An American Family History

Bartholomew Treahy and Bridget Moran married and had their children in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland.

Eliza Treahy Griffin was born in 1826. Catherine Elizabeth Treahy Cleveland Copley was born in 1827, John Bartholomew Treahy was born in 1829. Helen Treahy Flynn was born in 1831. Anne Treahy (Sister Mary Lawrence) was born in 1834. Patrick Joseph Treahy was born about 1836.

In 1827 Batt Trehy appeared in the Tithe Applotment Book of Lismakeery, Lismakeery, Limerick, Ireland. It was a unique land survey taken to determine the amount of tax payable by landholders to the Church of Ireland. Batt had about 31 acres which was worth about 39£.

In 1849 Batt Trehy and Bridget Moran were the baptismal sponsors in Askeaton for Michael Brick, Jr. the son of Michael Brick, Sr. (died 1886) and Mary Burns. Michael Brick, J. emigrated in the 1870's or 80's to Susqueahanna Pennsylvania as an Erie Railroad worker. His wife Margaret O'Dea Brick reportedly came to the United States "as a girl," but returned before 1886 to marry Michael at the Church of Cappagh in the Rathkeale district. Her parents were James O'Dea and Bridget Guerin.

They immigrated to Canada about 1851 or 52 and lived in St. David's Ward of Toronto. They were Roman Catholic.

In 1853 Anne became a Franciscan nun and served with the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. She died in 1859.

Bridget died in 1863 and Barthlomew followed in 1864. They were both buried at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery with their daughter Anne.

Patrick died of syphilis in 1876. Helen died of tuberculosis in 1877.

Askeaton is in southwest Ireland in County Limerick on the river Deel. It is about two miles upstream from the Shannon Estuary.

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery opened in 1855 and served working class Irish immigrants. It is just southwest of Yonge and St. Clair Streets in the middle of a city block. You enter through a small alleyway between two stores on Yonge Street.

The city of York was incorporated as Toronto on March 6, 1834. The city grew and developed significantly during the the 19th century. The Irish famine brought a large number of Irish immigrants to the city and they became the largest ethnic group. Toronto 1856

The peak period of Irish immigration to Canada was during the Great Famine between 1845-1849. Most immigrants went to Canada because the fares were lower. Ships that reached Canada lost many passengers and even more died while in quarantine. From the reception station at Grosse-Ile, most survivors were sent to Montréal. The typhus outbreak of 1847 and 1848 killed many of the new immigrants. An economic boom following their arrival allowed many men to work in on the expanding railroad, in construction, in the logging industry, or on farms.