Custy Headstone
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:27 am
The transcriptions for Drumcliff old graveyard show some Casey headstones, but I am almost certain that one of these is for the Custys from Kilcurrish (also called Kilcross), in the parish of Dysert. The inscription is transcribed as “Erected by Patrick Casey Killcross In loving memory of his mother Mary who died 6th July 1917 aged 52 years. His daughter Sarah who died 23rd Nov. 1919 aged 15 years" [Grave no. 180].
The photo shows a very weathered headstone and I imagine it must have been very difficult to make out the inscription. The Mary, who died in 1917, was Mary McKee (1859 – 1917). She was Patrick’s third wife. Their daughter, Sarah (1902 - 1918) died the following year. I think that Sarah was the first of that family to be buried in Drumcliff. I checked the register of burials in the Local Studies Centre and found that Patrick’s parents, John Custy (1810 – 1890) and Sarah Considine (1815 – 1891) are not listed. They are probably buried in the little graveyard in Kilcross.
Even though Patrick (1850 – 1930) had about eleven children in all, I do not think there are any descendants living in Ireland. The last Custy, who lived in Kilcurrish, died in 1963.
Four of Patrick’s brothers went to New York. They were all there by 1880, mainly in Long Island City, and have plenty of descendants. There are other Custys all over the US – all originating in County Clare, I feel sure, as Custy is a very, very County Clare name, and all the Custys in the 1901 census are either living in Co. Clare, or from Co. Clare.
I was touched to see that the gravestones for William Custy (1807 – 1860) and Thomas Custy (? – 1873), who were farmers in Shelby County, Ohio, are both inscribed, “Native of Claire Co. Ireland”. The gravestone of a John Custy (1855 – 1931) who lived in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is inscribed, “Born in Ireland”. The story of a John Custy, born in Ireland in 1879, died in Salem, Marion County, Oregon, in 1933, was researched by a volunteer for findagrave.com. – amazing.
My expertise, however, is confined to the Kilcurrish Custys.
Sheila
The photo shows a very weathered headstone and I imagine it must have been very difficult to make out the inscription. The Mary, who died in 1917, was Mary McKee (1859 – 1917). She was Patrick’s third wife. Their daughter, Sarah (1902 - 1918) died the following year. I think that Sarah was the first of that family to be buried in Drumcliff. I checked the register of burials in the Local Studies Centre and found that Patrick’s parents, John Custy (1810 – 1890) and Sarah Considine (1815 – 1891) are not listed. They are probably buried in the little graveyard in Kilcross.
Even though Patrick (1850 – 1930) had about eleven children in all, I do not think there are any descendants living in Ireland. The last Custy, who lived in Kilcurrish, died in 1963.
Four of Patrick’s brothers went to New York. They were all there by 1880, mainly in Long Island City, and have plenty of descendants. There are other Custys all over the US – all originating in County Clare, I feel sure, as Custy is a very, very County Clare name, and all the Custys in the 1901 census are either living in Co. Clare, or from Co. Clare.
I was touched to see that the gravestones for William Custy (1807 – 1860) and Thomas Custy (? – 1873), who were farmers in Shelby County, Ohio, are both inscribed, “Native of Claire Co. Ireland”. The gravestone of a John Custy (1855 – 1931) who lived in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is inscribed, “Born in Ireland”. The story of a John Custy, born in Ireland in 1879, died in Salem, Marion County, Oregon, in 1933, was researched by a volunteer for findagrave.com. – amazing.
My expertise, however, is confined to the Kilcurrish Custys.
Sheila