Whether you are climbing your family tree or interested in social history, local place names or folklore we welcome you to Glenmore-History.com and hope that you enjoy your visit.
L A T E S T P O S T S
Notes from Ballyfacey, Glenmore, by Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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Éigse Sliabh Rua 2026
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From Glenmore to Sheboygan, Wisconsin
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The 1868 Sea Bird Ferry Disaster & a Glenmore Native’s Amazing Survival [Updated]
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The Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company
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Two Priests Named Grant Buried Together in Glenmore
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Early Glenmore Notes by Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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The Rest of the Story of Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869)
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From Danny’s Glenmore Photo Album 6.0 [Updated]
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Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869) of Castle Annaghs
Notes from Ballyfacey, Glenmore, by Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
On 22 February 1971 Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Tom Freyne and his sister Mrs. Mai Vereker, natives of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. The information from their 1971 interview is provided below and additional information gleaned from headstones and newspapers etc. has also been provided in [square brackets]. This interview provides some interesting insights into what Danny called “extinct families” whose surnames disappeared in their townland or from Glenmore Parish.
The interviewees Tom Freyne and Mary “Mai” Vereker née Freyne were the children of Michael Freyne and his wife Mary Farrell of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Michael Freyne, of Kilbride, Glenmore, married Mary Farrell, of Ballyfoyle, Rosbercon on 1 February 1894 at Rosbercon. Michael was a 30-year old farmer, and the son of James Frehne of Kilbride. The bride, Mary Farrell, was 25 years of age and the daughter of Edmond Farrell (farmer).
The Freyne Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
Michael Freyne (c. 1853-1925) and his wife Mary Farrell (c. 1866-1943), had at least 7 known children.
[1] James Frehne (b. 1894) never married.
[2] Bridget Freney (sic) (1896-1974) married Bill Doherty of Ballinlammy on 21 Nov. 1928. They had a family. It is believed that Bridie was the only Freyne sibling to marry and have children.
[3] Thomas Freyne (1897-1971) never married and farmed in Ballyfacey and Ballyfoyle. He died just 8 months after Danny Dowling interviewed him.
[4] Edmund/Edward “Ned” Freyne (1899-1985) never married. He spent several years in New Zealand and returned to Ballyfacey.
[5] Mary “Mai” Freyne (1900-1987) married Patrick “Patsey” Vereker of Davidstown in 1947 (Munster Express, Fri. 14 Feb. 1947, p. 8). Patsey Vereker (c. 1901-1961) was the son of John and Catherine Vereker of Davidstown.
[6] Johanna Freyne (c. 1903-1972) never married.
[7] Margaret Freyne (c. 1909-1993) never married.
My resident expert believes that when Ned Freyne came home from New Zealand he farmed the home place at Ballyfacey and his brother Tom moved to Ballyfoyle and farmed his mother’s home place. Today, Andy and Fidelis Doherty reside on the Freyne homeplace in Ballyfacey where Andy’s grandmother Bridie was born and raised.
The Interview
Mickey McGrath (c. 1864-1936) of Newtown, Glenmore
Mickey McGrath (c. 1864 -1936) of Newtown, was said to have been born in a little house located in the Cruckuck’s haggard which bounced Jack Dollard’s yard in Ballyfacey. Tom Freyne said that Mickie used to often go up to Ballyfacey to see where he was born and where his people came from. [Mickey McGrath was a thatcher who lived in Newtown. His little house was located near where Michael Hoynes’s gate is located (next to Martin Cass’s home). It was reported that Mickey often joked that he went to bed in Aylwardstown and had his breakfast in Newtown as his house straddled the two townlands.]
[Danny Dowling recorded in another notebook that Mickie’s son, John McGrath, worked for Kelly’s of Aylwardstown and he died as a result of an accident which he sustained while working. John McGrath, of Newtown. died on 4 August 1942 at the age of 39 of colitis. Patrick McGrath was present at his death.]
[In the 1926 Census Michael McGrath was 67 and his wife Kate was 65. He declared that he was born in Kilmakevogue and Kate stated she was born in Ballinlammy. They were married for 26 years and had one child. Unfortunately a marriage record could not be located.]
Darbystown, Tullogher
A family called Cleary had a farm in Darbystown, now [in 1971] owned by Martin Woods of Ballymartin. Martin Woods’s father acquired it.
The Harte’s of Darbystown were substantial farmers in their time. They used to milk 40 cows at one period. The Harte’s had the land in Haggard that Mary Statia Ivory now has [in 1971]. The Harte’s lived up the lane from the stream in Darbystown. The Doherty’s of Moulerstown [acquired] this farm.
Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The Walsh Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
[Jimmy Walsh of Ballyfacey and his wife Margaret Browner had the following family:]
[1] Kitty Walsh [Catherine b. 1839] never married and spent her life in Ballyfacey.
[2] Paddy Walsh [b. (1841)] never married. He had a bad leg and spent his life in Ballyfacey.
[3] Jimmy Walsh (1845) married Mary Dermody of Crowbally, Ballyhale. [They were married on 4 November 1875 at Knocktopher. Their fathers were James Walsh (famer) and James Dermody (farmer).] The Walsh farm in Ballyfacey had 22 Irish acres.
Jimmy Walsh and his wife Mary Dermody lived in the Ballyfacey home place and had four children:
[3a] James Walsh (1876-1946) married Lil Linegar (1892-1968). [On 18 Sept. 1918 James Walsh (carpenter) of Graiguenakill, Glenmore, and his wife, Mary Ellen Linegar, had a son they named James. Glenmore will forever remember him as Jim B. See our post of 12 Oct. 2025 regarding Jim B. (1918-1988)].
[3b] Margaret Walsh (b. 1878) married Mike Maher. They had no children.
[3c] Hannie Walsh (Johanna b. 1883) never married and
[3d] Mary Walsh (b. 1884) married a man named Whelan from Kilmacow.
