I want to give thanks to my dad for helping me with this. I know that it really means a lot to him to have his family tree researched and to see it written down.
I made a few phone calls to Ireland over the past few weeks to dad to ask him about the Cunningham side of our family. It’s been really nice to talk to dad about this and to hear him chat away about his family and especially his great grandfather Patrick Cunningham who he wanted to know more about and whether or not he came from Ireland.
So here goes.
Hugh Cunningham and Mary Quin/Quinn
Hugh Cunningham is my Father John Cunningham’s, great great grandfather. He was a boot maker. Hugh Married Mary Quin/Quinn on the 29th April 1848. They lived in a place called Cargina. They were married at Lower Mourne, County Down Church. They both belonged to the Down and Connor Diocese. Both were Catholics. They had two Sons
Patrick Cunningham
Patrick Cunningham is the son of Hugh and Mary. He was born in County Down. He was baptised on the 28th Jul 1850 in Kilkeel. He is my fathers great grandfather.
Patrick Cunningham a laborer Married Catherine Murphy a servant on 8th Feb 1871 at the Roman Catholic Chapel. Witnesses were Hugh Cunningham, Father of Patrick and Catherine Murphy, mother of Catherine. Both Patrick and Catherine were residence at Aughnaloopy. Patrick was a laborer and Catherine a Servant. Catherine’s father was called Michael Murphy.
William Cunningham
William Cunningham was born in 1853. He was baptized on March 5, 1853.He is the son of Hugh and Mary. He was born in County Down. He is my fathers great uncle.
Thomas Cunningham
Thomas Cunningham is the son of Patrick and Catherine. He is my fathers grandfather. Thomas Cunningham was born on June 18 1872. He was baptized on June 23, 1872 at St Albans R.C Church in Lancashire. Thomas Cunningham married Sarah Doran on February 5th 1903. They were married at the Newry and Mourne Church Ballymartin.
Sarah Doran’s father was called William. Sarah was born around 1876. Here is a picture of her.
Thomas and Sarah had three children. Patrick Joseph, who is my dads father, William and Lizzie.
In the 1911 census. Sarah Cunningham, her father in law Patrick and her children, Patrick Joseph, William and Lizzie are living at the following address. House 23 Brackneagh East Ballykeel Co Down. Sarah is 30, Patrick is 60 and a widower. There is no record of her husband Thomas Cunningham.
Sarah Cunningham came to Loughborough, Leicestershire also in the late 50’s.She is a widower at this point. She died in March 1960 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. She is buried at Loughborough Cemetery with her son Patrick Joseph Cunningham.
Elizabeth Cunningham
Elizabeth is my father’s great aunt. Elizabeth Cunningham was born on February 25, 1871, in Down, Down, Northern Ireland, the child of Patrick and Catherine Cunningham.
William Cunningham
William was born 2nd May 1905
In the 1911 census, William is living at house 23 Brackenagh East, Ballykeel Co Down.
William left Ireland and traveled to New York. He married Susan Plunket on the 24th May 1931 at St Joseph’s Church Bronxville, New York. Here is a wedding picture of the two of them.
They had two children William T Cunningham and Rosemary. Rosemary was born around 1933.William T was born 11th December 1937 at Yonker New York and died 23 Dec 1996.
The family lived at 21 Wallace Street, Eastchester, Westchester, New York. William was a taxi driver in New York.
William Died on January 2 1966 and Susan died on January 2 1997. They both died on the same date but 31 years apart.
Susan Plunket
Susan Plunket was born on May 17 1908 in Knockbride, Bailiebro, Co Cavan N Ireland, her father was called Richard and her mother was Rose.
She had the following brothers and sisters: John was born about 1895, Catherine was born about 1897, Ellen was born about 1898, Kate was born about 1898, Richard jnr was born about 1900, Bridget was born about 1903, James was born about 1906.
In the 1911 census the family lived at house 3 Ledonigan Drumanespick, Cavan. Richard was a farmer. The family were all Catholics. Richards father was called Andrew Plunket.
Susan left Ireland when she was 19 years old and traveled from Cobh, Ireland by boat to New York. She traveled on a ship called “Dresden”. She arrived on 2nd April 1928. She would be staying with her sister Mrs Coffey at 38 Palmer Avenue, Bronxville, New York.
The description of her was that she had a fair complexion, Brown hair and blue eyes.
Lizzie Cunningham
Lizzie was born 4th August 1906 in Ballymartin, Co Down
In the 1911 census, Lizzie is living at house 23 Brackenagh East, Ballykeel Co Down.
Lizzie has also left Ireland, she is 23 years old and is travelling on a ship to stay with her brother William in New York. She departed from Belfast port on the 22nd March 1930 and arrived on 3rd April 1930 aboard the Antonia ship.
Patrick Joseph Cunningham (Pop)
Patrick Joseph was born on 25th December 1903. the funny thing is his sister in law Susan Higgins was also born on the 25th December.
In the 1911 census, Patrick Joseph is living at house 23 Brackenagh East, Ballykeel Co Down.
Patrick Joseph Cunningham left Ireland and traveled to New York. He departed on the 26th February 1927 from Belfast port. He was aboard the Aurania ship.
It’s been confirmed to me that Patrick Joseph Cunningham was also a taxi driver in New York.
He returned from New York and arrived back in Belfast on the 5th May 1931. He was aboard the California Ship. It details that his occupation is a chauffeur.
He married Margaret Ann Higgins on 29th June 1932 at Newry and Mourne registration District, County Down.
He had the following children: Patrick, Thomas, John, Veronica, Oliver, Brendan and Malachy. She did give birth to another daughter, Mary Bernadette, but she died when she was a baby. Here is a picture of them all taken for my Dad John’s 80th Birthday on 21st September 2015.
Patrick Joseph, left Ireland and came to Loughborough, Leicestershire, England to Live in the late 1950’s. He died 7th August 1964 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. He is buried at Loughborough cemetery with his mother Sarah Cunningham.
Living in Loughborough
When my grandparents and my great grandmother along with my aunty and uncles came to Loughborough, they lived with my dad John, my mother Margaret and my two brothers Patrick and Thomas Cunningham at 17 Gladstone Street Loughborough.
They later moved and lived by themselves at 119 Ratcliffe Road Loughborough.
Conclusion
This now concludes my research into my family tree on my mothers and fathers side.
It has been a very large project for me, to find the information about both sides of the family.
I can only say, that it has been well worth it. Not only for me but for my other family members and to anyone else who may want to research their family tree.
In years to come my daughter Rosie will have all the information in one place about her family.
I was a novice when I started and now I can say that I feel very blessed to have added another string to my bow. I have learnt some new skills and have found a new interest in not only ancestry but in research in general and in particular past history.
Thank you for reading all my posts. God Bless Ann xx
