Gillespie Texas

Sailing to Quebec

When we last discussed Thomas K. Carr (c.1811-1869) he had sold his assets in Ireland, gathered his family, boarded a ship in New Ross and set sail for Quebec. [See our previous post of 31 Aug. 2026.] The Montreal Gazette (Mon. 29 July 1850, p. 2) published that the “Ship Triton” under Captain Smith left New Ross on 13 June and arrived in the Port of Quebec on 25 July with 371 passengers. Another source provides that the Triton departed from New Ross on 1 June 1850 and landed in Quebec on 25 July 1850 (Jim Rees, “Fitzwilliam Tenants Listed in the Coolattin Estate Emigration 1847-56,” Carnew Historical Society website).

The Waterford Mail (Sat. 18 May 1850 p. 3) described the ship and her amenities as follows:  

EMIGRATION FROM NEW ROSS: the following superior first class coppered and copper fastened packet ship is intended to be dispatched from New Ross to Quebec, The splendid and very fast sailing ship “Triton” 1300 tons burthen, J. Smith, Commander on the 1^st June next. The above large and superior ship will be fitted up in the most approved manner for cabin, second cabin and steerage passengers; she is well ventilated and loft between decks, having a height of about 9 feet. She is to carry an experienced surgeon, and passengers by her will be supplied with water, fuel, breadstuffs, groceries etc., according to the new Government scale; she is to be followed by other equally fine passenger ships during the season. For freight or passage, as well as for fuller information, apply to W. Graves and Son.

PS—Owing to the small number of persons who landed at Quebec last year, it is expected that tradesmen and labourers landing there this summer will find a good demand for their services, and those bound to the western portions of the United States or of Canada, will find Quebec the cheapest landing port, from the great extent of cheap inland water navigation up the St. Lawrence and the vast lakes of America. New Ross, May 13, 1850.

Why Wisconsin?

Wisconsin became a State on 28 July 1848. It was the last State admitted to the Union which was located east of the Mississippi. Thomas K. Carr, per census declarations of family members, settled in Wisconsin in 1850. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Tues. 1 June 1852, p. 2) published a list of unclaimed letters at the Milwaukee Post Office which included a letter for Thomas Carr.

We know that Thomas K. Carr held his first dispersal auction at Castle Annaghs in August 1848. It appears likely, given the uncertainty regarding his lease of Castle Annaghs, that he began researching places where he might re-locate his family prior to 1848. In a newspaper search we came across several articles concerning advice for people wishing to emigrate to Canada and the United States.  For example, “Emigration by Thomas Mooney” was published in the King’s Co. Chronicle on the front page of the 15 September 1847 edition. (King’s County is now known as County Offaly).

“Wisconsin Territory is about 300 miles in length—and, in the main, 150 to 200 miles in breadth. Its shape is triangular. The base line being formed for nearly 300 miles by the Great Lake Michigan; which is one of the greatest chain of inland navigation in the world…The soil and climate of Wisconsin Territory approaches nearer to the character of that of Ireland, than any other state of this union. The lands of Wisconsin are certainly the richest of the whole United States.” An adult traveling by ship from Quebec to Wisconsin (1600 miles) would cost two pounds. Children were half price and infants free.” [The correct distance between Quebec and Milwaukee is 1290 nautical miles.]

“There are three general inlets from Lake Michigan which is most open to emigrants: Milwaukee, Port Washington and Shebogan. Milwaukee is a busy growing city, of great traffic, and considerable manufacture. Ten years ago it was a dozen wooden huts that has grown into a population of 12,000 of which one third are Irish. The Irish in this place are superior to the average class of Irish emigrants, and command respect in the walks of trade, manufactures, and in the medical and legal professions, and have established a high character for Irishmen through the territory…A map of the lands to be sold by Government, can be had in Milwaukie, at the Government Land Office for 25 cents.”

Early Years in Wisconsin

Very little could be found regarding the Carr family from 1850 to Thomas K. Carr’s death in 1869 at the age of 58. We know that a farm was purchased in Oak Creek, Wisconsin where Thomas K. Carr remained for the rest of his life.

He sent his son, Edward K. Carr to the newly established Racine College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1855. Racine College was an Episcopal preparatory school and college in Racine, Wisconsin, that operated between 1852 and 1933. A total of 5 graduates delivered speeches at the third Commencement of Racine College in 1855. Edward Kough Carr, of Oak Creek, delivered his speech on the Importance of Agriculture (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mon. 30 July 1855, p. 2). “The pieces were very well written and very poorly spoken…We infer that elocution is the least cultivated of any branch of education at Racine College, at present. The degree of Bachelor of Science, was conferred…” (Daily Free Democrat, Fri. 27 Jul. 1855, p. 2).