The Walsh family members were great musicians. Old Jimmy Walsh, the father of the last generation, played the flute. All his children played the fiddle and the melodeon. Victor Power, the writer, visited the Walsh homestead regularly. [For further information on Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933) see our post of 12 Oct. 2026 and 27 Oct. 2020. ]
Old Jimmy Walsh told Tom Frehne that in the Walsh field at the head of the lane on the Haggard side a fair was held there in olden times. He also told Tom that there was a crock of gold buried in this field near the ditch of the road going over toward Aylward’s gate, and that a life had to be lost to get it.
Anty Walsh (c. 1851-1925) of Parkstown, Glenmore
Anty Walsh, of Parkstown, lived down near to the Mullinahone Stream. She had 7 acres of land, which Mullally’s now have. She died about 53 years ago at Mullally’s of Parkstown. [Further information was found in Notebook 13 with an undated entry. Anty Walsh died at the Mullaly home. And they got her land. Anastasia Walsh died at Parkstown on 5 Feb. 1925. She was a 74 year-old spinster. The informant for the death registrar was “Thomas Mullally, Davidstown, who caused the body to be buried.”]
Thomas Laherty (c. 1814-1892) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
A man named Tom Laherty lived down near Frehne’s. He had a sister named Nell. [Thomas Laherty (c. 1814-1892) died on 22 November 1892 at his home in Ballyfacey. He was 78 years of age, employed as a farm labourer and married. His widow Ellen Laherty was present at his death. Ellen Flaherty (sic) of Ballyfacey died at the age of 80 on 6 April 1920 of pernicious anaemia. She was the widow of a labourer. It appears likely that Tom Frehne and his sister Mai Vereker thought Ellen Laherty was Tom Laherty’s sister rather than his widow.]
The Greene Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The Greene’s of Ballyfacey were related to the Tobin’s of Ballyogreek, Mullinavat.
[The parents were Thomas Green (c. 1832-1896) and his wife Mary Delahunty (c. 1836-1922) who were married at Glenmore on 9 February 1869. Thomas Greene was a native of Jamestown, Glenmore, and his father was Patrick Greene. Mary was the daughter of Michael Delahunty of Ballyfacey, Glenmore.]
There were five members of the Greene family of Ballyfacey:
[Patrick Green b. 13 Dec. 1869 died prior to the birth of the twins in 1875.]
[1] Mick Green (b. 1873);
[2] Pat Greene (b. 1875); [Pat and Tom Greene were twins.]
[3] Tom Greene (b. 1875) emigrated to the United States, and there was never any account of him afterwards.
[4] Briget Greene (b. 1871) and
[5] another girl. [Margaret Greene (17 Feb. 1877-1945).]
[Per the 1901 Census their mother was Mary Greene and aged 65. Mary was still alive in 1911. Her son Patrick Green (sic) was 40; Michael was 38 and Margaret 36. Per the Death Register Mary died in 1922 at the age of 86.]
[In the 1926 Census Patrick Green was the Head of the house, and aged 52. His brother Michael (48) was still in the home as was his sister Margaret (aged 42). They were farming 38 statute acres.)]
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Please see our surnames and obituary pages for further information on Glenmore natives and residents. From our main blog page surname pages are under the Glenmore Families tab and the obituaries page is found under the Roots tab.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Glenmore to Sheboygan, Wisconsin
A couple weeks ago we received a query about Nicholas Henebery (1818-1891) and his wife Anastatia Dollard (c.1820-1905). The couple emigrated from Glenmore and died in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Last week we featured their eldest son’s survival from the Sea Bird disaster in Lake Michigan in 1868. Today, we are going to present information regarding Nicholas and Anastatia Henebery and their children.
As previously published during the Famine local families often emigrated from New Ross to Quebec and then settled in Wisconsin (See our post of 29 Sept. 2026). We also know that some Glenmore people, including John Dollard (1801-1888), went to the Green Bay area and founded a town called Glenmore, Wisconsin around 1850. (See our post of 17 Feb. 2025).
The Glenmore Wedding
On 21 April 1844, Nicholas Henebery married Anastatia Dollard of Alywardstown, Glenmore. The witnesses to the wedding were James Ryan and Johanna (Oats?). Unfortunately, their fathers were not recorded in the marriage record and there was no indication of what type of work Nicholas performed to support his family. In a Sheboygan newspaper article long after his death he was referred to as “Captain” Heneberry (Sheboygan Press, 12 April 1926) p. 3).
The Glenmore Wedding Witnesses
Johanna Oats is not a local name. We did locate a baptismal record of a Johanna Oats having been baptized in Waterford City on 7 November 1813 the daughter of Daniel Oates and Bridget Neill. A marriage record for this woman could not be located. James Ryan is a common local name. A James Ryan was baptized at Glenmore on 20 June 1820 to Jac Ryan and his wife Bridget Malone of Moulerstown. Another James Ryan was baptized 11 May 1817 at Glenmore to Wm. Ryan and his wife Margaret Casshin of Ballyveria, Glenmore. A third James Ryan was baptised on 5 May 1827 to James Ryan and Bridget Kehoe of Aylwardstown. Given the third James Ryan, and his father, in Aylwardstown it is likely that the third was the witness.
Children Born in Glenmore
The couple had at least two sons while residing in Glenmore. Their eldest child, [1] Edmond/Edward Henebery was baptized on 7 February 1844. The family residence was listed as Aylwardstown. Edmond’s godparents were John Irish and Anastatia Murry. A custom of this era was that children born out of wedlock had the word “illegitimate” or “bastard” recorded in the baptismal record often with the word highlighted to draw attention to it. In fact, several such notations appear in the Glenmore baptismal records in 1844. From the records it appears that Edmond was born in February 1844 and his parents married in April 1844, yet there was no notation regarding his status. Is this an indication that Nicholas was at sea, was their an error in the record or a friendly priest?
Their second child, [2] John Henebery, was baptized on 15 June 1846. The family was still residing at Aylwardstown. John Henebery’s godparents were Richard Heneberry and May Irish. John Henebery’s baptism was the last record of the family in Glenmore.
Children born in the US
In the 1900 US Census of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Anastatia “Annie” Henebery was a 79-year-old widow, residing at 1231 7th St., she emigrated in 1850 and was the mother of 7 children and none were living in 1900. In searching the Census records after 1850 we were able to find more children, but it is not clear where all the children were born or when they died.
