Mary Catherine Kingsley / Kinsley : Short Biography

Mary Catherine Kingsley was born 2nd December 1861 in Cloongaheen West, Barbane, Broadford, County Clare, Ireland. She was the eldest of 7 children born to Thomas Kingsley of Broadford and Jane (Donovan) of Scariff, County Clare. 

At the age of 14, with her passage paid by her Aunt and God-Mother Mary Donovan she left Ireland via Queenstown (now Cobh, County Cork) sailing on the Germanic (White Star Line). Travel time on the Germanic was 7 Days 15 hours. She arrived (alone) at Castle Gardens, New York 13 September 1875 where she was met by her Aunt Mary. Mary' mother Jane is pictured on the right with her sister Brigid.

In New York she worked as a maid in the same household as her Aunt. It was there that she met Alphonse Butscher who was from Guebwiller, Alsace, France. They were married on 4th of April 1882 in Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Mott Street in New York. They had three children; John Baptiste Lucien Butscher born 9 February 1883, Alphonse (Albert) Butscher born 31 January 1883 and Mary Bridget, born 12 March 1888.  Mary Bridget died 7 May 1895 aged 7.

Alphonse Butscher worked as a Chef in lower Manhattan and he died aged 32 on 21st January 1891. His death left a lasting effect on his 8 year old son John, who in later years recalled making his way through the heavy snow that hit New York that year to get the doctor. By the time the doctor arrived Alphonse had died. His death Certificate states cause of death as ‘Influenza’.

Mary (who was still remarkably beautiful) was now a widow.  In 1893, she married Thomas Radigan from Ballymahon, County Longford.  Thomas had known the Butscher family for several years and was fond of Mary’s children.  Mary suffered 2 still-births before giving birth to their only child Thomas Radigan born June 1897. The baby died on 10th September 1897.  The 1900 New York Federal Census lists Mary as having 7 pregnancies with 2 living children.

Mary died on 7th December 1903 aged 42 years. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York with her husband Alphonse, her children Mary Bridget Butscher and Thomas Radigan, her beloved Aunt Mary Donovan, her daughter in-law ellen Kenny Butscher, numerous  infant grandchildren as well as other family members in the 2 graves she purchased at the time of Alphonse’s death in 1891.

Mary left a lasting impression on her 2 sons and their love for her and all things Irish was passed down through subsequent generations. Mary was known for her luxurious long black hair.  A watch fob chain made out of her plaited hair as a wedding gift for her husband Alphonse in 1882  remains within our family as a treasured heirloom (see picture below) as does the large Crucifix (pictured on the right) that also once belonged to her.  Mary has more than 100 living descendants throughout the USA , Ireland and England.

Mary's siblings; Thomas, Patrick, Michael and Bridget Kinglsey along with their mother Jane emigrated from Broadford to Australia and the family thrived there as well. The New York  descendants and the Australian descendants still remain close after many generations.