Patrick Coffey

 

Patrick Coffey was born in 1862 to Michael Coffey and Margaret Quinn in an area called Ure between Castlerea and Ballinlough. Ure as a townland stopped being used around the end of the 19^th Century. As far as I have been able to establish he was an only child which was unusual at the time but perhaps his mother Margaret died within a few years of his birth. Margaret’s husband, Michael, died in 1892 and was described as a widower on his death certificate. I have never found a death certificate for Margaret but records only began 1864 – this may mean that Margaret passed between the birth of Patrick in 1862 and before deaths were recorded in 1864.

Patrick married Bridget Kelly of Foughil, daughter of Luke Kelly and Bridget Gunning,  on 10 March 1884. Witnesses were Michael Kelly and Catherine Gunning. There are 4 recorded children of Patrick and Bridget:

Thomas Coffey (born 7 December 1886)

Michael Coffey (born 5 July 1888)

Delia Coffey (born 10 April 1890)

Patrick Coffey (born 8 November 1891)

Thomas, Michael and Delia then feature in 1901 Census. Thomas and Michael are at home with their father but Delia is staying with her grandparents Luke and Bridget. Young Patrick is nowhere to be found suggesting that he has passed away. (The elder Patrick is later to have another son called Patrick). There is a death certificate dated 14 March 1992 for a Michael Coffey aged 3 months and son of Pat Coffey of Ure. I believe this to be Patrick Coffey’s death cert and it to be a some kind of recording mistake by the registrar.

I have as yet found no further trace of Thomas, Michael, or Delia. They are not to be found in the 1911 Census. I have concluded that they emigrated but as to where or whether they then went on to have family of their own I am none the wiser.

Bridget Coffey nee Kelly then passed away on 25^th July 1895.

Patrick, left a widower with 3 young children, then married Mary Coyne (Kyne) a few months later on 24 November 1895. Mary was 22 years old at the time and the daughter of John Coyne (Kyne) and Bridget Ganley from Cloonlish (Cloonlish was also known as RobinHood). Patrick and Mary had 4 children:

Patrick Coffey (born about 1897) No birth record can be found but he features on both 1901 and 1911 Census

John Coffey (born 8 Jun 1898) – shown as living in Marystown

Martin Coffey (born 5 August 1899). Marystown. Martin died at 8 months after suffering from convulsions on 8 April 1900.

Kate Coffey (born 28 September 1900). Marystown.

James Coffey (born 28 February 1902) – shown as living in Cloonlish. Unfortunately James passed away aged 7 months on 18 November 1902 from chronic bronchitis. At time of death he was shown as living in Marystown.

In 1901 Census, Patrick, John and Kate are shown as living with their father and mother as well as their half brothers, Thomas and Michael.

By the time of 1911 Census, Patrick was shown to have been married to Celia Kelly for 5 years though no marriage certificate can be found. It also lists that they had had 3 children at that time though only 2 had survived. The most likely scenario is that Mary Coyne had also passed away sometime between 1902 and 1906 though, again, no death certificate can be found for Mary.

Celia Kelly was the daughter of Patrick and Winifred Kelly of nearby Carraghs. Celia was born on 13 Jun 1876. There are 4 recorded children of Patrick Coffey and Celia Kelly. There is no birth nor death certificate for the child that had died referenced in the 1901 census. The 4 children were:

Margaret Jane Coffey (born 16 November 1906) Margaret was my grandmother.

Norah Agnes Coffey (2 October 1910)

Martin Coffey (born 17 August 1914)

James Paul Coffey (born 26 April 1916)

In 1911 Census, Norah is shown as living with her parents Patrick and Celia, along with the Mary Coyne’s children, Patrick, John and Kate/Catherine. Brigid Kelly’s children have fled the nest at this point. My grandmother, Margaret, is shown as staying with her grandparents, Patrick and Winifred Kelly in Carraghs.

Patrick Coffey died on 30 May 1941 in Marystown. His death was recorded by his daughter Nora.