1855 Wisconsin State Census
The earliest Census record we could locate in Sheboygan was the 1855 Wisconsin State Census. It does not provide much information, but it does provide that there were 4 males and 3 females in Nicholas Henebery’s family, and three of the family were foreign born. Either John Henebery did not survive until the 1855 Census or the record is wrong there should have been at a minimum four foreign born family members. Subtracting the parents the family included 3 sons and 2 daughters in 1855.
1860 US Federal Census
The 1860 US Federal Census for Sheboygan provides several important names and details. The family lived in Ward 3 of the city and Nicholas (38) was employed as a gardener. He owned real estate worth $300 and personal property valued at $20. His wife, Anty was 37. [1] Edmund (sic) Henebery was 15 and his place of birth was listed as New York. [3] James Henebery was 13 and was also recorded as having been born in New York. [4] Mary Ann Henebery was 11 years of age and was also recorded as having been born in New York. [5] John Henebery was 8 and was born in Wisconsin. [6] Katy Henebery was 5 also born in Wisconsin as was [7] Richard Henebery, aged 2.
It is not clear why the parents listed their eldest son as having been born in New York when he was clearly born in Ireland. We could not locate a birth record for Mary Ann in Ireland or New York.
1870 US Federal Census
The questions were not addressed in the 1870 US Census. The family was still residing in Ward 3 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Nicholas Hennebery (49) was employed as a day labourer for the post office. He owned real estate valued at $1,000 and personal property worth $300. Mary A. (sic) Henebery, his wife, was 52. [2] James Henebery was 22, born in Ireland, and he was employed as a sailor. It was recorded that James was out of employment for 4 months the previous year. [5] Katie Henebery was 15, born in Wisconsin, and still at school. [6] Richard Henebery was 12, born in Wisconsin and still at school.
1880 US Federal Census
By the 1880 US Federal Census, all of the children save [6] Richard were no longer living at home. However, a granddaughter had joined the household. Nicholas Henebery gave his age as 59. He was employed as a bridgetender. He was born about 1821 in Ireland and was married to Ann Henebery (58). Their unmarried son Richard (22) was employed as a sailor. Their grand-daughter Mary Henebery was just eight years of age. The family lived on Callamus Street, Sheboygan. We never determined who the granddaughter Mary Henebery’s (c. 1872-1901) parents were.
[1] Edmond/Edward Henebery (1844-1870) we do not believe that Edward ever married. For further details concerning his survival from the Sea Bird fire and sinking and his later death from his injuries see our post of 19 October 2026.
[2] John Henebery (1846-?)
[3] James Henebery (b.c. 1848) per the 1870 Census. The only other information we found regarding James was that he was in Chicago in 1891. The Sheboygan Telegram (Fri. 16 Jan. 1891, p. 3) reported that “N. Hennebury is visiting his son James at Chicago.”
[4] Mary Ann Henebery (b.c. 1849)
[5] John Henebery (b.c. 1852)
[6] Katy Henebery (b.c. 1855)
[7] Richard Henebery (1857-1899) was the youngest child of the family. Richard married a woman named Mary. The couple had 7 children, but only three were living at the time of Richard’s untimely death while at work in 1899. The Sheboygan Telegram (Tues. 31 Jan. 1899, p. 8) published the following short obituary. “Richard Henneberry died at St. Nicholas hospital at 3:30 this afternoon from injuries received this morning at the yards f the C. Reiss Coal Co. Shortly before noon he fell from one of the coals bins a distance of nearly 20 feet and was rendered unconscious. He was taken in the patrol wagon to St. Nicholas hospital where he lingered in an unconscious condition until death came. The dead man was about 35 years of age and leaves a wife and family. He was a mill wright by trade.” His widow Mary died in 1924.
Richard Henebery’s Children
[7a] Nicholas E. Henebery (1888- 1963) married Veronica Bushmer on 11 Nov. 1922 (Sheboylan Press Telegram, 17 Nov. 1922, p. 18). Nicholas E. Henebery, 75, of 1217 S. 7th St. died following a lingering illness. He worked at C. Reiss Coal Co. for 47 years prior to his retirement in 1953 due to ill health (Sheboygan Press, Mon. 20 May 1963, p. 14). His widow, Vera died 21 Jan. 1997 at the age of 92.
[7b] Elizabeth Henebery (b. 1896) married Nicholas Gruenek in 1925 (Sheboygan Press, Sat. 16 May 1925, p. 6).
[7c] Katherine Henebery (1885-1962) married Henry Seibold, of Stockbridge (Sheboygan Press, Tues. 12 May 1914, p. 8). She died at St. Nicholas Hospital in February 1962 (Sheboygan Press, Wed. 21 Feb. 1962).
Bridge Tender
In 1926 the Sheboygan Press (23 April 1926 p. 70) published an account of the two bridges that spanned the driver at Sheboygan five decades earlier. One of the bridges was called the Eighth Street Bridge and the other was at Pennsylvania Avenue. The Pennsylvania Bridge because of its high elevation was commonly called the “Shanhai Bridge.”
“Nicholas Henneberry, a pioneer in this county, was tender for both bridges. The structures were pile construction and both were provided with two leaves which could be raised by pulling on the heavy overhead frame with suspended chains. Whenever he had to hoist the leaves the bridge tender had to depend upon volunteer assistance. When a vessel was towed by a tug the passage through a draw required only a few minutes, but sail and ropes were often substituted for the tug.
Whenever the plaintive wail of the ship’s fog horn saluted his ears, Nicholas would have to quickly decide whether the ship or the land lubbers should have precedence. Many times people were rushing to catch a train at the depot which was then located at South Seventh and South Water streets, and this made things very embarrassing to Nicholas. But he was somewhat of a diplomat and he was generally successful in softening the expostulation of the irate captain or soothing the ruffled spirits of a hectic bus driver or someone who was caught at the open draw and missed the train. When the signal was given for the opening of the Shanhai bridge, Nick would hasten over and negotiate that draw.”
