Burns – Fanning Family History

Map of irish Counties use — Map of Irish Counties

Thomas Mackey, was from Co Limerick, Ireland. He was baptised on April 24, 1853 in Kilduff in the Parish of Pallasgrean & Templebredon in Co Limerick. His godparents were Patrick Mackey and Mary Treacy. His mother was Bridget Treacy and his father Thomas Mackey, a farmer.His grandparents were Patrick Mackey and Catherine Dwyer.

In Griffiths Valuation in the townland of Kilduff (1.5 kms from Pallasgrean) published in Nov 1850 there is a Thomas Mackey a farmer and also a John Mackey.

Griffiths Valuation for Kilduff Townland Co Limerick c 1850

Mackey Family Griffiths Valuation Showing Kilduff Townland Co Limerick c1850

I have started looking for connections between the various Mackey families in the areas surrounding Kilduff. Trying to find my 4x great grandparents, the parents of Patrick Mackey who married Catherine Dwyer.

Mackey – 1853. Co. Limerick. Griffith’s Valuation extracts

John, Kilballyowen, Knockainy
Patrick, Loughgur (Village of Loughgur), Knockainy
John, Kilballyowen, Knockainy
Patrick, Loughgur (Village of Loughgur), Knockainy
John, Kilballyowen, Knockainy
Timothy, Castlefarm, Hospital
Timothy, Castlefarm, Hospital
Patrick, Loughgur (Village of Loughgur), Knockainy
James, Ballinacurra Hore’s St Lc, Limerick St. Michaels
Michael, Gooig, Stradbally
Patrick, Gooig, Stradbally
Timothy, Cloon and Commons, Stradbally
Anthony, Lacka, Castleconnell Vill, Stradbally
Anthony, Lacka, Stradbally
Anth, Lacka, Castleconnell Vill Stradbally
Anthony, Gooig, Stradbally
Timothy, Castlefarm, Hospital
William, Corelish West, Grean
Patrick, Dromkeen South, Dromkeen
James, Carnane, Fedamore
James, Carnane, Fedamore
Patrick, Ballybeg, Dromkeen
Patrick, Dromkeen South, Dromkeen
Patrick, Dromkeen South, Dromkeen
Patrick, Ballybeg, Dromkeen
James, Carnane, Fedamore
John, Kilduff, Grean
William, Corelish West, Grean
John, Kilduff, Grean
Thomas, Kilduff, Grean
Thomas, Kilduff, Grean
John, Kilduff, Grean
Thomas, Kilduff, Grean
William, Corelish West, Grean
Patrick, Ballybeg, Dromkeen

In the 1901 Census for Kiduff Co Limerick Patrick Mackey and his family are listed. He was born about 1851 and is most likely an older brother of Thomas.

Mackey 1901 Census Kilduff Co Limerick — 1901 Census for Kilduff Co Limerick Mackey

Mackey Kilduff Co Limerick 1911 Census — 1911 Census Kilduff Co Limerick Mackey Family

Thomas Mackey came out to Victoria about 1880 and was a draper. One of his descendants told me he was a floor walker in a major department store in Melbourne at some time in his working life.

In 1882 his address was Bourke St Melbourne and he was a draper. From 1903-1924 he lived in McPherson St Essendon.

Three of Thomas’s brothers and one sister and an uncle all came out to Australia, although not at the same time. There may also have been cousins as well who made the journey from Ireland.

His sister Catherine, born in 1835, and who married William Real in Co Limerick, came out in 1857. She died in 1900 in Northcote, Victoria.

Daniel Mackey who was born in 1842, died in Bendigo, at age 30, after being out here for only three years. He is buried in Sandhurst Cemetery, Bendigo, Victoria. There was a Daniel Mackey with a William and Nicholas Mackey (possibly cousins) who came out on the “Ocean Empress” in 1862. Catherine and Daniel Mackey are listed as being born in Pallasgrean Co Limerick. Edmond Mackey born 1856, also emigrated to Victoria. There he married Julia Ann Briscoe and they had a family of eight children. He died in Fitzroy in 1906.