In Oak Creek in the 1855 State Census there were 4 males and 2 females in the Carr household. In the 1860 Federal Census of Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Thomas K. Carr (49) farmer, had real estate worth $6400 and $1200 in personal property. He provided in birthplace as Ireland. His wife Jane Carr was 50; His son George Carr was 19 and daughter Hannah Carr was 17.
Also present in the household were:
John Butler (49) farm labourer, born in Ireland.
Olla Olsom (39) carpenter, born in Norway.
Ellen Erhase (19) house servant, born in Ireland.

The Will of Thomas K. Carr

 On 6 August 1855 Thomas K. Carr executed a Will with John Jackson of Oak Creek, Wisconsin and Michael Hickey (no address provided) as his Witnesses. It appears that Thomas K. Carr drafted his Will without the aid of a lawyer.
I, Thomas Kough Carr, of the town of Oak Creek, in the County of Milwaukee and state of Wisconsin, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, revoking all former Wills be me made. I order all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid out of my Estate.
I give and bequeath to my wife Jane Carr, all my real and personal estate of whatsoever kind and description I may die possessed of for her sole use and benefit.
I appoint my said wife, Jane Carr, the Executrix to this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of August one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five, Thomas Kough Carr.

Per Thomas K. Carr’s headstone, he died on 23 February 1869, aged 58. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wed. 24 1869, p. 1) published a one line death notice, “DIED: February 23^rd, at his residence in Oak Creek, Thomas K. Carr, aged 58 years.” No obituary could be located however, the Munster Express (Fri. 27 Mar. 1869, p. 4) also published a death notice “—Feb. 23 at Oak Creek, State of Wisconsin, United States, Thomas Kough Carr, Esq., formerly of Castle Annaghs in the county of Kilkenny, aged 58 years.”

Estate of Thomas K. Carr Papers

The Estate Papers filed by Jane Carr after her husband’s death provides some detail concerning his 19 years in Wisconsin. The farm was named “Hope Farm” and its legal description was: the South half of the South East quarter and the south half of the North half of the South East quarter of section 10 in township 5 North, range twenty-two east and containing one hundred and twenty acres.  The Court awarded the real and personal property to the widow Jane Carr on 8 July 1870.

Inventory of Thomas K. Carr Estate

Real Estate consisting of 120 acres known as Hope Farm  $6,000
Farming Tools  $229.87
2 Horse Buggy $100
2 Sets of Harness $30
Hens, Geese & Turkeys $13.50
2 Hogs  $40
5 Pigs   $15
Sheep & Lambs  $95
3 Horses              $300
1 Yearling Colt    $25
A 3 year old colt  $70
5 Cows            $200
3 Heifers             $75
1 two year old steer $25
4 yearlings    $40
1 bull              $25
2 calves          $10
Gun and case    $15
30 ? of wood $75

Jane named their three children as his heirs and next of kin. [1] Edward K. Carr was 30; [2] George Thomas Carr was 28; and [3] Hannah Cornelia “Nina” Carr was 25.

Death of Mother, Marie Carr née Kough (c. 1791-1874)

Seven years after Thomas K. Carr left New Ross, his father Edward Carr Esq. (c. 1780-1857) died. His mother survived Thomas by 5 years. Marie Carr née Kough died at Belview Terrace, Tramore, Waterford on 22 April 1874. Her occupation was listed as Lady and her age was provided as 83. Marie’s death in 1874 and a resulting lawsuit provided some interesting information concerning the family.

The Lady With No Assets

The Munster Express in 1874 published the case of Tandy v. Carr (Fri. 25 July 1874, p. 5). Wark was suing Edward Carr for £22 1 s 6d for his mother’s rent. Maria Carr became Wark’s tenant in 1869 of 2 Bellvue Terrace Tramore, under Mr. Carew at £36 per year. In May 1872 Carew’s lease expired. Work raised the rent to £40 and entered into a lease directly with Maria Carr. Mrs. Carr paid her rent with punctuality. After she died in April 1874, her son Edward Carr asked Wark to take the house off of his hands. Wark refused. He recommended that Carr leave the furniture in the house and Carr let the house for the summer. Instead, Carr held an auction the 14^th and 15^th of May and all the furniture was sold. The auction realized £254 15s 4d.

