Francis Cleary
Son of Anthony Cleary and Bridget McMahon. Baptised 24 July 1848 and therefore born shortly before that, in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland. Baptismal sponsors Michael & Honor McMahon.
After his three brothers and two sisters emigrated to far away Australia and New Zealand, Frank was left to care for his ageing parents.
Frank married Hannah Marrinan in Hannah's native parish of Inagh, on 24 February 1873. The civil record of the marriage can be found at the Courthouse in the nearby town of Ennis. Francis' age is given as 25, and his occupation is described as farmer. Hannah was the daughter of Timothy Marrinan, a farmer of Curraghodea.
After the marriage, Francis and Hannah resided on the Cleary farm at Illaun, Miltown Malbay. The following six children have been identified :
- Bridget, baptised 4 April 1874; sponsors James Clancy & Eliza Marrinan;
- Eliza, baptised 27 April 1875; sponsors Anthony Neylan & Mary Cleary;
- Hannah, baptised 18 April 1879; sponsors James & Honora Cleary;
- Anthony, baptised 19 November 1880; sponsors James & Catherine Cleary; (the eldest of the three sons was named after his father's father).
- Martin, baptised 28 October 1882; sponsors John & Mary Cleary;
- Thomas, baptised 15 December 1885; sponsors Patrick & Bridget Cleary.
:
The Census of 1901 describes Francis Cleary's home in Illaun as having stone walls, a thatched roof, 3 windows to the front, and 3 rooms. The photograph above was provided by John Cleary of Co. Kildare. John is great-grandson of Frank and Hannah and he was raised in the house. The house still stands and is the "first" house shown in the photograph of Cleary houses.
In the official Census of April 1901, the Cleary home at Illaun was occupied by
- Francis Cleary, head of the family, who could read, write and speak both Irish and English languages; his occupation was farmer and his age was stated as 52 years;
- Hannah, his wife, age 55, could also read, write and speak both Irish and English;
- Elizabeth, their daughter;
- Martin, their son;
- Thomas, their son;
- Mary Morrissey, aged 5 years, daughter of Bridget and grandchild of Francis & Hannah;
- Delia Morrissey, aged 3 years, also daughter of Bridget and grandchild of Francis and Hannah.
Time brings changes and, in the April 1901 census, the home (identified now as house no 17 on Illaun townland) was occupied by
- Francis Cleary, age 63, farmer;
- Hannah, his wife, age 67;
- Thomas, their son, age 25 and described as "farmer's son";
- Hannah Vaughan, aged 3 years, grandchild of Francis and Hannah.
Meanwhile, the same census showed son Martin and his new wife Mary the only residients at house no 3 on Illaun townland.
Frank Cleary and his wife, Hannah. In front is their grand-daughter Hannah who was
raised by them. Also shown are other grand-daughters Mary and Biddie (Bridget).
Photo provided by John Cleary of Co. Kildare, great grandson of Frank and Hannah.
Other information in regard to Francis and Hannah's children.
Bridget married George Morrissey on 30 January 1894 and resided on the Morrissey family farm at Ballymackea. Their children were James (born 1894), Mary (b.1895), Anne (b.1896), Bridget (b.1897), James (b.1898) and Catherine (b.1900)
Eliza married Patrick Vaughan, a widower, in Miltown Malbay on 17 February 1906. Patrick's address was given as Moy and he was described as the son of James Vaughan, a farmer. Baptismal registers have not been indexed after 1900 and so it has not been possible to locate baptismal records of any children of the marriage.
Hannah Cleary, died on 19 February 1903 at the County infirmary in Ennis. She was 23 years of age, and died of phthisis (which would now be described as tuberculosis of the lungs).
Anthony died on 11 December 1880, just weeks old. The cause of death was described as convulsions which had lasted for two days.
Martin Cleary, described as a farmer, married Mary Mungovan in Coore on 7 February 1911. Mary was the daughter of Patrick Mungovan, a farmer and blacksmith of Cloonlaheen. Again, it has not been possible to identify all the children of the marriage. However it is known that that one son, John Cleary, died in 1916 at two years of age; a daughter Lily Cleary died in 1919 at 8 weeks of age, while their son Anthony died in 1948 at the age of 35, and his death was registered by his sister Nell. Martin died in 1964, at Illaun, at the age of 81 years, and his death was registered by his daughter, Ellen Crowe, a resident of Miltown Malbay. Martin's widow, Mary Cleary, died at Illaun a year later, in 1965, and her death was registered by her son-in-law, Michael Crowe, of Miltown Malbay. Michael O'Looney of New York, who was raised in the house next door, recalled that Martin Cleary was a popular man and, although he had no formal veterinary training, was very clever with cattle and with animals generally. Michael O'Looney recalled that Martin was a very solid man and that he took no nonsense.
Thomas Cleary was a more outgoing man than some of his family. Local history in the Miltown Malbay area still relates that Tom was very active in the Irish Republican Army (I.R.A.) in the lead-up to Ireland gaining its independence in 1922 and his exploits for the I.R.A. were considered by the locals to be quite heroic although Tom was quite modest about his role.Thomas Cleary married Bridget Fitzpatrick in Miltown Malbay on 7 February 1921. Bridget was the daughter of Michael Fitzpatrick, a farmer. Their children included Michael Cleary (1924-1984) who resided in the nearby Ballard locality.
The late Michael O'Looney of New York, was the grandson of Sinon Cleary, Frank's next-door neighbout in Illaun, Miltown Malbay. Young Michael was raised in the house next door. In 2003, Michael recalled that Frank was not tall but that his sons were tall men , all six feet. Michael recalled that Frank could speak roughly but he never drank alcohol.
Thanks to Peter F Cleary of Melbourne Australia for assisting with some of the above information
.