In addition to his diplomatic duties Nicholas also appears to have operated a lost and found. “Bridgetender Henneberry has a hat which blew off the head of a woman who was crossing the Eighth Street bridge. If the owner wants to reclaim it she can do so by calling at the bridge house” (Sheboygan Telegram, Sat. 1 Oct. 1887, p. 4).
Just months before Nicholas Henebery died the Sheboygan Telegram (Fri. 24 April 1891, p. 2) published the salaries of city employees. The Chief of the Fire Department earned $700 per annum; the Chief of Police earned $720 and the Eighth St. Bridge Tender earned $420. In June 1891 “The bridge tender of Eighth street bridge lodged a complaint with the police that the bridge had become a hangout for a large number of men and boys in the evening. The bridge was in a shaky condition and the large crowd of loungers on it made it more difficult to open it and increased the liability of a break down. “It is a further annoyance to the women and children compelled to cross it and be obliged to pass through the crowd of loungers..,” (Sheboygan Telegram, Fri. 5 June 1891, p. 3).
Death of Nicholas Henebery & Annie Henebery née Dollard
We found Death Cert 01324 for Nicholas Henebery (1819-1891). He died on 13 Sept. 1891 in Sheboygan of a disease of the liver. He was 71 years of age and employed as a bridge tender. He was born in Ireland in 1820. His wife was Anna Henebery and his parents were Edmund Henebery and Mary Henebery. We located two obituaries that provide more details concerning Nicholas.
The Sheboygan Telegram (Mon. 14 Sept. 1891, p. 3) published that “Nicholas Hennebery, died yesterday morning at his home in the Fourth Ward at the age of 71 years. The immediate cause of death was an attack of jaundice. Mr. Hennebery was an old resident, having come here forty years ago. The burial will be made Wednesday forenoon in the North side Catholic cemetery.”
DEATH OF A PIONEER—Last Sunday morning at 5:30 o’clock Nicholas Henneberry passed away after suffering an illness of about two weeks. His death caused surprise, for it was generally supposed the illness which had confined him to his home was not of a fatal nature. The funeral occurred Wednesday morning from the family residence on Chestnut street and was largely attended. Mr. Henneberry’s career was one that witnessed many strange and sad events in his allotted time of over three score and ten years.
Born in Ireland seventy one years ago he came to Sheboygan in the 40’s and excepting a brief residence in the south, continued since then to make Sheboygan his home. About twenty years ago when Seabird burned a son, Edgar, a bright and promising young man, was one of the two survivors of the ill-fated steamer. But the terrible ordeal was too great, and he only came home to die.
A younger brother who was ill at the time followed to the grave a few days later. Throughout these misfortunes the father bore his grief as became a Christian. He was ever faithful in what he considered duty, and will long be remembered for his faithful care of the Eighth Street bridge, of which he had charge the past twenty years. As kindly hands lowered his remains to their resting place in the North side Catholic cemetery, sorrowing friends said, “Peace be with thee.” [Obit posted on Find a grave without name of newspaper provided. Nicholas is in an unmarked grave in Calvary Cemetery, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. See, Find a Grave .]
We were unable to identify any younger brother who died a few days after Edward Henebery in 1870. We were also unable to identify any other reference to Edward being known as Edgar.
Annie Henebery survived her husband by 14 years dying in 1905. At the time of her death Annie had buried all seven of her children as well as her granddaughter Mary Hennebery (b.c. 1872-1901) who lived with Annie at least from 1870 until her death in 1901. In the 1900 Census Mary was living with her grandmother on 7th Street near to Richard Henebery’s widow (also Mary) and his three children. The following year Mary Henebery died at the age of 29 in the home of her grandmother, Mrs. A. Henebery, at the corner of 7th and Alabama Ave. due to pneumonia (Sheboygan Telegram, Sat. 4 May 1901, p. 3). A short death notice was found for Annie. “Mrs. Hennebery, aged 80 years, died at St. Nicholas hospital,” (Sheboygan Telegram, Tues. 15 Aug. 1905, p. 4).
Thus, Nicholas and Annie emigrated from Glenmore around 1850, and after 55 years and the birth of 7 children and at least 8 grandchildren, only three grandchildren from their son Richard survived Annie.
Nicholas Henebery’s Parents and Siblings
There were several Nicholas Heneberys in the Glenmore area. However, thanks to the information in Nicholas’s 1891 death certificate we know his father was Edmund Henebery and his mother was Mary. Nicholas Henebery was baptized at Glenmore on 8 February 1818 the son of Edmund Heneberry and his wife Mary Delahunty.
[1] Nicholas Henebery (1818)
[2] Richard Henebery (1823)
[3] Ellen Henebery (1825)
[4] Thomas Henebery (1829)
[5] Catherine Henebery (1831)
[6] Edmund Hennebery (1844)
It is not known if any of Nicholas Henebery’s siblings emigrated to Wisconsin, but a Richard Henebery was found in Hale’s Corner, Milwaukee. Richard married Mary Rooney (1834-1877) on 17 Oct. 1853 in Milwaukee. Richard died in 1891.
Anastatia “Annie” Heneberry née Dollard’s Parents
Based upon the lack of children named Anastatia Dollard/Dullard in Glenmore born around 1820, and the traditional naming pattern, there are two contenders. Annie may have been baptized at Glenmore on 29 May 1819 the daughter of John Dullard and Mary Walsh of Ballyveria. However, there was a Catherine Dollard baptized at Rochestown (next to Aylwardstown) on 28 December 1819 the daughter of John Dollard and his wife, Catherine Forristal. Perhaps if a Wisconsin death certificate could be located for Annie we could narrow down her place of birth and parents.
Unusual Newspaper Account
While researching the Henebery family we came across an article from 1934 long after the immediate Henebery family was dead. The Sheboygan Press (Fri. 6 April 1934, p. 7) published a short interview of Mrs. Adelaide Evans née Carr (c. 1859-1944) who was a resident of the Anna M. Reiss Home for the aged. Per her obituary Adelaide and her husband Franklin moved to Sheboygan in 1880 ten years after Edward Henebery (1844-1870) died.
