Glasnacree to Washington

From Glashnacree to Washington DC.

Angela Quill Henderson

The search for my family history began in the year 2000. Perhaps it was the beginning of a new millennium or else the approach of another birthday that made me decide to keep a record of my ancestry. On a visit to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Lyreacrompane I climbed the spiral staircase to view the stained glass windows that were supposed to have a connection with my family. The magnificent colours were particularly vivid on that day. I tried my best to take photos – one step too far and I would end up on the floor below!

The inscriptions led me to names I had only barely remembered my uncle Mike talking about. I decided I would try to find out about these people; where did they go and where were they buried? The window inscriptions refer to Laurance Quill, his siblings Johanna, Julia, Nellie, James, Margaret and Mary. I knew that some had immigrated to the States during the middle of the 1800s so, when we got a computer I started my quest.

On joining a genealogical website I was able to find Census records, data on immigration dates and even the names of two ships that carried my ancestors to, probably, a better life on the other side of the ocean. Laurance had become a policeman in Washington DC and the siblings were all in the general area as well. Through the internet I was able to contact a cemetery in Washington that had records of Laurance, Johanna, Nellie and Mary.

I wondered if one day I could make the trip to see the plot for myself! Little did I know that my wish would come true sooner than I had imagined! 2003 saw me arriving in Washington, going to Mount Olivet Cemetery and actually touching the monuments that read:

- Laurance Quill, a native

of Glashnacree, Co Kerry, Ireland, died 23 June 1916.

– Julie Quill McCarthy, a

native of Glashnacree, Co Kerry, Ireland, died August 14, 1914

– Ellen A Quill, a native

of Glachnacree, Co Kerry, died January 20, 1923.

Johanna died on March 8, 1943 and is also buried in the same plot but, unfortunately there is no inscription for her. All were single except for Julia but she left no issue.

Another sibling, Daniel, also settled in Washington and worked as an attendant at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he was joined by Laurance in later years. Daniel did return to Ireland in 1900 and married Ellen McElligott from Coolnaleen on February 6, 1904. Unfortunately he died quite young in 1913. Timothy remained on the farm and married Bridget Reardon of Knocknaglough, Lyreacrompane on February 2, 1915. Later they moved to Ballybunion c. 1938 with my father Timothy, sisters Hannai Mai and Margaret (Peggy) and brother Michael. Only one survives today, namely my Uncle Mike, in his 80s and now living in Nottingham in England. The cemetery in Kilshinane is the resting place for siblings Daniel, and Timothy. Two headstones mark the memory of a family that are scattered from Glashnacree to Washington DC.