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Gibbons/FitzGibbons and Conely or Kerrigan

John Henry Gibbons born Mayo County Ireland 9 Jun 1853 died Joliet, IL USA 12 Apr 1911. His father Thomas Gibbons mother Mary Connelly (aka Conley) also from county Mayo. John Henry emigrated prior to 1881 but I donÂ’t know how long before. John Henry emigrated to the Chicago area had 12 children with 2 wives. The 2nd child, oldest by the 2nd wife, was my grandfather Thomas Joseph Gibbons born June 29, 1882. Other children included Ellen Irene ( Nell) born March 24, 1893 and Ann born March 8, 1897. My grandfather, Tommy, went to work at US Steel at a very young age and worked there until he was 75. He became a railroad engineer. He married Henrietta Brown and had 10 children between 1913 and 1930 (Viola, John, Irene, Thomas Joseph, Eileen, Anita, Calvert E., Alvin, James (my father) and Phyllis Jean). They were all born and raised in Gary, Indiana which is near Chicago. Tommy kept in touch with his relations in Ireland up until his death November 21, 1968. Some of the Gibbons ancestors were from Westport. At least 2 emigrated --John Henry came first and then sponsored his brother Patrick (married to Margaret Kerrigan) between 1909 and 1913. They also possibly went by Fitzgibbons-- apparently because of the notoriety of some of their relatives. In the late 1680's, Thomas Gibbons was a highwayman and in the late 1790's John Gibbons was the only citizen of "Westport" Mayo Co. Ireland hanged for treaon for fighting with the French again the English. There is a song written about "Johnny Gibbons" of his fight & death. Any info on exactly where these people may have lived would be appreciated. Any information on the Kerrigan or Conley/Connelly families appreciated.

Posted by Gibbons, Elizabeth Ann(e) Eileen on Thursday 26 July 2012