Thomas Mackey aged 29, married Bridget Christina Burns, aged 23, on May 1, 1882 at St Mary’s Church, Echuca, Victoria. Bridget Christina Burns was born in Sunbury, Victoria in 1859. Her parents were Bryan Burns and Mary Canavan, both from Co Galway Ireland.

Below is their wedding record and a wedding notice from The Argus. Bridget’s father’s name is given as Berned Burns:

Wedding of Thomas Mackey and Bridget Burns The Argus 1882

Bridget Burns & Thomas Mackey 1882 Marriage_cropped — Bridget Burns & Thomas Mackey 1882 Marriage Certificate

Thomas and Bridget had nine children: Thomas Bernard 1883-1957, who married Anastasia Hearn; Eileen Alana 1884-1929 married, Joseph Glass and lived at Yackandandah; Victor Francis 1886-1944, married Adelaide Mathews; Mary Margaret 1888-1981, married Archibald Breen, Ida Theresa 1890-1974, married Francis Collins Fanning; Edmond John 1893-1951, married Ethel Belden; Christopher Patrick 1894-1958, married Barbara Pleasant Lohman; Alfred William 1896-1963, married Alice May Shanks; Doris Catherine 1899-1954, married Francis Cyril Antonie.

Mary Mackey Wedding notice Albury Banner and Wodonga Express 1923 — Mary Mackey and Archie Breen Wedding notice Albury Banner and Wodonga Express 1923

Ida Mackey (back)& Agnes Iverson — Young Ida Mackey on the left with friend Ag Iverson date unknown

Ida Mackey and Frank Fanning Wedding — The Mackey daughters at Ida Mackey’s wedding Sept 15, 1915 Doris, Ida & Mary Mackey L-R

Eileen Mackey, daughter of Thomas and Bridget Mackey, in her nurse’s uniform date unknown

Eileen Sis Mackey and Joe Glass Wedding 20 Nov 1919

Bridget Mackey,Ida Fanning and Eileen Mackey Bridget's grandaughter — Bridget Mackey nee Burns, Ida Fanning nee Mackey & Eileen Mackey, Bridget’s granddaughter 29 May 1843

Ida Fanning and Aunty Mary Breen nee Mackey (2) — Ida Fanning nee Mackey and her sister Mary Breen nee Mackey

Ida Fanning and her sister Doris Antonie

Alfred Mackey on the left, son of Thomas and Bridget Mackey nee Burns 1909 Victoria Australia

Thomas Mackey died on the first of June, 1926, aged 73, from bronchitis and cardiac failure. He is buried in the Fawkner Cemetery Melbourne Victoria Australia.

Mackey Grave Fawkner Cem. — Grave of Thomas Mackey 1853-1926 & Bridget Mackey nee Burns 1859-1944 Fawkner Cemetery Melbourne Australia

The following detailed genealogy report from Family Tree Maker traces the descendants of Thomas Mackey of Pallasgreen Co Limerick Ireland born about 1808 and Bridget Treacy his wife to present day Mackey family in Victoria Australia:

Thomas Mackey Descendant Report 2015 — Mackey Descendants from Thomas Mackey Pallasgrean Co Limerick Ireland 2015

Bridget Mackey nee Burns — Bridget Christina Mackey nee Burns Melbourne Victoria Australia

Bridget Christina Burns was born in Sunbury Victoria 1859 and brought up in Echuca which is two and a half hours north of Melbourne on the Murray River, bordering NSW.

Her parents were Bryan (Bernard) Burns and Mary Canavan both from Tuam, in Co Galway, Ireland. Bryan’s name was Anglicized as Bernard.

Mary Burns’ Signature

Mary Burns nee Canavan’s father was Patrick Canavan and her mother was Bridget Connor. Bryan and Mary were married in Kilrahan near Tuam in Co Galway when she was aged 20. They came out from Ireland in 1857 on the Ebba Brahe from Liverpool England.

With Bryan, aged 29, came Mary his wife, aged 24, and their two children, Margaret aged 3 and John an infant. None could read or write. Bryan was to be employed for two months with a Mr A Nicholson of Upper Plenty, on the outskirts of Melbourne. Wages of 65 pounds.

