “driver” as his profession. In 1917, the year of his death at the age of 46, he was employed as a driver of a horse-drawn coal wagon for the Union Coal and Wood Company of Holyoke. He died from sun stroke, called “isolation” at the time, on 1 August 1917. After his death, Nellie filed a lawsuit against the Traveler’s Insurance Company for compensation related to Cornelius’s on-the-job death but the courts ruled in favor of the insurance company, claiming his death was not job related. Nellie would live on for many more years, dying on 30 May 1952 at the home of her daughter Annie in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts.

Mary Anne Doherty, born 20 March 1875, to Michael Doherty and Ann Brian, was the sister of Cornelius and Mathew Doherty. She journeyed to the United States with Nellie O’Reilly, arriving in New York on 3 July 1896. We find her in the 1900 U.S. Census living at 13 Maple Street, a boarder, living in a large boarding house with other mill workers. She married on 18 June 1902 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Timothy Moriarty, born 16 September 1873 in Ireland. They had at least six children together.

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