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

Achill Island, it’s History and Culture (by Hugh Oram)

Emily Weddall made Achill Island her home, when she could have chosen anywhere else. The link with her father may have brought her there in the first place, but something else kept her there.  Hugh Oram (writer, journalist and broadcaster) gives insight into the lure of Achill in the post Achill Island it’s history and culture, on his blog Offbeat Paris:

Emily's original house on Achill

Emily’s original house on Achill

To read the post from Hugh’s blog click on the link:

http://offbeat-paris.weebly.com/blog/achill-island-its-history-and-culture

 

Emily’s Mother: Family Background

Emily Weddall’s father’s family were West of Ireland farmers, her mother’s family could not be more different in background. Her mother was one of the Graisberrys, a prominent Dublin family who were the official printers of Trinity College for many generations.

Trinity College, where the Graisberry's were the official printers

The Graisberry’s were the official printers of Trinity College, for many generations

 

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.