Hi Kathy,
Thanks for posting such a fascinating story! Initially I thought many such tales of escaping Ireland from the threat of British violence are told in the Irish pubs of Boston especially this time of year with St. Patrick's Day next week. Plus James Maloney is a very common Irish name and since you provided very few details, I thought there was zero chance of verifying the story told by your Great Aunt.
Fortunately, I found a few more clues in posts you made in other genealogy forums over 10 year ago. You told a similar story that James Maloney worked as a baker and was a rebel and was caught by the British running guns when his shop caught on fire. He was forced to leave Ireland under threat of death and immigrated through Boston 1880 to 1882. But in these posts you provided additional detail: that James Maloney lived in Millbury, Massachusetts and his wife was Bridget Hanlon / Hanley.
Before searching in Irish records, it would be best to find as many records as possible in USA records.
In the 1910 federal census at Millbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts is your James Maloney and his wife Bridget with 7 children. James appears to have followed the Irish tradition of naming the eldest son Dennis after his father. According to the census Dennis was born about 1877 in Massachusetts. And the immigration year for James Maloney was listed as 1868. There was lots of violence in Ireland in the early 1880's associated with the land wars, but James had already left Ireland by that point. But perhaps there is still some truth to your story as James Maloney could have participated in the Fenian Rising of 1867 and been forced to immigrate from Ireland in 1868?
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M222-W4S
Since James immigrated in 1868, he would also be in the 1870 federal census. A 19 year old James Malony is a baker living in Worcester with another baker named Denis Malony (aged 26) and Margaret Malony (age 28) both born in Ireland. Relationships aren't provided in the 1870 census, but it would be a safe assumption that James was living with his brother Denis and sister-in-law Margaret. The fact that their occupations were both bakers fits well with your story.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQN-2VZ
But where in Ireland are James and Denis Maloney from in Ireland? Fortunately, if Dennis and Margaret were married in Ireland it could possibly be in a period when marriages were indexed. First some more clues from excellent Massachusetts records: when the widow Margaret Maloney died on 19 April 1907 in Worchester, her spouse's name was listed as Dennis Maloney and parents names were Paul Keating and Margaret Shanahan:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWT4-CS6
From Family Search query, it was easy to find the 21 October 1865 marriage of Dennis Malony and Margaret Keating in Rathkeale, County Limerick. You can also find the record in the National Library of Ireland records here:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGDJ-5L5
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0892
Your story stated that James Maloney was from County Clare. But apparently it is not uncommon for Limerick and Clare to be interchanged by Irish immigrants in America. You'll want to verify with the baptism records in Rathkeale if you can find the Maloney children with the parents Dennis Maloney and Mary Casey.
The interesting point about Rathkeale in relationship to your story is that Rathkeale is only about 6 miles from Ardagh, County Limerick. Ardagh was a flash point in the Fenian Struggles of 1867. For the 100th anniversary of the 1867 struggles, Edward Keanan wrote an article in the North Munster Antiquarian Journal about the Fenian Rising in Ardagh. The second name in the listing of those who were arrested was an 18 year old James Moloney:
Source: "Active Fenians in Co. Limerick as listed in the Crown Solicitor’s brief", by Edward Keanan, North Munster Antiquarian Journal 10/2 (1967) pages 169–72 ; transcribed by Padraig O Gealagain on rootsweb Ireland / Limerick:
The evening of Shrove Tuesday, March 5, 1867 was the planned time for the Fenian Rising in Ireland.
In Ardagh, William Upton, who lived only a few doors from the R.I.C. barracks (manned by five men) seems to have been the leader of the local Fenian Centre. A carpenter by trade, it was he who fixed the wooden handles to the iron pike-heads - likely made by one of the Quinlivan's who were blacksmiths by trade - and distributed them to the men according as they arrived. This was done in Cosgrove's cabin.
Having about twenty-four pikes and no guns, some of the men scoured the neighbouring countryside and managed to acquire about 8/9 shot guns ( fowling pieces) .
Finally the group, about forty men in all, who had assembled at Cosgrove's were directed to a place called Massy's Grove, where an officer named Captain John Murray, assembled them into line, shot-guns in front, pikemen behind, and outlined his plans for the attack. They then marched to the barracks, the time being close to midnight.
Earlier that day a "tipsy' (drunk) man had told one of the local constables of the planned attack, and so the Sergeant just armed his men, bolted the only door, and shuttered the barred windows.
A sledge hammer and a ladder were used with a cart-wheel as a battering ram to break in the door when the police refused to surrender. On rushing in the police opened fire and Stephen Ambrose was wounded in the arm - this caused the attackers to withdraw, and though Ambrose urged them to press the attack, the majority felt they could not succeed and dispersed, still firing at the barracks.
The next morning, several pikes, a scythe and a pitch fork were found by the police outside the barracks.
Many of the men went home and were arrested within the next few days. Captain Murray was arrested at Adare. Others escaped arrest, including William Upton, who went into to hiding west of Ardagh and eventually made it to America - he returned home some years later and wrote a book describing the terrible poverty of the landless people and the impoverished small farmers of the area.
Listed in the brief on behalf of the Crown, prepared by William Roche, Solicitor, the following were arrested and charged:
Pat Collins, 27 James Moloney, 18
Michael Connell,21 James Moore, 18
Joseph Connors, Kilscannell, 27
Patrick Murphy, Ardagh, 40
John Conway, Rathreagh, 22
Capt. John Murray, 33
Cornelius Cremin,27, Garrynacoona, Effin
William Nash, 18 William Danaher,28
William Naughton, 21, Reens.
William Duggan, 19 John O'Brien, 50
Joseph Kennedy, 31 John Quin, 18
Michael Liston, 19, Coolybrown.
Daniel Quinlivan, 20, Ardagh.
John Magner, 22, Cahermoyle.
John Reidy, 18. James Mahoney, 18
James Sheahan, 18.
George Massy, 40, Ardagh.
Patrick Ward, 17, Ardagh.
Among those who took part in the attack but who succeeded in avoiding arrest were Robert and Stephen Ambrose of Dunganville, Con Enright of Ballyrobin, John Shaughnessy of Ballincally, Michael Neville of Reens, John Connors of Kilscannell, James Hennessy of Glenville, and Tom Bridgeman.
Those who were arrested were brought before a Special Commission which commenced by adjournment on the 11th. June, 1867. But after the Kilmallock and Kilteely trials, the Ardagh prisoners were remanded to the Assizes - no record has been found of their appearance in any court subsequently.
James Maloney/Moloney is a very common name, but the age fits perfectly with James who arrived in 1868 in Massachusetts. I think there is a very good chance that this is your man. You'll want to do additional research in the Rathkeale records for baptism records, see if you can find his immigration records of 1867/1868 for further clues, and also any local records in Worcester. Not sure you'll have any luck finding Irish prison records, as Edward Keanan states that the "Ardagh prisoners were remanded to the Assizes - no record has been found of their appearance in any court subsequently."
Most likely the story told by your Great Aunt had elements of truth that got confused into one single story. James Maloney was a baker in both the 1880 and 1900 census for Worcester, a bakery fire wouldn't be uncommon in those days. Perhaps a bakery fire about 1881 in Worcester got mixed in with James Maloney's involvement in the Fenian Struggles of 1867?
And perhaps it was just luck of the Irish that you posted your query on the Clare Past Forum on March 5th, the 149th anniversary of the 1867 Fenian Rising in Ireland!