“Mrs. Adelaide Evans a resident of the Anna M. Reiss Home for the aged as a girl was a neighbour to the Henneberry family in this city. Her personal interest in the sinking of the ship is due to her acquaintance with John Henneberry who was on the Lady Elgin when it sank in Lake Michigan after being rammed by a schooner north of Chicago. Mr. Henneberry was saved but died about a year later presumably from the effects of exposure for several hours in the cold water of the lake.”
The Lady Elgin disaster took place on 8 September 1860. It is unlikely that any member of the Nicholas Henebery family was on that ill fated boat. We believe Adelaide confused the Lady Elgin with the Sea Bird.
Please send any corrections, additional information, or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Special thanks to Kate Hephner for contacting us about Nicholas and Anastatia “Annie” Henebery.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The 1920’s postcard of the Eighth St. Bridge of Sheboygan, WI is courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The old postcard of St. Peter Clavin, of Sheboygan, WI, featured above is courtesy of Sheboygan History. St. Peter Clavin (1580-1654) was a Spanish priest and missionary who dedicated himself to caring for Africans enslaved. He is also a patron saint of seafarers due to his ministry on the slave ships.
The 1868 Sea Bird Ferry Disaster & a Glenmore Native’s Amazing Survival [Updated]
One of the difficulties of researching persons who emigrated from Glenmore in the early and mid nineteenth century was that surnames and indeed first names could be spelled in a variety of ways. Today, we are going to highlight Edmond/Edward Henebery who was baptized in Glenmore on 7 February 1844 to Nicholas Henebery (c. 1820-1891) and his wife Anastatia Dollard (c. 1820-1905). At the time of his baptism the family was residing in Aylwardstown, Glenmore. At some point between 15 June 1846 and 1858 the family moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where Nicholas eventually became the bridge tender for the Eighth Street Bridge and his eldest son Edward became a sailor. Below is the account of Edward’s survival of what has been deemed the 10th worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes (Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago). [Update 21 Oct. 2026: Per the 1900 US Census Ann Henebery stated that she emigrated to the US in 1850].
The Sea Bird
The Sea Bird was built in 1859 at Newport, Michigan. Her official number was 22368). The Sea Bird was a wood hull side steamer with 1 cylinder and a vertical beam (walking Beam). She was 191 feet and 6 inches in length with a 27 foot 9 inch beam and a depth of 12feet 6 inches. (Alpena County (Michigan) George N. Fletcher Public Library; Special Collections). She had a 444 ton capacity and was made of riveted oak with two decks. The upper deck had two large cabins, each with about 50 staterooms for approximately 200 passengers. The lower deck was for freight. The sidewheels were 26 feet in diameter (Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago)
On the morning of 9 April 1868 the Sea Bird caught fire and sank. The wreck is in Lake Michigan a mile off the shore at Waukegan, Illinois. The exact number of casualties is unknown, but it is believed that she carried 75 to over 100 passengers and crew. There were only 3 survivors. (Alpena County (Michigan) George N. Fletcher Public Library; Special Collections). Passenger, Albert Chamberlain, a shop keeper from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, survived by hanging from the anchor chain. He never entered the cold water and was rescued by the schooner Cornelia. He identified some of the other Sheboygan passengers that boarded the ferry with him. Passenger James Leonard dove overboard to escape the fire and floated on debris all the way south to the Evanston, Illinois, shore. Edmund/Edward Hennebury (sic) was the only member of the crew to survive, and he managed by jumping overboard and floating on the gangplank for 3 hours until he too was rescued by the schooner Cornelia. Below is his account published in the Manitowac Tribune (Thu. 16 April 1868, p. 1). Any headings or explanations not in the original newspaper article has been placed in [square brackets].
Edward Henebery’s Survival Account
I got up early yesterday (Thursday) morning—about 5 o’clock. I had been up about and hour and a half, I should think, when I saw smoke arising on the main deck, in the port quarter, and just below the ladies cabin. The smoke I had hardly noticed when I saw a blaze springing up. The fire seemed to have been kindled right on the deck. There was a lot of tubs and some straw lying near, and the fire got among them right away. I at once cried out “Fire, fire!” Several of the crew who were up came hurrying to where the fire was, the bell was rung, and the passengers who were not up before came tumbling out from their births and staterooms.
Instantly there was great confusion, and with this the fire increased so rapidly as made me convinced that it must have been burning a long time before I discovered it. The fire was a long way aft of the engine and boiler, in the port quarter. The flames sprung up, and spread al ost instantly into the ladies cabin overhead, though out the freight on the main deck; it did not seem to take 5 minutes before the after part of the boat was on fire. The fire spead into the ladies cabin so rapidly that I do not think all the women had time to leave it. I heard some one say that some of the ladies and children were burned.
[Lifeboats on Fire]
We all rushed into the forward part of the boat. Back of the engine the boats was all in flames. Some of the crew tried to get at the small boats which were aft. I went with them, but we did not get further than the smokestack. It was no use trying; the whole after part was burning up, and the boats themselves were on fire. I was perfectly cool all the time, I knew the boat was going up and somehow or other I felt that I was all right. So I waited about ten minutes, I think, before I, with the assistance of five or six others, shoved the gang plank overboard. During this times the flames were making great headway, and in five or six minutes after the fire was first seen by me, the engines stopped working. All the passengers had crowded into the bow, and some of them, the women and children especially, were crying and wringing their hands and moaning in a way pitiful to see and hear.
Six or seven of us shoved the gang plank over, just forward of the paddle boxes. I waited until the gangplank had floated past, and then I jumped. I was the first man overboard. I swam to the gang plank, and ten or fifteen others followed me. So many of us on the plank caused it to sink, and we all had hard work to keep it and ourselves up. I got along pretty well, until three or four others, seeing that I was holding my own, got around me and took hold of me. I shook them all off, except a coloured boy, the cook’s helper. He put both arms around my neck, and I could not shake him off.
