Category Archives: Family

The Graisberry Girls: Mary

Map of Dublin in the time of Mary Graisberry. *

Map of Dublin in the time of Mary Graisberry*

Mary Kennedy came from a privileged background, when she married Daniel Graisberry in 1765, she brought with her a fortune. Little can be told about her life before she was married, however there is a Baptismal record for St. Paul’s Parish of a Mary Kennedy in 1748:

Parish/Church/Congregation – ST. PAUL

Baptism of MARY KENNEDY on 21 July 1748

Father JOHN KENNEDY

Mother ARABELLA KENNEDY

If the above is the correct Mary Kennedy it would have made her seventeen years old when she married Daniel Graisberry, a marriageable age in the 1765. Another give away, is Mary’s mother’s name Arabella, which could easily be a coincidence, but if not was given to her great great great granddaughter, Emily Maynard Arabella Burke a four generations later.

 Sources
 http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/reels/d-273-1-2-175.pdf Retrieved 18/05/2015
Freeman’s Journal (Dublin) July 19 to July 23 1765, Sat., 13 July 1765 – Tues., 16 July 1765
*http://dublincitypubliclibraries.com/image-galleries/treasures-collections/historical-maps-dublin. Retrieved18/05/2015
Thanks to:
Map of Dublin 1756 Courtesy of Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive

 

 

Great Great Grandparents; Daniel and Mary Graisberry

The gate way was the entrance into the Music Hall, where Daniel Graisberry was injured when the floor collapsed

The gate way was the entrance into the Music Hall, where Daniel Graisberry was injured when the floor collapsed

Emily Weddall’s great great grandfather Daniel was the son of William and Elizabeth Graisberry,  was born at Drumcondra, Dublin in 1740. He studied and completed his apprenticeship under the King’s Printer, Hugh Greirson. Newly qualified Daniel Graisberry formed a partnership with a man named Williamson, at 10 Back Lane. The address is no longer in existence, but according to the maps of the time it was around the Christ Church area of Dublin.

If the Graisberry family were not wealthy until their son Daniel married they certainly were afterwards. Daniel Graisberry married Mary Kennedy in 1765. The Freeman’s Journal newspaper contained the following in the Births, Deaths and Marriages column:

Marriages.
Mr. Daniel GRAISBERY, Printer to Miss KENNEDY, with a handsome Fortune.

In 1782 a curious incident occurred, Daniel Graisberry was injured when the floor of the Music Hall in Fishamble street collapsed, during a guild meeting. By the time the press got the story his condition was grossly exaggerated and his death was announced in the newspapers. He lived on and was father to at lest a dozen children, his son Daniel (probably his eldest son), would become his heir and Emily’s great grandfather. Daniel Graisberry died in 1785, just hours after his mother.

Sources
Dictionary of Irish Biography 9 Volume Set: From the Earliest Times to the Year 2002. Cambridge University Press 2009,James McGuire and James Quinn. Turlough O’Riordan. Vol 3 P 192
 http://dublin1798.com/dublin15.htm
Freeman’s Journal (Dublin) July 19 to July 23 1765, Sat., 13 July 1765 – Tues., 16 July 1765

John Burke: Part (6)

Kinvara Gravestone

Kinvara Gravestone

John Burke was till the end of his days a well respected man in his locality. His door open to all members of the community, and was friendly with men of all faiths. This admiration was shared by his son William John, who end up leading a life far from what his father might have envisioned for him. John Burke died in early 1843, by the end of the year his son William John, whom he educated for the priesthood would no longer be a priest nor a member of the Catholic Church.

John Burke; Part (5) Left for Dead

View of Athlone Barracks, as it is today. In 1819 John Burke had the protection of the Athlone army, after he was kidnapped by the Ribbon-men

View of Athlone Barracks, as it is today. In 1819 John Burke had the protection of the Athlone army, after he was kidnapped by the Ribbon-men

In 1819 Emily’s grandfather, John Burke was kidnapped by the Ribbon-men and taken to a secret location, where he was forced to pledge allegiance to them. He refused, to his peril as Emily’s father recounts the incident to a court  in 1855…

“In the year 1819 the Ribbonmen brought him to their appointed place of meeting and wanted him to swear to be loyal to them. He said no “I have taken the oath of allegiance to be faithful to my King and country, you are rebels and I cannot be faithful both to you and my king”. We will shoot you said they. His reply; “I will die here an honest man for my king and county.” He saw a rush at him with a screwed bayonet, which he received in his chest. The would inflicted was severe having torn the flesh out the breast, the bayonet entering between the chest and the rib. He was taken for dead and brought home. He bade them defiance, wrote to the Lord Lieutenant, and for ten days would not yield. In the meantime a military party was sent from Athlone for his relief.”

John Burke survived and lived on for another two decades. This refusal to go against their principles even in the face of  death would follow through to his son, William John and to his grand daughter Emily, even though she would be taking be the other side to the Crown.

Sources
The Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal Isle of Ely Herald and Huntingdonshire Gazette. May 12 1855. Page 7

John Burke; Part (4) The night the Ribbonmen called

The Ribbonmen wore a ribbon in their top buttonhole

The Ribbon-men wore a ribbon in their top buttonhole

John Burke, Emily’s grandfather was lucky to get away with his life, when one night her was captured and held at a secret location. The year of the incident was 1819 and his captures were the Ribbon-men.

At the time Ireland was awash with secret societies, the Ribbon-men were just one of many. They were by definition a Roman Catholic secret society founded in Ireland in the early 1800’s that opposed the landed gentry or the landlord class. They were set up to provide protection for farm workers and the poorer tenant farmers. They were illegal for many reasons especially for the fact that they were oath bound. 

The Catholic Church opposed them and condemned the taking of secret oaths. the societies in turn threatened priest who spoke against them; they also took up issues like increases in baptismal, marriage, and Mass fees. Clergy who increased their fees were issued with threatening letters ordering them to lower their charges. (Pat Feeley)

John Burke was a devout Catholic and comparatively wealthy, making him a prime target for initiation into their society. He upheld his faith but made no secret of the fact however he was in no way opposed the establishment. The Ribbon-men sought him out and took him to their secret meeting place by force.

Sources
http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/whiteboys%20and%20ribbonmen.pdf/Pat Feeley/retrieved 04/04/2015
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1824/mar/11/ribbon-men-and-ribbon-lodges/UK Parliament./retrieved04/04/2015