Person:Eliza Cleary (1)

Eliza Cleary was baptised on 24th February 1853 at Monasterevin in County Kildare, the fourth of six children of a blacksmith named Maurice Cleary and his wife Alice (known as Ally) Dunne. Eliza never married and appears to have stayed in Monasterevin her whole life. Her father had his smithy at Skirteen, to the west of the town on the opposite side of the River Barrow.

Eliza's mother Ally died in 1872, when Eliza was 19. Eliza's father Maurice outlived his wife by over twenty years, dying in 1893, aged 81. Eliza's brother Thomas appears to have taken over his father's trade, working as a blacksmith at Skirteen. Eliza continued to live at Skirteen with her brother Thomas, who also never married.

In 1898, Eliza's sister Bridget Doyle died, shortly after giving birth. Bridget's three surviving sons, then aged from about eight down to newborn, came to live at Monasterevin with Eliza and her brother Thomas. The 1901 and 1911 censuses find Eliza and Thomas living with the Doyle boys and also with a lodger named Thomas Balfe. The three Doyle boys all later moved to England.

Eliza died on 31st August 1928, aged 75. Her death certificate describes her as a farmer. She was buried alongside her sister Mary and Mary's husband John Reid, who died two days after Eliza. John and Mary's son Joseph and his wife Mary were later to be buried in the same grave.

1. ↑ Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland. Catholic Parish Registers.

   1853 / Feb[ruar]y / 24 / B[aptized] Eliza of Maurice Clary and Ally Dunne / Sp[onsors] Pat Conlon and Margaret Riede / Skirteen

   Handwriting is badly faded - sponsors' names in particular may not be transcribed correctly.

2. ↑ Census Office. Ireland Census 1901. (National Archives of Ireland)
   County: Kildare, District Electoral Division: Monasterevan, Parish: Monasterevan, Townland or street: Skirteen, 31 Mar 1901.

   Form A (about the family):
   Thomas Cleary, head, Roman Catholic, Read & write, 48 [1852/3], male, Blacksmith, not married, b. Co. Kildare, speaks English
   Eliza Cleary, sister, Roman Catholic, Read & write, 44 [1856/7], female, Housekeeper, not married, b. Co. Kildare, spearks English
   Thomas Balfe, boarder, Roman Catholic, Read & write, 33 [1867/8], male, Blacksmith, not married, b. Dublin City, speaks English
   Joseph Doyle, nephew, Roman Catholic, Read & write, 11 [1889/90], male, Scholar, not married, b. Dublin City, speaks English
   James Doyle, nephew, Roman Catholic, Read, 5 [1895/6], male, Scholar, not married, b. Dublin City, speaks English
   John Maurice Doyle, nephew, Roman Catholic, Cannot read, 3 [1897/8], male, not married, b. Dublin City, speaks English
   Form B (about the house):
   Private dwelling
   4 outbuildings
   Walls of stone, brick or concrete
   Roof of thatch, wood or other perishable material
   2 rooms
   2 windows in front of house
   1 family living there

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Census Office. Ireland Census 1911. (Dublin: National Archives of Ireland)
   County: Kildare, District Electoral Division: Monasterevan, Parish: Monasterevan, Townland: Skirteen, 2 Apr 1911.

   Form A (about the family):
   Thomas Cleary, head, Church of Rome, Read & Write, male, 64 [1846/7], Blacksmith, single, b. Kildare, speaks English
   Elizabeth Cleary, sister, Church of Rome, Read & Write, female, 60 [1850/1], single, b. Kildare, speaks English
   Thomas Doyle, brother in law, Church of Rome, Read & Write, male, 66 [1844/5], Policeman Retired, widower, b. Kilkenny, speaks English
   Maurice Doyle, nephew, Church of Rome, Read & Write, male, 13 [1897/8], Scholar, single, b. Dublin, speaks Eng & Irish
   Joseph Doyle, nephew, Church of Rome, Read & Write, male, 21 [1889/90], Labourer, single, b. Dublin, speaks Eng & Irish
   Thomas Balfe, boarder, Church of Rome, Read & Write, male, 39 [1871/2], Blacksmith, single, b. Kildare, speaks English
   Form B (about the house):
   Private dwelling
   3 outbuildings (stable, piggery and fowl house)
   Walls of stone, brick or concrete
   Roof of thatch, wood or other perishable material
   2 rooms
   2 windows in front of house

4. ↑ Monumental Inscription at Passlands Cemetery, Monasterevin.

   IN LOVING MEMORY OF / MARY REID. COOLE / WHO DIED SEPT. 30TH 1927 / AGED 80 / ALSO JOHN REID WHO DIED / 2ND SEPT. 1928 AGED 81 / AND ELIZA CLEARY WHO / DIED 31ST AUG. 1928 AGED 76 / MARY REID DIED 3RD MAY 1952. / JOE REID DIED 29TH OCT. 1953

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Death register, in General Register Office of Ireland. Civil Registration.

   1928 DEATHS Registered in the District of Monasterevan in the Union of Athy in the County of Kildare
   No. 451
   Date and Place of Death: 1928 August Thirty first, Skirteen
   Name and Surname: Elizabeth Cleary
   Sex: F
   Condition: Spinster
   Age last Birthday: 63 years
   Rank, Profession, or Occupation: Farmer
   Certifie Cause of Death and Duration of Illness: Apoplexy 14 Days Certified
   Signature, Qualification and Residence of Informant: Maurice Doyle, Skirteen, Present at Death
   When Registered: September Fifth 1928
   Signature of Registrar: K. Rangan, Ass[istan]t Registrar