[Clinging to Debris]
I then helped to get him onto the plank, and one man who was about twenty-five years old, and wore a moustache and whiskers, caught hold of my wrist and drew me on the plank. Johnnie O’Brien I helped on the plank two or three times. He was washed off almost as fast as I could get him on. We all struggled very hard, but there wasn’t a man said a word. I got a hold of one of the gang plank ropes, and I stuck to it until I was picked off. I could see men about me having hold of boxes, chairs, fender, and two men I saw clinging to a bag of wool. We boated past the bag and one of the men said to me—he wasn’t more than ten feet away—“You’re going pretty fast.”
There was a heavy sea, and after we had been in the water fifteen or twenty minutes, a swell lifted the plank and capsized it. All who had hold of it, except me, were washed away, and I did not see any of them anymore. I was chilled through. The water was almost at freezing point. I was just able to climb onto the gangplank after the rest had gone, and I knew that if I stayed in the water I could not last long. So I stood up on the gang plank and steadied myself by the ropes.
I had on all my clothes and these were soon frozen so they were stiff. As I stood on the gang plank by myself , I had no thought of death; the same confidence I had felt in being saved, from the first, still clung to me. I looked around me and though the sea was rolling heavily, I could see the lake’s surface dotted here and there with pieces of the wreck, to many of which men were clinging. About half a mile away I saw one of the boat fenders and a woman was clinging to it. As I was watching her I saw her disappear under a swell I saw the fender afterwards bit she was gone.
[The Quiet Freezing Water]
The boat drifted to the leeward in shore much faster than I on the gang plank. About twenty minutes after I left her I saw a crowd of passengers all gathered on the hurricane deck. Many of the men were stripped to their shirts. Nearly all of them had life preservers or were lashed to doors, table, planks and boxes. This was about the last I saw of the wreck. I did not hear any screaming or cries; the sea made a noise that drowned all that. The last I noticed about the wreck she was burned almost to the water’s edge and the walking beam was just falling in.
I was chilled through and felt myself freezing. I did not dare let go the ropes for if I did I should be washed away. I changed hands although my fingers were soon frozen stiff. About 9 o’clock I saw a schooner bearing south about two miles away under full sail. I know they saw me from on board, and I know they must have seen the burning wreck; but they did not bear down on me. It was freezing just like the winter and I could not have held out much longer, when about 10 o’clock I saw a schooner which had been four or five miles to windward tack about and bear down on me.
[Rescue]
This proved to be the Cornelia. She passed me first and went to the wreck; to the leeward. She sent out her small boat and took off Chamberlain from the forward netting, and then came for me. About 11 o’clock they took me off. I was pretty near frozen I went into the cabin where I took off my clothes and dried them. We arrived in Chicago about a quarter past 4 and I went at once to a doctor who gave me something to take, and something for my hands which were frozen.
Sea Bird Coverage in Waterford Newspapers
[Updated 21 Oct. 2026] Coverage of the Sea Bird Disaster appeared in newspapers across Ireland and England. In Waterford the Munster Express (Sat. 25 April 1868, p. 10) just noted, “the steamer Seagull (sic) has been burnt on Lake Michigan; 50 lives are lost.” A longer article appeared a few days later in the Waterford Citizen (Tues. 28 April 1868, p. 2)—”We regret to report that a fearful accident has occurred on Lake Michigan, attended with great loss of life. The steamer Sea Bird caught fire on the morning of the 9th inst, when about 30 miles from Chicago, and in ten minutes was wrapped in flames. There were about 100 persons on board, all of whom, including the officers, became demoralised, and no attempt was made to maintain order or lower the boats. But two persons were saved, all the others, including twenty women and children, being either drowned or burnt to death. All that is known of the disaster comes from the statement of one of the survivors, and the master of a schooner who saw the burning steamer when five miles off, and sailed towards it. He picked up two who were saved, but found no other living person.”
Although the Henebery family had emigrated in 1850 (per the 1900 Census) no connection was made in these local newspapers with one of the survivors being a native of Glenmore.
Death
Although Edward Henebery beat the odds and survived the fire and sinking of the Sea Bird according to a 1926 newspaper article “Ed Henneberry (sic) of Sheboygan was rescued from the water after many hours of exposure and suffering. He lingered for three years after the disaster and finally died from the effects of the exposure. He frequently gave an account of the burning of the Sea Bird and the icy waters he found himself in on that cold April morning in 1868. Ed Henneberry was buried in the north side Catholic cemetery” (Sheboygan Press, Mon. 12 April 1926, p. 3).
[Update of 21 Oct. 2026–Edward Henebery actually died on 20 April 1870. The Waupun Leader (Thu 28 April 1870, p. 2) briefly announced, “Edward Henneberry, one of the survivors of the Sea Bird disaster, died at his home in Sheboygan, on Wednesday last. The terrible suffering he endured on that fate day, so shocked his nervous system that he never recovered.” A few more details were published in the Manitowoc Pilot (Thu. 28 April 1870, p. 3) “Sheboygan—From the Times we learn that Mr. Edward Henneberry died after a protracted illness, at the residence of his father, in that city, on the 20th inst. Mr. H. was a seaman and served as Mate on board the brig Erie, last season, but shortly before the close of navigation he was forced to leave the vessel on account of failing health. He was one of two survivors of the ill-fated steamer Sea Brid, and never recovered from the effects of his exposure and suffering at that time.”
Albert Chamberlain (c. 1844-1921)
A newspaper article from 1911 provided more details concerning another survivor Albert Chamberlain. In 1911, Mrs. M.L. Chamberlain was in Sheboygan visiting Captain and Mrs. Thomas A. Long. The newspaper article noted that her husband was one of the two survivors of the Sea Bird disaster. Mrs. Chamberlain had previously been a school teacher in Sheboygan and was now living in Topeka, Kansas (Sheboygan Telgram, Thu. 31 Aug. 1911, p. 2). An obituary was located for Albert B. Chamberlain in the Topeka Daily Capital (Mon. 24 Jan. 1921, p. 3). Albert was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, and the couple had moved to Topeka in 1884 making their home on 1151 Washburn Avenue. Albert was 77 when he died in 1921, thus he was born about 1844. He and Edward Hennessey were around 24 years of age in 1868 when they survived the Sea Bird fire and sinking.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
For further information on other local families who emigrated to Wisconsin, see, our posts of 29 Sept. 2026 and 17 February 2025.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) read a lot of Victor O’Donovan Power’s short stories when he was a lad and as an adult he became very interested in the author. Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933) was a prolific writer and was a native of Rosbercon. In addition to several interviews Danny recorded regarding Victor O’Donovan Power, in Danny’s voluminous collection is one of Victor O’Donovan Power’s violins. If Danny recorded how, when or where he obtained the violin, this information has not yet been uncovered. Today, we are going to share excerpts from two interviews that Danny recorded in 1971 regarding Victor O’Donovan Power and in particular his Touring Company that operated in the mid to late 1920’s as explained to Danny by a man who worked in the company. See our previous post of 28 October 2020 for further information regarding Victor O’Donovan Power .
