Judith Joanna Callinan of parish Thurles, Tipperary, and Boston, Massachusetts

24 November 1814, Judith Callinan of parish Thurles, was married to William Gleeson of Loughmore; witnesses were Corneilius Callinan and Mary Kirwan. 

The Roman Catholic marriage record above was provided by the Tipperary North Family History Foundation several years ago. They mentioned that then and now, Callinans reside at Ardbawn, Thurles.

Judith, or Joanna (Callinan) Gleeson as she was later known, was born about 1793, according to Massachusetts records. Thurles R.C. parish registers do not survive for the time period of her birth.

 William Gleeson's wife was recorded as Judith in her marriage record and in the baptism of her first 9 children; she was recorded as Joanna or Johanna in the baptisms of her 5 youngest children; she was Joanna Gleeson in her death record and in the deed of transfer of property from son Michael H. Gleeson to his brother James A. Gleeson in 1853, which lists all of the surviving children of William and Joanna Gleeson.  The deed provided a place for Joanna to live the remainder of her life.

The newleyweds immigrated  soon after marriage to Newfoundland.  On 13 October 1815, a child was baptized at the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland, baptized as John son of William Callanan [sic]  and Judith Callanan; sponsors Michael Meagher and Margaret Welsh.  This matches family records and Boston church records, and the child was certainly John Lawrence Gleeson, who died 3 January 1836.

 William Gleeson and his wife immigrated to Boston 10 July 1817, their next 8 children were baptized at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. They had a boarding house on Broad street, Boston, and William Gleeson served as a contact person for "missing friends" advertisements in the Boston Pilot newpaper.

William Gleeson was naturalized 15 January 1828; the naturalization record provides the following information:

Naturalization Record of William Gleeson, Place of Naturalization: Boston, Suffolk, Mass. (Boston Municipal Court Suffolk Co.), Date of naturalization: 15 Jan 1828, Place of birth: “Lackamore, Tipperara, Ireland “[Loughmore, Tipperary], Date of birth: 1 May 1789, Date of Immigration: 10 Jul 1817, Certificate no. 279 vol. 16 (1828), Occupation: Trader, Witnesses: Michael Riley, Abr. Moore.

In 1834, he joined the Charitable Irish Society; he served as Treasurer 1831-1832,  and Vice president in 1839. He was also a member of the Repeal Society.

 The family moved to East Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 1840. Five children were born there and baptized at St. Mary's Charlestown, because there was no church at Cambridge at that time. William Gleeson served on a committee with Bishop Fenwick  to establish the Roman Catholic church of St. John's at Cambridge.

William and Joanna then moved to Turnpike street, South Boston, where he had a grocery store, 1844-1853.

In 1853, they moved to 1 Oliver place, Boston, where William Gleeson died 12 October 1853.  Joanna lived with her son James A. Gleeson until her death in 1865.

Four of their sons were pharmacists. 

Joanna (Callinan) Gleeson of Thurles needs to be honored for the success of her family; perhaps she also helped support other immigrants who boarded with her family in Boston.