Rose (--?--) Duffy (abt. 1819-1922)

 Rose is Dermot's 2nd great grandmother, we do not know a great deal about her. What do we know?

When was she born?

From the official records, her year of birth could be 1819, 1827 or 1829.

The death certificate gives her year of birth as 1819, making her 103 when she died.

In the 1901 census her year of birth is given as 1827 and in the 1911 census 1829, I think these are probably closer to her date of birth than the death certificate. Using 1827 as the correct date would still mean that Rose lived to 95.

I am still missing the year fo birth for some of her children, but the youngest I have is Margaret, born in 1845 and the oldest Michael, born in 1865. Using 1819 as her year of birth would mean that she gave birth to Margaret age 26 and to Michael at age 46, not impossible, but using 1827 shows her giving birth to Margaret age 18 and to Michael age 38, which I think is more realistic.

Where did she live?

A letter sent to her great granddaughter (Margaret) from her great grandson (Joseph (Brother Enda)) in 1995 states that she came from Clonfanlough, Clonmacnoise in County Athlone, Ireland. This is the only evidence I have so far for this. (Thank you Barry for sharing the letter)

What was her maiden name?

Unfortunately, Brother Enda did not remember Rose's family name and I have yet to be sure I have the correct name. At the moment, it seems as if it could be Mitchell, there are a few baptism records of her children which support this, but I do not have a record for all the children and unfortunately have not found a marriage record as yet.

Official Records

1901 census, she was living in Kilgarvan, Co Westmeath with her son Patrick and her granddaughter Mary Gavin.

1911 census, she was still living in Kilgarvan, with Ptraick and Mary Gavin. On this census, it states that Rose had 10 children and 7 are still living.

Rose died on 25 May 1922 in Kilgarvan of old age. The record gives her age as 103 and the informant of her death was Patrick, her son.

Children?

The letter from Brother Enda shows 9 children

The 1911 census shows 10 children

A newspaper report of her death says 11 children 

I believe that she had 10 children

Margaret (1845-1941) married Peter Gavin (1826-1886), Patrick Hynds (1851-1912)

Patrick (1849-1941) never married

Peter (1850-????) married Mary Molloy

John (1854-????)

Mary (1857-1880) married Michael Gavin

James (1858-????)

Annie (1859-????) married John Doyle

Rose (1863-1949) married William Egan

Michael (1865-1957) married Mary Anne Molloy

Daniel (????) mentioned in Brother Enda's letter and was godfather to Elizabeth Josephine Gavin (sister Mary's first child), but no further records found for him

I am still working on Rose's details, but she certainly lived through some interesting times. She lost her husband James in 1874 and remained a widow for the next 47 years. She lived through the 1845-1849 famine and the Fenian Rising of 1867. According to her obituary, she had never been on a train and had 28 grandchildren and 47 great grandchildren.

Dermot is descended through:

• her daughter Rose Duffy (1863-1949) who married William Egan (1861-1905)
• their daughter Helen Clare Egan (1899-1986) who married Patrick Boushell (1895-1969)
• their daughter Mary Carmel Boushell (1926-1974) who married Gerald Westhoff (1928-2012)
• Dermot Edward Patrick Westhoff