Statia Butler (1887-1973) A Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
The first interview was of “Statia Butler, of Ballyden” dated 28 February 1971. Anastatia Butler (1887-1973) of Rosbercon, died on 29 August 1973, single, aged 86 at the County Home in Thomastown. The interview notes do not record it, but Danny may have interviewed Statia in the County Home. He often visited the County Home in Thomastown to visit elderly Glenmore people residing there. Per the 1901 Census, Anastatia Butler resided in Rosbercon with her family. She was 14; her sister Margaret was 24 and her brother James was 17. Their parents were James Butler (60) and his wife Ellen (52). Armed with this information we found Statia’s birth record. She was born on the 28th of April 1887 at Ballycroney, Glenmore, the daughter of James Butler (labourer) and his wife Ellen Berrigan.
A Physical Description of Victor O’Donovan Power
According to Statia Butler, “Victor O’D Power was a small thin man. [He] wore a hat with his grey hair protruding out.” He used to go often to Paddy Mullally’s of Ballycroney. He would sing, and play the fiddle.
Pat Sullivan, of Raheen, Rosbercon
The second longer interview was of Pat Sullivan, of Raheen, Rosbercon. This interview took place on St. Patrick’s Day (17 March 1971). Unfortunately, we were unable to locate any information on this interviewee.
Aileen Mary Josephine Hearne née Power (1857- c. 1937)
Pat Sullivan told Danny that Victor O’Donovan Power had a sister who was married to J.B. Hearne of Chilcomb House. A review of marriage records reveals that Mary Josephine Power of Chilcomb married James Bernard Hearne of New Ross at Rosbercon on 5 July 1881. The bride was the daughter of Michael Power and Ellen O’Donovan and her baptism records her given name as Aileen Mary.
James B. Hearne and Mary J. Power had six known children: [1] Mary Florence Hearne (b.1883); [2] Harold Hearne (1883-1883); [3] Victor Hearne (1883-1883); [4] Ellen Josephine Hearne (b. 1884) Ellen’s baptismal record wrongly notes that she married A. Dempsey in 1920. [5] Ethel Margaret Hearne (b. 1888) married Dr. Alexander Dempsey ( ? -1963) on 10 Jan. 1920 in Dublin; and [6] Michael James Hearne (b.1888) married Teresa Doyle, of Brandon, New Ross, in 1915.
Harold, Mary Florence and Victor Hearne were triplets. Victor died 21 days after his birth. Harold died at the age of one month. No death record could be located for Mary Florence Hearne. Ethel and Michael were twins born on Halloween 1888. By 1883 James B. Hearne was described on the birth records as a gentleman, however, in the death records for his children his occupation was listed as grocer. By 1915 James M. Hearne was the only living son of J.B. Hearne of Chilcomb House (Limerick Chronicle, Tues. 28 Sept. 1915, p. 2).
Thomas Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933)
Per the baptismal records of Rosbercon “Thomas Victor” Power was born 29 July 1858 at Chilcomb House. A year later Alfred James Power joined the family on 8 August 1859.
Pat Sullivan described Victor as having a slight build of medium height, with a moustache. He was a very jolly man. Pat Sullivan said that Victor lived where Jack O’Leary lived in 1971. His parents, Jack O’Leary and Mrs. O’Leary worked for Victor. He had one half of the house. One room downstairs and one room upstairs.
Pat Sullivan stated that Victor wrote his stories in a hut erected on J.B. Hearne’s land, although in fairness the land had originally belonged to the Power family. As noted above J.B. Hearne married into Chilcomb House. Jack Doherty, of Milltown, Glenmore, built the hut and brought it down on wheels. Pat Sullivan noted that in 1971 the hut was a hen house in Pascal Doolan’s, of Hoodgrove, Rosbercon.
Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company
Pat Sullivan, of Butterbridge, Rosbercon, travelled with Victor Power in his traveling company at the end of 1924. It was known as the Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company. Pat Sullivan went on tour with the Company twice. In the 1924/5 trip Pat Sullivan spent 9 months with the Company. Pat joined the Company when they were playing the old cinema in New Ross. The Company wasn’t too long started when Pat joined it at New Ross. They spent three nights there. It was the only place they played in Co. Wexford. The Company lasted 6 or 7 years. Harkem Smith also travelled with the Company.
Members of the Company included:
Frank O’Donovan—Dublin;
Lewis Dalton—Dublin;
Tom Tobins—Carrick-on-Suir;
Edith Kehoe—Dublin
Kitty McMahon—Dublin
Paddy Lonegan—Carrick-on-Suir
Cecil Wiseman—Leslie, West Cork (pianist and took parts)
Pat Sullivan—Buttersbridge (took small parts and on the door taking the money).
Another girl also was in the company and she had a daughter who also took part.
Pat Sullivan took part in the play, “The Heir of Liscarragh.” Pat was also the servant in David Carrick’s play. “The Lone House on the Moor,” was another play they produced.
Victor O’Donovan Power did not take any part in the performances. He only came now and again to visit the Company. It was a general show with music, songs, dances etc. The first year that Pat Sullivan went with the company they started at Cahir, Cashel Hospital. They also went to Doneraile, Midleton, Millstreet, Bandon, and parts of Clare. The Company spent 3 nights in each place and in some places a couple nights longer.
