Person Page - 21

     George WATSON was born circa 1853 in Co. Cork.¹ He married Fanny BARRER, daughter of George BARRER and Eliza MEE, on 26 January 1892 in Kilflyn, Co. Limerick, Ireland; witnesses: James Barrer and Joseph O'Connell.²
     
George Watson was a farmer. He was living at Monarnane, Milford, Charleville, Co. Cork at the time of his marriage. He was recorded in the 1911 census as a farmer living at Monarnane, Milford. Enumerated in the same household are Fanny (wife, aged 55), William (son, 18), George (son, 14), Margaret (daughter, 12) and Fanny (daughter, aged 9).^2,1

     Jacob MILLER was born circa 1848. He married Ellen BARRER, daughter of George BARRER and Eliza MEE, on 8 July 1890 in Kilflyn, Co. Limerick, Ireland; witnesses: James Barrer, John Barrer. He died on 4 October 1908 in Limerick Infirmary.¹
     
Jacob Miller was a Farmer. He was living at Ballycahane, Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick, Ireland at the time of his marriage in 1890.

     William Henry BAILEY married Mary BARRER, daughter of George BARRER and Eliza MEE, on 23 March 1897 in Kilflyn, Co. Limerick, Ireland; witnesses: John Bailey, Henry Bailey.
     
William Henry Bailey was a Farmer. He was living at New Park, Effin, Co. Limerick, Ireland at the time of his marriage in 1897.

     John Courtney FRENCH was born between 1882 and 1883; aged 53 at the time of his marriage in 1936.¹ He married Eveleyn Olive SMYTH, daughter of George SMYTH, on 8 October 1936 in Register Office, Bristol, England; Witnesses: H.G. Hunt and R.Richards.¹
     
John Courtney French was a Policeman in the Royal Irish Constabulary. In 1908 he received a first-class favourable record and £5 for brave conduct displayed when attacked when on patrol with Sergeant Oates. He was recorded in the 1911 census as a Constable in the RIC Barracks, Dunlo Street, Ballinasloe; the barracks housed 15 constables, an acting sergeant, two sergeants and a head constable at the time. He was recorded on the official list of favourable records (Good Police Duty, Class III) in 1918.

He emigrated to England and was living 38 Upper Cranbrook Road, Bristol, England at the time of his marriage in 1936.
A Courtney Tunbridge was witness at his father's wedding, which may be the origin of his middle name.^2,3,1

     Eliza FRENCH was born on 7 March 1867 in Headford, Co. Galway, Ireland.¹

     Anne FRENCH was born on 20 May 1873 in Moyrus, Co. Galway, Ireland.¹ She married Joseph Thomas HIGGINS, son of Frederick HIGGINS and Frances Anne MOONEY, in 1895 in Clifden Registration District.² She died in 1957.³
     
Anne French was the mother of the Irish poet F.R. Higgins

She was enumerated in the 1911 Ireland census at 20 Clarence Street North, Dublin, and was recorded as having had 6 children by that date, with 5 still living.⁴

     Robert FRENCH was born on 30 July 1868 in Moyrus, Co. Galway, Ireland; mother's maiden name given as McGee, father's profession as Constable R.I. Constabulary.
     
He is possibly the Robert French of Galway who enlisted in 1886 aged 17.

     Joseph Thomas HIGGINS was born circa 1863 in Co. Meath, Ireland. He married Anne FRENCH, daughter of Robert FRENCH and Eliza MAGEE, in 1895 in Clifden Registration District.¹ He died on 27 July 1930 in 81 Brian Avenue, Croydon Park, Fairview, Dublin.² He was buried on 29 July 1930 in Laracor churchyard, Trim, Co. Meath.²
     
Joseph Higgins was a Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and lived at Higginsbrook, County Meath.
He was recorded in the 1911 Ireland census as the head of household at 20 Clarence Street North, Dublin and described as an R.I.C. Pensioner. He was enumerated with his wife Annie, sons Frederick R., Joseph A. and William M., and daughters Frances Anne and Emily D.E.^3,4

     Frederick Robert HIGGINS was born on 24 April 1896 in Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland. He married Beatrice May MOORE, daughter of James MOORE and Elizabeth McDOWELL, on 3 August 1921.² He died on 8 January 1941 in Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, at age 44.³ He was buried in Laracor Church, Co. Meath, Ireland.
     
Frederick Robert Higgins was a Poet, Playwright and managing director of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. He was the eldest of nine children. He published four volumes of poetry: Island Blood (1925); The Dark Breed (1927); Arable Holdings (1933); and The Gap of Brightness (1940). One of his better known poems, from the last volume, is 'Father and Son'. Following his death, the Irish Times published several notices, obituaries and tributes.^2,3

     Beatrice May MOORE was born circa 1897 in Dublin City.² She married Frederick Robert HIGGINS, son of Joseph Thomas HIGGINS and Anne FRENCH, on 3 August 1921.³
     
Beatrice May Moore was the only daughter of James Moore and Elizabeth McDowell. She was a well-known harpist.

     Eveleyn Olive SMYTH was born circa 1897 in Co. Kerry.^1,2 She married John Courtney FRENCH, son of Robert FRENCH and Eliza MAGEE, on 8 October 1936 in Register Office, Bristol, England; Witnesses: H.G. Hunt and R.Richards.¹
     
Eveleyn Olive Smyth was recorded in the 1911 census of Ireland in her father’s household at Church Street, Tarbert, Co Kerry. She was living at 38 Upper Cranbrook Road, Bristol, England at the time of her marriage in 1936.^2,1

     Thomas MAHONEY was born on 4 June 1860 in probably Allenwood, Co. Kildare, Ireland.^1,2 He died on 13 March 1946 in Upper Sunville, Co. Limerick, Ireland, at age 85.³ He was buried on 15 March 1946 in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, Ireland.⁴

     Margaret MAHONEY was born on 28 February 1864 in Allenwood, Co. Kildare, Ireland. She married Francis NAYLOR, son of Joseph NAYLOR and Agnes SHINE, on 13 August 1890 in St. Michaels Church, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She died on 27 May 1906 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at age 42.¹
     
Margaret Mahoney was living in Kilfinane in February 1882, when she was the informant of the birth of her niece Margaret Winters. She emigrated in 1885 to Australia. She was living in Upper Sunville in January 1885, when she was the informant of the birth of her niece Georgina Jane Winters.

She emigrated in 1885; she was 21 years old when she departed from Plymouth and arrived in Sydney on board 'Belgic II' on 12th September 1885 as an assisted immigrant. She apparently travelled alone as there are no other Mahony relatives on board.

Note: 'Belgic II' was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast and launched on 3rd January 1885. It was owned by the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company (more commonly known as the White Star Line). 'Belgic II' was a steamer of 4212 gross tons, a length of 420ft 4in, a beam of 42ft 5in and a service speed of 14 knots with one funnel and four masts. She was on the Pacific service from 1885 to 1898.^2,3,4

     Anne (-) was born before 1800. She married Joseph MEE.

     Rebecca MEE was born in 1819 in Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

     Joseph MEE was born in 1824.

     Richard MEE was born in 1830.

     Joseph MEE was born in 1833.

     Catherine LEGONNIER married Joseph MEE in 1838.
     
It is conjectured that Catherine is the 2nd wife of Joseph Mee.

     Mary MEE was born in 1839 in Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland.