The Dunkerrin Fanning Family Castleroan Co Offaly Ireland
I have been wondering if my Fanning family who I have traced as far back as Lissaroon in Drom and Inch Parish and who are buried in Ballycahill Cemetery near Thurles could be related to the Fanning family at Dunkerrin.
I have come up with two DNA matches who are descended from William Fanning of Castleroan who married Ellen Eviston of Clonomocogue. My Fannings have a long association with the Evistons of Clonomocogue. I am thinking that William’s father may well have been the brother of William Fanin of Lisaroon. Unfortunately records start too late to know his name and verify. I will keep checking DNA matches.
In the Tithe Applotment Books there are three Fannings in Castleroane in 1825:
William, James and Patrick Fanning.
In Grifiths Valuation about 1850 there is a Patrick Fanning, Philip and William Fanning at Castleroan Dunkerrin.
The Fanning family of Birr who owned The Midland Tribune in Birr Offaly have roots in Roscrea and Castleroan. The grandfather of Aengus Fanning was born in Roscrea Co Tipperary.
When I was in Ireland a fourth cousin told me that our Fanning family is related to that of Aengus Fanning whose family owned The Midland Tribune in Co Offaly (Kings). Dunkerrin was also mentioned. That was all they knew.
Now that Rootsireland is a subscription site I decided to research the Eviston material I have in a folder and trawl through some records. I had come across quite a few Eviston-Fanning marriages and was curious to see if the Fannings involved were connected to my family.
Previously I had missed records as I just searched in Co Tipperary in Rootsireland. This time I did all Ireland searches and found Fanning records for Dunkerrin in Co Offaly which borders Co Tipperary.
I’ll start with the Aengus Fanning connection to the Fannings of Tipperary and the Evistons.
Aengus’s grandfather James Joseph Fanning is in the 1901 census as a doctor aged 30 living in Cumberland St Birr. He was born in Limerick St Roscrea on 10 July 1866. He married Anne Josephine Powell “Birdie” in Dublin on 6 Oct 1903. She was the daughter of Margaret O’Connor and John Powell. Witnesses at their wedding were Francis Norton and Mary Kate Powell of Birr.
Annie and James had four boys: John Leo Martin born Birr 6 Dec 1904, Arnold Francis born Birr Nov 1905, Patrick born about 1905, James Ignatius born in 1907. James Joseph, died in Bournemouth England on 17 March 1908 and is buried in Clonoghill Cemetery Co Offaly, he was only 41.
Obituary Annie Fanning nee Powell Kerryman 31 Dec 1955
The parents of James Joseph Fanning were Martin Fanning and Mary Slattery of Roscrea Co Tipperary. Martin Fanning was born at Castleroan in Dunkerrin Parish in Sept 1829. His godparents were Martin Eviston and Judith Fanning. Martin married Mary Slattery of Glen Bower in Terryglass Parish on 17 July 1860. Witnesses were Patt Fanning and Ellen Bermingham. His second wife was Ellen Burke. Martin died in Jan 1903 aged 74 and is buried in St Cronans RC cemetery in Roscrea. He was a shopkeeper/merchant/publican in Limerick St Roscrea Co Tipperary.
Martin Fanning’s parents were William Fanning and Ellen Eviston who married in Loughmore Parish on 27th Jan 1825 witnessed by Robin Eviston and Mary Eviston. William died age 71 on 6 Mar 1866 and is buried in Dunkerrin Church of Ireland graveyard. His wife Ellen Fanning nee Eviston died Feb 7 1871 aged 70 and is buried with him. I am looking to find Ellen’s parents.
So the connection to the Fannings is through the Evistons although the Fannings of Castleroan Dunkerrin may also have a link to the Fannings of Lissaroon.
William Fanning c1828-1907 born Co Tipperary Ireland emigrated to new Zealand and lived in Wellington. He may be related to the Lissaroon Fannings.
I came across this obituary for a William Fanning from Co Tipperary born about1828 and he died in 1907. The fact that he is said to be related to John Eviston got me interested. How is he related? and could he be part of my Fanning clan?
William Fanning Wellington NZ Obituary 1907
The John Eviston he is related to was born in Clonomocogue just north of Thurles in 1844 and died in Bathurst, NSW Australia in 1925. His mother was Mary Fanning, daughter of William Fanning and Hanera Cormick of Lissaroon, my ancestors.
On William Fanning’s death certificate his parents are listed as Phillip Fanning and Mary Fanning nee Eviston. They were married in Loughmore Parish Co Tipperary on 31 Jan 1822, witnessed by Robert Eviston and John Leahy. So John Eviston and William Fanning were first cousins. William’s mother Mary Eviston marrying Phillip Fanning of Dunkerrin.
I could not find a birth or baptism record for William but did find records for two of his sisters. Margaret was born in Castleroan Dunkerrin Co Offaly, her godparents were John Hennesy and Mary Fanning. Mary, the other sister, was born in the same address and baptised on 7 Oct 1838, her godparents were John and Mary Maher.
Phillip, William’s father, died on 15 April 1875 in the parish of Shinrone, Kings county. He was a farmer. He died from bronchitis, aged 82. His mother Mary Fanning nee Eviston died in Castleroan on 1 Mar 1886 in Shinrone Parish Co Offaly(Kings). She was 86 and cause of death was marasmus, severe malnutrition.
Death certificate of William Fanning 1907Nenagh Guardian 28 Sept 1912
Nenagh News 23 Feb 1923
William was born in Castlerone (I think this is Castleroan) Ireland and had been in NZ for 20 years. He was married in Ireland at age 30, to Sarah Guidera. Nine children are listed on William’s death record but only their ages are given. Five Males aged 46, 44, 34, 30 and 29 years. Then there were four females aged 40, 38, 36 and 32 years.
William’s death record had him dying at 2 McFarland Street, Wellington on 13 August, 1907. He was 79 years old and died from “old Age”.
There are baptism and birth records for the following children of William and Sarah Guidera. The family lived at Oldcastle in the parish of Cournageen (Bourney) Co Tipperary.
Daniel baptised 26 July 1862 sponsors: Phill Fanning and Mary Guidera.
Mary birth 1 Feb 1864, baptised 13 Feb 1864 sponsors: James and Anne Fanning
William born 19 May 1865, baptised 30 May 1865, sponsors: William Kealy and Johanna Guidera
Elizabeth born 23 Dec 1866 and baptised on 5 Jan 1867
Sarah born 15 July 1868 and baptised on 17 August 1868
Margaret born 19 Dec 1869 and baptised on 19 Jan 1870
Patrick born 1 Mar 1871 and baptised on 1 April 1871
Johanna born 6 Jan 1873 and baptised on 22 Jan 1873
Michael born 17 Sept 1874 and baptised on 3 Oct 1874
Unk Fanning female born 23 June 1876 and baptised 23 Aug 1876
James born 23 June 1876 and baptised 23 Aug 1876 twin of above unnamed child.
Two of the children of William and Sarah, William and Phillip, are said to have gone to America instead of emigrating to New Zealand.
William Fanning is buried in Karori Cemetery in the Wellington region with his wife Sarah and sons, John Joseph and Frank.
Family grave of William Fanning Karori Cemetery Wellington New Zealand