This photo to the left may be of Bryan Burns. Perhaps he is wearing his railway blazer. If anyone recognizes this man I’d love to hear from you. This photo was taken by Alfred Wren in Echuca some time between 1870 when Wren was in Melbourne and 1879 when Wren died in Echuca. If this is Bryan he would have been between 39 and 48 years old.

A timeline of the Burns family movements in Victoria Australia:

“If you follow the time-line of the history of the railways in Victoria it co-incides with Bernard’s employment with the railways from 1859 through to the time of his death in 1881.

In 1859 the railway from Melbourne to Sunbury was opened, this was when the family was living in Sunbury their daughter Bridget Christina Burns was born there in 1859.

In 1862 the Melbourne to Bendigo railway line officially opened at Castlemaine, the family was living at Campbell’s creek near Castlemaine at this time. Michael Andrew Burns was born there in 1862.

In early 1863 tenders were called for the construction of the railway line from Bendigo to Echuca, the work began in late 1863. The family was then living in Porcupine near Maldon. Mary Jane Amelia Burns was born in 1864 at Porcupine.

The railway line from Bendigo to Echuca opened in late 1864. The family possibly moved to Echuca around this time. In 1866 Thomas Burns was born in Echuca.

Bernard was still working for the railways at the time of his death in 1881 and living in Echuca. His death certificate states his occupation as Railway Gate keeper, the family were living in a house supplied by the railways.”

(Source: Teresa Fairbairn, great granddaughter of Bridget Burns)

Bryan Burns & Christopher Constable Death 1881 — Sudden Death of Bryan Burns & his son-in-law Christopher Constable 1881

Bridget’s parents Bryan (or Bernard) Burns and Mary Burns nee Canavan are buried in Moama Cemetery, near Echuca in Victoria.

The inscription reads:

Erected by

Mary Burns in

memory of

her beloved husband

Barnet Burns

who died Oct 10 1882

aged 50 yrs

also their

son

Thomas

aged 5 mths

and their grandchild

Sophia

Beloved Wife of the Above Mary Burns

Died 12th May 1904

Aged 70 years

Bridget, aged 23, was married to Thomas Mackey, aged 29, on May 1, 1882 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Echuca, Victoria.

Bridget and Thomas had nine children: Thomas born 1883, Eileen “Sis” born 1884, Victor 1886, Mary 1888, Ida, my grandmother,1890, Edmond 1893, Christopher 1894, Alfred 1896 and Doris 1899. Ida Mackey married Francis Collins Fanning in 1915.Most of their married life they lived at 102 McPherson St Essendon. Bridget Mackey was affectionately called “Ma”. On her wedding certificate her occupation is a dressmaker and on her daughter Ida’sdeath certificate she is listed as a Department Store employee.

I have been told that my mother was very fond of her and that Ma approved of my parent’s marriage wheras my grandmother was opposed to their marriage on the grounds that my mother’s mother, Grace Collier, was a divorcee.

In 1891 Bridget Mackey signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition (as Mrs Mackey) and was living in McPherson St Essendon. Women went door to door to collect 30,000 signatures in favour of granting women the vote. It was presented to the Parliament of Victoria. The vote for women was granted in 1908. Bridget Mackey and Annie Meehan (nee Collins) were the only women in my family who signed this petition.

Bridget Mackey nee Burns died at Glenroy on December 18, 1944, aged 86. She is buried here with her husband Thomas Mackey who died on the first of June, 1926, aged 73.

Bridget Mackey nee Burns, Ida Fanning nee Mackey and Eileen Mackey, Bridget’s granddaughter.

Burns Family — William Bernard, John Thomas, John Francis Burns all seated. Standing: Victor Gerald and Michael Patrick Burns outside “Roeander”. Before 1933

This photo includes John Thomas Burns the brother of Bridget Mackey nee Burns and some of his sons. John Thomas Burns died in 1933 so it hasto have been taken before then.

The following detailed genealogy reports trace the ancestors and descendants of Bridget Christina Mackey nee Burns from Ireland to Victoria Australia.

Tag: Burns

The Mackey Family from Limerick to Victoria Australia

Bridget Christina Burns and the Burns Family Co Galway Ireland and Victoria Australia