Fitzpatricks of Ossory (County Kilkenny and part of Leix)
The first Fitzpatrick, when surname usage began, was Giolla Phadraig (the Gaelic form of the Fitzpatrick name) who became King of Ossory in 976. His ancestors can be traced back to Aengus Osrithe, 1st ruler of the kingdom of Ossory in the 2nd century. The Fitzpatrick ruling lineage in Ossory also can be traced forward, in documented succession, all the way to the 19th century, truly a remarkable clan ruling lineage. St. Kieran, our very distant cousin, a descendent of Aengus, and a contemporary of St. Patrick, converted the kingdom to Catholicism and founded the diocese of Ossory.
Unknown generationsIt is not known whether the County Down Fitzpatricks were descended from any of the more recent generations of Ossory Fitzpatricks or their ruling families. Nor is the path or the timetable of Fitzpatrick migration to County Down known. However, there is a record that during the wars of the 1690’s, many County Down residents, led by the parish priest, Rev. Neal McAvoy, took refuge with the Baron of Upper Ossory, Brian Fitzpatrick, returning to County Down in 1704.
Brian Fitzpatrick of Cabra,, County DownWe found a “Will index entry” dated 1720 for a Brian Fitzpatrick of Cabra, but have been unable to locate the will itself. There is no evidence that this Brian was a close relative of the Baron of Upper Ossory mentioned above. This Brian Fitzpatrick, the 1st known County Down Fitzpatrick, had dwellings at Cabra (Cabragh), on Convent Road ˝ mile north of Rathfriland Road. The dwellings still remain. The property has a date on one building “1768” and inscription “+BM”, the plus sign actually being a Celtic cross and the initials perhaps standing for Brian MacGiollaPhadraig, the Gaelic rendering of the name Brian Fitzpatrick. There is also a much older building on the site.
There is little information on the early generations of Cabra Fitzpatricks, including the parents and siblings of James Fitzpatrick. However, there is a civil record that in 1813 a Thomas Fitzpatrick (along with Edward Rush, James Boden and Daniel McCartan) was involved in a dispute or protest at the Kilcoo Church. It is not documented whether Thomas was a “Cabra” Fitzpatrick.
James Fitzpatrick (my great great grandfather), b. 1810 (est.) at Cabra, married Alice McCartan. They acquired a farm in the townland of Clanawhillian, sometimes Clonachullian on maps, about 5 miles SE of Cabra. Their 5 children: Hugh Patrick, emigrated to England. Peter (my great grandfather), b. 1840 (est.), married Mary Maginn, lived at Clanawhillian. Their 10 children:
· James (my grandfather), b. 1870, married Mary Ann McCrickard, emigrated in 1907 to Montana with Mary Ann, Peter (my father), age 1 then, and his brother Jim. Peter resettled in Chicago in 1927, married Alma Berard and raised 16 children. · Peter, b. 1873, inherited the family Clanawhillian farm, married, no children. · Margaret, b. 1875, married Charles Shields First 4 children (Margaret, Mary, Thomas, Peter) emigrated to USA, mostly Chicago area, and most married and had children. Other 7 children (Charles, Sarah, Susan, Rose, Paddy, Bridget, Annie) stayed in Ireland. Many married and had children but no family detail yet. · Patrick (Paddy), b. 1877, 4 children. Most emigrated to England. · “Wee Willie”, b. 1878 (est.), died shortly after starting school. · Mary, b. 1880 (est.), died as an infant. · Joseph (Joe), b. 1882, 8 children, at least 2 (Mary and Annie) married and had children, 2 others (Jim and Brian) details unknown, and other 4 apparently never married and/or had no children. · Mary Ann, b. 1883, married, one daughter Mary who married and has 7 sons living in the area. · John (Johnny), b. 1884, married, 10 children (Mary Ellen, Kathleen, Margaret, Ann, Peter, Bridget, Alice, John, Daniel, Patrick). Entire family emigrated to Chicago by 1930. Most married & had children. · William (Willie), b. 1886, 4 children (May, Peter, John, Anne). John became a priest while others married. William had bought a tavern in Maghera (halfway on the road between Castlewellan and Newcastle). The tavern, “Fitzpatricks”, is still in the family and now is operated by Peter’s daughter Moya. James, married had 2 children, but their lineage stopped there. Mary, married Cornelious McGuiness, no children. Margaret married James McEvoy. Many of their children emigrated to Canada. Detail of others not known.
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