Hearne Family
Pat Sullivan and his wife believed that Victor only had a sister that married J.B. Hearne. They noted that J.B. Hearne had at least 2 children. They did not appear to know about the triplets or twins. Their daughter Ethel Hearne went to Belfast. She was married to an English Army Officer. When JB Hearne went bust in Chilcomb he went to Belfast where he died. He is buried in the Old Chapel Yard in Rosbercon. His wife is also buried there where the old chapel was located. A newspaper search turned up an obituary for J.B. Hearne. He died in 1952 in Cork at the age of 96 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 March 1952, p. 2.) Victor O’Donovan Power was mentioned in the obituary as well as the fact that Victor’s uncle was the Dr. Thomas Joseph Power (1830-1893) the Bishop of Newfoundland.
1926 Rosbercon Census
JB Hearne was 69 years of age and reported being born in New Ross. He was employed as a maize miller. His wife, Mary Josephine was 75 years of age (in the 1901 Census they were recorded as the same age). The 1926 House and Building Return shows that there were two Chilcomb Houses, namely: Chilcomb House and Chilcomb Park House. One house is occupied by the John O’Leary family (3 men and 1 woman) in three rooms and Victor Power (1 male) in 2 rooms. David Mulligan (1 man and 1 woman) resided in a tent. J.B. Hearne (his wife and 1 servant) occupied 10 rooms.
Victor Power recorded his age as 67. He was single, and for his occupation he listed that he was a novelist and playwright. He could read Irish but could not speak it. According to Pat Sullivan Victor wasn’t well off and said so himself. However, he was able to earn his living.
Victor O’Donovan Power’s Ramblings
According to Pat Sullivan, Victor used to visit Pat Sullivan’s and Johnnie Power’s of Butterbridge, Rosbercon; Pat Murphy’s of Ballycroney, Glenmore; Lanigan’s of Ballylog (the Rower?); Tom Lenihan’s? of Ballycurran, Tullogher; the Ryan’s of Guilcogh; Cahill’s of Ballygurrim and several other places. Victor mainly travelled the South Kilkenny area around New Ross and West Cork. However, sometimes people came to Victor. Pat Sullivan said that he saw Lil Linegar in an ass and car coming to visit Victor in Raheen.
Death
Victor was only sick for about 3 days when he died. He died in the Haughton Hospital of New Ross. “They brought him down from the hospital to Shanbogh out the new line.”
Victor had 3 fiddles one of which he called the Fairy Fiddle. He also had and played fifes and flageolets (similar to a tin whistle). Victor wanted his Fairy Fiddle buried with him, but it was not according to Pat Sullivan.
*********************
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . We are particularly interested in finding more information on the interviewee Pat Sullivan (son of Pat Sullivan) formerly of Butterbridge and Raheen.
The drawing to the right is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1780 – 1950). Violin from Horní Lužice. Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/f5fc8920-c558-012f-b833-58d385a7bc34
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Two Priests Named Grant Buried Together in Glenmore
Update
The best thing about posting on a blog is that mistakes can be corrected and posts can be updated as additional information is found. Last night an advertisement from 1830 was found regarding the Graiguenakill Mill that was the home of Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) good friend Nicky the Miller Forristal (1888-1979 ). The advertisement has been added to the original post of 7 June 2020. This may have been the time that James Cardiff (Nicky the Miller Forristal’s grandfather) acquired the mill.
Glenmore Grave: Rev. Wm. Grant (c. 1783-1821) & Rev. Thomas Grant (c. 1861-1929)
Close to the door into the porch of Glenmore Chapel (St. James) is an old crypt. The flat top of the crypt is inscribed, but difficult to read due to its age and exposure to the elements. Rev. William Grant and Rev. Thomas Grant died over one hundred years apart and any stated relationship between the two priests if recorded can no longer be read.
In 1821, the Saunder’s News-Letter (Thurs. 30 Aug. 1821, p. 2) recorded the death of Rev. William Grant the Curate of Glenmore as follows: “DEATHS–On the 21st instant, at Glinmore (sic), County Kilkenny, the Rev. William Grant, Assistant Catholic Priest in the Parish of Glinmore”. The flat top of the crypt records, “To the memory of the Rev. William Grant late curate of Glenmore, Who departed this life Aug. 17th 182?, Aged 38.”
The second inscription is for Rev. Thomas Grant died [illegible] 1929, Aged 68. The Death Register revealed that Rev. Thomas Grant, aged 68, PP, died on the 8th of Dec. 1929. A death notice was located in the Irish Independent (Sat. 14 Dec. 1929, p. 14) “Rev. Thomas Grant, P.P. who has died at Galmoy, Co. Kilkenny, was ordained at St. Kieran’s Kilkenny, 45 years ago, and ministered as curate for over 25 years at Clough, Rathdowney. About three years ago he was appointed P.P. of Galmoy.” Although buried in Glenmore, Fr. Thomas Grant does not appear to have ever been assigned to Glenmore.
The obituary of Fr. Thomas Grant’s sister, Miss Mary Grant (c. 1857 -1919) revealed that the two Grant priests whose remains were interned in the same crypt in Glenmore were great-uncle and great-nephew. We regret to announce the death of Miss Mary Grant, of Ballyvaring, Slieverue, which occurred on the 17th inst. The deceased was sister of the Rev. Thomas Grant C.C., Aghaboe, and grand-niece of Rev. Wm. Grant, who got the Chapel of Glenmore built. She was about 62 years of age…The chief mourners were: Rev. T. Grant (brother); John Grant (brother; Mr. John Grant and family; Mr. James Grant (Waterford Star, Sat. 27 Sept. 1919, p. 5).
Fr. William Grant’s Housekeeper
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often laughed about the story of Fr. Grant’s housekeeper. Apparently the housekeeper was a formidable woman and gave out to Fr. Grant. He informed her that he would put her where all the parishioners would walk on her. Just at the door to the porch of the Chapel is a large flat stone that all parishioners entering the porch of the chapel must walk on. This is alleged to be Fr. Grant’s housekeeper’s grave. Unfortunately, due to the weather over the years and people walking on the stone the inscription can no longer be read.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh