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The Family of Patrick Higgins and Mary Sheridan Higgins

James Higgins (1884 – 1971)

James returned to Ireland in 1919 and took over the farm.  He married Catherine Donohoe (1894 – 1966), possibly while he was in the USA, as there is no record of the marriage in the Irish register. James continued to run the farm until the 1950s, when the land was sold to Bernard Curran and he and many of his family returned to the USA. He died in 1971.

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Their family included:

Maura (1920 – 1983) who married Bernard Mulligan and had sons Brendan, Desmond and Liam.

Elizabeth Olivia, (1921-1993)

Annie Teresa (1921- ?, twin to Elizabeth)

Patrick (1922 - ?). He attended the Latin School in Moyne and St Mel’s in Longford. He studied for the priesthood at St. Peter’s Seminary in Wexford and St. Meinrad’s in Indiana. He was ordained in Springfield Illinois on 8 June 1947. Joining the US Air Force in 1953 as a chaplain, he served in many US states and on assignments abroad in Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany and England.

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Rita (1925 -?) who married James Lee and had a son, Richard Mel

Peter (1928-1965) married Mary Jo Corrigan. He had children Elizabeth (Betty), Joan, Mary and Ciaran.

James (1931 - ?)

Thomas (1934 – 2011)

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Mary Higgins (1888 – 1935)

Mary was  a twin of Annie. She married Patrick Reilly and had daughters

Elizabeth, who married Seamus O’Kane

Mary Jo, who married P Higgins

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Annie Higgins (1888 – 1948)

Annie married Thomas Sheridan of Legga on 4th November 1915. It seems they were second cousins, as Thomas’ grandfather Bernard and Annie’s grandfather James Sheridan were brothers.

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Annie was appointed Junior Assistant Mistress at Moyne Female National School on 23rd April 1907, and remained on the staff until she retired on 24th August 1947. She was just 59, but she did not enjoy a long retirement. She may have been already ill, as she died on 21st May 1948 of stomach cancer.

Thomas Sheridan and Annie Higgins had the following children:

Anna May (1916 -1983). She married Joseph Mellor and lived in Bury, Lancashire, England

Kathleen (1918 -2008). She married Patrick Whitney, and lived in New York.

John Joseph (1919-1922) Died in infancy, cause recorded as pernicious anaemia.

Patrick (1920 – 2012) He married Eileen Murphy and lived in New York.

Kevin (1921 – 1997) He lived in Skerries, Ireland. Twin of James

James (1921 - 1978) He lived in Southampton, UK

Elizabeth (1923 – 2010). She married Myles O’Hara and lived in Toowoomba, Australia

Bernard (1924 - ?)

Thomas (1926 –  ?) He married Rita George and lived in Porthcawl, Wales.

Peter (1927 – 2014) He lived in Steeton, Yorks, UK

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Elizabeth  Higgins (1890 – 1979)

A few days after her sister Annie’s wedding, Elizabeth (Lizzie) married Patrick Kenny on 8th November 1915, in the same church. Patrick was from Miltron Glebe, just over the border in County Leitrim. His father James was a retired schoolteacher though he also seems to have had a farm, as Patrick’s occupation is given as ‘farmer’s son’ in the 1911 census. She died in Ohio on 17 Nov 1979.

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Patrick Kenny and Elizabeth Higgins had the following children:

John was born in 1916. He became a priest, and died in 1985.

Mary Jo was born in 1917. She married Edward Miller.

Eleanor was born in 1918. She married Joseph Keaney.

Elizabeth was born in Oct 1920. She married Con Blessing.

Francis was born in 1922. He married Vera? Galligan?.

James  was born on 15 Apr 1925. He became a priest and died on 12 Feb 1990.

Nancy.  She died in 1993. She married Sean McManus.

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Katie Higgins (1892 – 1938)

Katie married Patrick Boyle of Corglass. They had the following family:

John (1922 – 1995) He lived most of his life in London, and returned to Killeen in later life.

Bridget Mary (1923 – 1992) She married Frank Treacy

Kathleen (1925 -  ) She married David Jones of Dring and had children Marie, David and Rena

Patrick Joseph (1926 – 2020). He married Anna Maria (Pearl) Cadden and lived in Monaghan, They had sons Sean and Padraig

Terence (1928 – 1991) He married Margaret McInerney. They lived in London and had sons John, David and Peter

Peter (1929 – 1996) He worked in various parts of Ireland, notably for D.E. Williams Ltd. and the singer Josef Locke, and latterly lived in Granard.

James (1934 -  ) took over the family farm at Killeen. He married Eileen Carrigy and had sons Padraig, Seamus, Fergal and Noel.

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Possibly the twins, Mary and Annie                                      Katie and her husband, Patrick Boyle with son James              One of the Kenny priests, John or James

Moyne Girls National School 1926-27. Annie Higgins Sheridan is last right in the middle row. Her daughter Anna May is second left in the middle row.

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