Although we know many facts about Catherine Clifford, our 2x great grandmother, there are still questions to be answered: when did she emigrate to the U.S., and did her parents &/or siblings accompany her? Records give several possibilities, but no clear proof it's her. Also, we have been unable to locate a marriage record for her parents, Robert Clifford and Mary Torpey [(Torpy), b 1817, MItchelstown, County Cork)]. There are several Robert Cliffords, all the right age and in the right place, but no clear proof which one is our ancestor. The Torpey's thoughtfully left a wonderful paper trail of their predecessors. Unfortunately, the only other fact we know about Robert Clifford, other than his children's baptismal records, is from Griffiths Evaluation - he had a "house & garden" on James Street, Mitchelstown, Co.Cork. Coincidentally, in the 1901 & 1911 Irish Censuses, "William & Kate Clifford, brother & sister", lived on James Street, MItchelstown, Co. Cork. So, possibly, some relatives stil resided there at that time. Is there any possibility that we still have relatives in the area today? Are these buildings on James Street in MItchelstown stil standing today?
In New York City, Catherine's hopes and dreams ended sadly and tragically. She married a French Canadian immigrant and they had 4 children. One died at birth; another, a daughter, Laurine, died of tuberculosis at age 16; a third child, Jane, went out one day and disappeared. The family believed she was "kidnapped by white slavers". No trace of her was ever found. The only surviving child, Celestine, nee Lecompt, Walker, became our great grandmother. Both Catherine and her husband died in their 50's & within a year of each other from tuberculosis.
We would love if any pieces of Catherine Clifford's Irish family history could be filled in, especially regarding her father, Robert Clifford and her family home on "James Street" in Mitchelstown, Cork.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Feb 1846 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Date of Death | 30th May 1906 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Parents: Robert Clifford | VIEW SOURCE |
| Names of Siblings | 2 Siblings: William Clifford, bap. 31 Oct.1843 -RC - Mitchelstown Elizabeth Clifford, bap. 8 Sept.1848 - RC - James St, Mitchelstown | VIEW SOURCE |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Spouse - Thomas Lecompt | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mary Torpey/Torpy | |
| Place & Date of Baptism | 16 Feb.1846, Roman Catholic, "James St., MItchelstown, Co. Cork" | |
| Place & Date of Marriage | married 19 Oct. 1873, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | |
| Number of Children | 4 children | |
| Names of Children | , 1 surviving child, Celestine, nee Lecompt, Walker, b. 1883 | |
| Place of Death | Catherine died, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | |
