Michael Fanning of Boynton & Delavan Tazewell Illinois, brother of William “Big Bill” Fanning

Michael Fanning born Co Tipperary Ireland 1810 and died 1900 in Tazewell Illinois was the brother of my gggrandfather William Patrick Fanning of Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland and Bulla Victoria Australia.

Given my recent Ancestry DNA match with Timothy Brophy a descendant of Edward Fanning the son of Michael Fanning and Catherine Keyes I have decided that Michael Fanning of Tazewell was definitely the brother of mygrgrgrandfather, William Patrick Fanning. I was 99% sure before but this DNA result has clinched it for me.

A few years ago I was contacted by a fellow family historian about Michael Fanning and possible connections with her Keyes ancestors who lived in Paterson, Passaic County,  New Jersey, USA but originally came from Co Tipperary and Co Leix in Ireland.

She told me that a Michael Fanning had married Catherine “Kitty” Keyes in Co Tipperary about 1833. They lived in Dromard (Dromard More or Dromard Beg) civil parish of Killavinoge (Templemore), Co Tipperary  It is said the Fanning family lived in Dromard around this time. A Michael Fanning was sponsor to Ellen Keyes 6 Mar 1835 at Graffin (Knockgraffin?) and may have been Edward’s father.

They had two children. Edward was baptised at Clonmore in the Catholic parish of Templemore on Dec 28 1833. The baptismal sponsors for Edward were Steven Mackey and Ellen Kavanagh. John the second child was baptised 22 May 1836 (sponsor- Judith Keyes). He is said to have died young in Ireland. His mother Catherine “Kitty” Keyes also died young. On the Baptism record for the second child “Joanna” is clearly written and the priest did not use Latin for his entries.

Edward emigrated to the US sometime before the age of 21. He settled in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey where many of his mother’s Keyes extended family were. His father Michael was already in the US. Edward later lived in Paterson New Jersey and served in the Civil War in Co. G, 7th Regt. NJ Vols.

 

 

Edward Fanning’s second wife was Sarah Tracey. Edward died in Mar 8, 1900 in Paterson New Jersey. Below is an obit for Edward in the local paper:

“FANNING – In this city on Thursday March 8 1900 Edward, beloved husband of Sarah Fanning, aged 66 years. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral on Monday, March 12, 1900 from his late residence, 138 Jersey street, at 9 o’clock a. m. and from St. John’s R. C. church at 9:30 o’clock a. m. Interment at Holy Sepulchre. 
Paterson Evening News 
Friday 9 Mar 1900″

Recently I was contacted by members of the Brophy family and they sent me what they know about Edward Fanning. Timothy Brophy, a great grandson of Edward, has researched his family history and published a book,The Brophy Lane Chronicle, which he kindly sent me. Below are three pages from this book which relate to this Edward. I have also included a photo of Edward’s son, also Edward.

Edward Fanning, born 1862 was the grandson of Michael Fanning and Kitty Keyes. He was an excellent carpenter and contractor. He designed and built the very intricate and beautiful altar woodwork in Paterson’s Saint John’s Cathedral.

Corner of Main and Congress Streets Paterson New Jersey

From  Brian Brophy a direct descendant of Edward Fanning came information that Michael’s parents in Co Tipperary were an Edward Fanning and that his mother’s surname was Darmody. Walter F Brooks who wrote The History of the Fanning Family sent Fanning a letter and a survey to fill out about his family:

Letter sent to William Fanning by Walter Brooks who was researching Fanning family history for his book.

This letter was sent to William T. Fanning  (1875-1925) in 1899, he was Edward’s son and Michael’s grandson. . This was one year prior to the death of  William’s father Edward Fanning (1833-1900) so we can assume the father and son  talked about completing this document  together. It lists Michael Fanning and Catherine Keyes  as  Edward’s parents and Ed Fanning and ? Darmidy  as his grandparents. The place of birth is listed as the Parish of Clonmore, Tipperary, Ire. Dec. 24, 1834. Clonmore is an alternative name for Killovinoge. Templemore is the more well known name for this parish.

In the past I commissioned research with Tipperary Family History Research into Edward Fanning and Johanna (Judy or Judith) Darmody and there were only two Fanning Darmody marriages in Thurles Parish. One was Ed Fanning and Johanna in 1808 and then Patrick Darmody married a Catherine Fanning in 1840.

I think this pretty much proves that the Edward Fanning living in Paterson New Jersey was the son of Michael Fanning my gggrandfather’s nephew. But whether the Michael Fanning from Tazewell is his brother is a little harder to prove at this stage.

Recently I was sent a newspaper clipping by Brain Brophy a descendant of Edward fanning of New Jersey. It proves that the Michael Fanning in Delavan Tazewell County in Illinois was the father of Edward Fanning of New Jersey and hence the son of Edward Fanning and Judy Darmody.

I also asked for any marriages of a Michael Fanning that might be relevant. None of the marriages that TFHR came up which seemed likely. However, they also didn’t not come up with the marriage of Michael and Kitty Keyes, which is odd. I have since found their marriage record through Rootsireland.ie.

They were married in the RC parish of Templemore on 14 Feb 1833. Catherine’s address is given as Dromard. Unfortunately there are no fathers’names or an address or occupation for Michael. Very Frustrating. Witnesses were James MacGrath and Thomas Ryan.

They had two children, Edward and John.

Edward ended up in America and lived in Paterson New Jersey.which is about 900 miles east of Delavan Tazewell Illinois.

I checked the microfilm and the entry looks very much like Joanna so maybe the story of their being a younger brother John is inaccurate.

Another source stated that Edward’s father married again to Bridget Phean (Feehan) and lived in Delavan, Tazwell Co Illinois.

Michael Fanning applied to become a US citizen on April 9, 1844 in Tazewell Co Illinois. This document which is very hard to read lists his birthday as November 9, 1806 and that he left Dublin Ireland on March 11, 1836 and landed in New York on or about May 1, 1836.

“Michael Fanning an alien born free white person of the age of thirty two years and upwards and presented to the said court a written declaration of his intention to make application to be admitted as a naturalized citizen of the United States in conformity with the …… acts of Congress hereto passed on that subject, with the desire that the same might be accepted, registered, and certified accordingly which said declaration was —– by the same Michael Fanning sworn to in open Court before the Clerk thereof and is in the words and figures following to wit: …………I, Michael Fanning, an alien born free white person of the age of thirty three years and upwards………that I was born in the County of Tipperary the ninth day of November 1801 (? could be 1811) and that I am near thirty four years of age……… that I migrated from the port of Dublin….on the eleventh day of March 1836 and landed at the city of New York………on the first day of May or thereabouts 1836……………..”

Michael could not write and made his mark on the document.

Michael Fanning (Fannan) and Bridget Feehan (Fahan) were married on 22 Feb 1852 in Tazewell county. They had seven children. He was a farmer with 280 acres in Delavan.

The History of Tazewell county Illinois published by Chas C Chapman has the following entry on Michael Fanning:

“Michael Fanning, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 16 ; P. O. Boynton.
Michael Fanning, as the name implies, is a native Irishman, 
and ranks among the more generous agriculturalists of this town- 
ship. He was born in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, about 
1815. Growing to manhood in Ireland, he acquired a good com- 
mon-school education at such odd times as the duties of the farm 
would permit. While still a young man he crossed the Atlantic for 
the New World, landing in New York City during the Spring of 
1835, and for sometime worked in the Metropolitan City at 50 cents 
per day. From thence he went to Savannah, Georgia, where he 
hired as a steamboat hand, thence to New York and Pittsburgh, 
from whence he took passage on the Wisconsin, the only steamboat 
then plying the Illinois River, for Pekin, then but a small place, 
that Mr. Fanning describes in the following manner : Landing from the 
boat I discovered but few dwellings, mostly log cabins, on what is 
now the main street. The village probably contained, at this time 
about 25 inhabitants, mostly Frenchmen and Southerners. Mr. 
F. afterward made the acquaintance of Mr. Tharp, Wm. Mosley, and 
others, many of whom have passed the dark river. In 1851 Mr. 
F. joined an expedition enroute for California. After some months 
of weary travel he reached the golden coast, where he remained 
some 13 months and became quite successful as a miner. Return- 
ing to Tazewell Co., he again worked as a farm hand for a time. 
In 1852 he was married to Miss Bridget Ann Phean, of Ireland. 
During this year Mr, F. leased property until enabled to purchase. 
He is now the owner of 280 acres, and one of the most generous of 
men. Of this marriage eight children were born, seven of whom 
are living — James, Thomas, William, Mary, Sarah, Ellen and 
Louisa.”

The History of Tazewell county vol 2  in genealogy trails has the following entry:

Fanning

Michael

Ireland, Boynton

1837

1900

1837 being the year he arrived in Tazewell county.

The History of the Webster Family by Charles William Webster page 3 which relates to Michael Fanning:

 

Children of Michael Fanning and Bridget Ann Feehan:

James F Fanning born 25 Nov 1851 Delavan, married Mary Mack, died Peoria Illinois 16 Mar 1925.

 

Mary A. Fanning  married Charles Byron Webster 1 Mar 1881 in Boynton Tazwell Ill. She died in Rantoul Illinois 3 Nov 1888.

Elizabeth Fanning died 16 Feb 1932 in Chicago Cook County.

John F Fanning who was born 6 April 1856 died 21 June 1868.

Sarah C Fanning born 10 June 1860 died 13 Mar 1903.

Thomas Fanning born 13 Feb 1859 died 20 Oct 1898.

William born 31 Aug 1854 died 1 Nov 1885.

With the exception of Elizabeth they are all buried in St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Delavan.

Brian Brophy has kindly sent me a copy of the probate papers for Michael Fanning. So far a death certificate for Michael has not been found.

Brian Brophy believes that the Edward fanning who was sent a notification of the probate is his gggrandfather.

 

 

 

My gggrandfather’s brother was a Michael Fanning born in Thurles Parish to Edward Fanning and Judy Darmody on Sept 23 1810 whereas the above gravestone has 29 Sept. This record was from a typed book transcribed from the original parish registers at some stage. The 23 could easily be a 29. I have asked Tipperary Family History Research to check the microfilm if one exists. TFHR got back to me after checking the microfilm entry and it is clearly 23 of Sept.