Wark testified that he saw Messrs Carr at the funeral, but did not speak to them. Wark attended the auction and was told that Edward Carr was only trustees. A Mr. Mason was looking for the house and Wark agreed to take him as a tenant. Mr. Mason offered to pay £30 in rent and Wark agreed to take £37.

Carr’s attorney argued that Mrs. Carr brought the furniture and plate from Arnestown to Tramore, but none of it belonged to her. Mr. Carr made his Will on the 22^nd of May 1856, and left his property to his wife for her life only. She had no right to it. It was a portion of the residue of the late Edward Carr’s estate.

Edward Carr produced his father’s Will. “I told Mr. Wark distinctly that the furniture was not my mother’s. I offered to leave it to arbitration. I offered to give him £20 to take up the house. Wark refused. Edward Carr testified that the furniture sold at the auction had been in his father’s house. It was removed to Rathmines and thence to Tramore. He stated his mother had 11 children and 53 grandchildren and one of them always stayed with her. He was not aware of his mother buying or selling any furniture since his father’s death. He paid £37 for her funeral. He noted that up until the 26^th of June the rent was paid.

The judge addressed the jury stating that Carr, the executor did not dispute the date, but on the date this suit was brought his mother’s estate had no assets. They were to consider whether the furniture was Mrs. Carr’s or had she only a life interest in it. The jury retired, and after a few minutes returned with a verdict for Edward Carr.

Maria Carr (c. 1790-1874) was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold’s Cross Co. Dublin.

Thomas K. Carr’s Children

All three of the children of Thomas K. and Jane Carr were born in the Georgian big house at Castle Annaghs which boasted 10 bedrooms. The children were between 12 and 7 when they emigrated to Wisconsin with their parents. Between the Georgian big house and the Barrow River stood Castle Annaghs. It is not known if the Castle was inhabited or in ruins when the children lived there. It is not known if stories regarding their life at Castle Annaghs were passed down. We did find that Edward K. Carr’s daughter Frankie listed her father’s birthplace as New Ross.

[1] Edward K. Carr (1838-1907) married Eleanor Margaret Raney (1848-1914) on 24 March 1874 in Raymond, Racine Co., Wisconsin. Before 1880 the couple moved to Gillespie County, Texas. The US 1880 Census, provides that Edward K. Carr (41) was farming. The following persons were in the household: Eleanor M. Carr (wife, 31); Thomas K. Carr (son, 4); Hellen E. Carr (daughter, 2) and Nina Esther Carr (daughter, 11 mos.). Also in the household was Frank L. Raney (22) (brother-in-law).

The 1880 Gillespie, Texas, Agriculture Census provides more information. Edward K. Carr had 15 acres in grain; 545 acres in old fields not growing weeds; $3000 was the value of the farm land/buildings and fences; £100 was the value of farm implements and machinery; $260 was the value of livestock; $70 were the costs associated with building and repairs; $25 wages & board was paid in 1879 for labour; he had 3 weeks hired labour (excluding housework); $50 value of all production sold/consumed/retained for 1879. He farmed with 3 horses and 2 mules.

Edward K. Carr, died in 1907 and is buried in the Hill Crest Cemetery on the Morris Ranch, Gillespie County, Texas.

Edward and his wife had at least four children.

[1a] Edward George Carr (1886-1943) married Celeta E. Carr. Edward George Carr and his wife moved to Illinois before 1920. Edward George Carr died in Chicago, and is buried in Milwaukee. An obituary was found in the Chicago Tribune (Sun. 15 Aug. 1943, p. 24) as follows: Services for Edward G. Carr, 57 years old, 1304 Birchwood Ave. who died Wednesday, were held yesterday in the chapel at 5501 North Ashland Ave. Mr. Carr, an inventor and manufacturer, was one of the early advocates of concrete highways in Illinois. He had been engaged in building concrete runways for the army air forces. Surviving are his widow, Celeta Lewis Carr, one son Pvt. Richard L. Carr, a prisoner in a Japanese camp in the Phillippines, and four sisters. [His brother Tom also survived him].

[1b] Jean Alice Galbraith née Carr (1883-1979) married James C. Galbraith and had at least two sons. Jean remained in Texas.

[1c] Thomas K. Carr (1875-1962) married Mamie Brodie (1874-1962). He remained in Gillespie Co. Texas and was a stock farmer and ranchman on “White Oaks Ranch.” (Kerrville Mountain Sun, Wed. 17 Jan. 1962, p. 16). He and his wife had at least 3 children.
 
[1d] Frankie Raney Polk née Carr (1881-1948) married Sam C. Polk. Frankie was a retired school teacher when she died and had been widowed. She had at least one child. Frankie remained in Texas.

[2] George Thomas Carr (1840-1881) was the second son of Thomas K. Carr and his wife Jane Carr. George Thomas Carr married Harriet Sutton (1854-1922) on 21 Sept. 1871 at Bingham, Leelanau Co., Michigan. George T. Carr was a lumberman per the 1880 Census. George T. Carr held land in Sutton’s Cove, Michigan and we have been unable to verify that he had a mill and dock. References have also been found that he was a grocer prior to his marriage and served as a postmaster in Sutton’s Cove. In any event, George and Harriet had two children die young and 2 children survive until adulthood
[2a] George Thomas Carr (1872—1935) and
[2b] Ella A. Carr (1874-1900) was just 25 when she died of appendicitis.  
[2d] Mabel Carr died as an infant on 3 Sept. 1881. The Minneapolis Messenger (Fri. 9 Sept. 1881, p. 5) published an obituary. “Little Mable, infant daughter of Mrs. George F. (sic) Carr, died in this city on Saturday morning…Mrs. Carr is a daughter of Mr. H.C. Sutton, of this place, who buried her husband a short time ago at Sutton’s Bay, Michigan…The afflicted mother has the sympathy of the community. She has two bright children left her.”

Although George T. Carr died very young we have been unable to find any reference to his cause of death.

[3] Hannah Cornelia “Nina” Carr (1843-1912) was the only daughter of Thomas K. Carr and his wife Jane Carr. Nina married in Chicago two years after her father’s death. She married Alphonse William Perrin (1848-1922). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Sat. 21 Jan. 1871, p. 4) published a marriage announcement. “PERRIN-CARR—On the 17^th inst., at St. James’s Church, Chicago, Ill., by the Rev. C.V. Kelly, Alphonse W. Perrin, of San Antonio, Texas, to Nina, daughter of the late Thomas K. Carr, of Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.”

A.W. and Nina had a large family and lived twelve miles from San Antonio, Texas, on “Hope Farm” in Bexar Co. (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 24 July 1909. p. 6). The family lived on a 540 acre farm. In 1923 they deeded an acre to be used as a cemetery by the heirs of A.W. and Nina Perrin (deceased) (San Antonio Express News, Tues. 30 Oct. 1923, p. 17).

[3a] Jane “Jennie” Martha Perrin (1873-1950)

[3b] Raymond Perrin (c. 1874-1912). Raymond died in May 1912 unmarried. He was survived by his parents (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 25 May 1912, p. 14).

[3c] Ruth Nina Perrin (1876-1960) married William A. Conry of Allen Grove, Wisconsin in 1909. (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 24 July 1909, p. 6). The couple were living in Avion, Wisconsin in 1912. Ruth is buried in Wisconsin, and she had a second marriage to a man named Cox.

[3d] Martha “Mattie” Perrin (c. 1878-  ?) married Judson

[3e] Francis “Fanny” Caroline Perrin (1880-1959) married Francis A. McClure. Per the 1950 census Bertha, Ruth and Jennie Perrin were all living with their sister and brother-in-law.[3f] Bertha Josephine Perrin (1884-1958) never married.

[3g] George Fredrick Perrin (1882-1960) applied for a passport in 1917 to accept a post as foreman of a coke plant in Mexico. His profession was steam engineer. In his sister Jennie’s obituary, he was again residing in San Antonio. George F. Perrin is not buried in the Perrin family cemetery.

What Happened to Jane Carr née Keogh/Kough?

In the 1880 Census Jane Carr was living with her daughter and son-in-law in Bexar, Texas. Alphonse Perrin was a 32 year-old farmer. He reported that he had been born in New York. His father was born in England and his mother had been born in Ireland. Nina in 1880 was 37 and Jane Carr was 70.

Several of the Perrin family are buried in the Perrin Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexter Co., Texas. In searching the Perrin Cemetery, we came across Jean (sic) Carr (28 Feb. 1809-17 Nov. 1891). Her inscription reads “In memory of Jean, wife of T.K. Carr, born in Ireland, Feb. 28, 1809, Died Nov. 17, 1891, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”

Jane or Jean’s death notice was found in the San Antonio Express News (Thur. 19 Nov. 1891, p. 5) and provides, “Mrs. Jean Carr, a well-known old lady who has lived in this county for many years, died at her home on the Salado yesterday morning at the age of 83.”

Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The featured map above has the Oak Creek Wisconsin area outlined in red. Milwaukee is to the North and Racine is to the south of Oak Creek. This interactive map is available on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Creek,_Wisconsin#/map/0 .