Th following is an excerpt from an E-mail I received from Brettne, a decedent of Bridget Tunney Rochford:

" My grandmother died when I was 21 and I hadn't yet begun to be interested in these things, I am sad to say. Right now I"m trying to cull what I can from her 2 remaining sons, my uncles Jack and Bob. 2 stories that I've always thought funny/interesting are 1) that when my grandmother and grandfather decided to marry, George had to convert to Catholicism. His family was English/Scottish and Protestant. In today's world that seems like no big deal, but in the 1930's it was still important. George converted and was buried in the Armstrong family plot (Sepulcher Cemetery in Illinois which is a Catholic cemetery. The thought was that my grandmother would join him at a later date. However, she remarried and changed her mind and is interred here in Austin, TX. Poor George the Protestant turned Catholic is alone in the Catholic cemetery which caused quite a rift between his sister and my grandmother. Another story involves moving to Texas. My Nana, Marguerite, moved to Bastrop,TX (Camp Swifter) in about 1947 when her husband, George Robert Taylor was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force base. She went to the butcher to get lamb for Sunday dinner and the butcher looked at her like she was crazy. No one ate lamb here. Sunday dinner meant roast, potatoes and carrots. She learned... Her husband George was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and she and her 3 young sons, ages 7,5 and 3 were to join him, when he became ill. He came home and died about 6 weeks later from cancer that had spread through out his body. We don't know the origin."

If you have any family stories your would like to share about anyone I have posted on previously, or any one you might want me to do a search on, Please drop me a line using the contact form and I will be glad to share your thoughts in a future post.

I want to thank Brettne for her comment on my last post. She is absolutely correct,, Mary Rochford did marry John, not Michael Armstrong.  I apologize for that error and am very happy and thankful to you, the readers for the valuable input.  Today we will take a look at  some more of John Tunney and Mary McNulty's  offspring.  You may notice I have not listed them chronologically.  I have placed the children that moved to the US a the end of the list as there is more information availabel on these Tunney children then on the rest.
  John Tunny married Mary McNulty in Swinford Mayo Ireland  on February 19,1862.  They had the following children:
Bridget Tunney b 11/25/1862 married John Rochford (see previous post)
Patrick Tunney B.1876 remained in Ireland on the family farm.  He was reportedly a great worker and a very religious man.  Patrick never married.
Joseph Tunney b 1881 married Attracta Goldrick and had 3 children; Harriet Tunney, Francis Tunney and Henry Tunney
         Harriet Tunney married Jim Peyton and had 7 children; Frank Peyton, Seamus Peyton, Mary Payton, Martin Peyton married Marie Bennan on 8/15/1977, Henry Peyton, Patricia Peyton and Geraldine Peyton
      Francis Tunney married Wynn, a girl form South Africa.  They moved to London
     Henry Tunney married Mollie, last name unknown.


Margaret Tunney  b. 1874 Married John McNulty and had 5 children; Patrick Joseph McNulty (who they called PaJoe), Jack McNulty, Tom McNulty, Sarah McNulty, Mae McNulty.
     "Pajoe McNulty married a Higgins, (first name unknown).  They had 4 children; Derrig McNulty, Terry McNulty, Raymond McNulty and Mary McNulty
     Jack McNulty married Kate Keane.  They moved to Sligo.  No additional information is available at this time.
    Tom McNulty married Nora Melvin.  They moved to Shrone Ireland where they had 5 children, names unknown.  Some of the children settled in England, others remain in Killasser Mayo Ireland.
     Sarah Ann McNulty married Jack Fox.  No additional information is available on this family at this time.
    Mae McNulty Married a Mr Nilan (first name unknown) and settled in Ballina, Mayo Ireland.  There is no additional information available on this family at this time.


Kate Tunney b.1872 married Patrick Barry and had 6 children; Mary Ellen Barry,John Barry, Rita Barry, Kathleen Barry, Patrick Barry, Dan Barry.
      Mary Ellen married John Harrington.  They had 4 children; Eugene Harrington, Sean Harrington who joined the church as a Colombian Father serving in the Philippines, Joe Harrington, and Mae Harrington who married Patrick Shiels.  Patrick and Mae moved the the US and settled in Astoria Long Island New York.  They had one son, name unknown at this time.
     John Barry married a girl from Dublin, no further information available at this time
     Rita Barry married Andrew Cronnly from Killasser .  They moved to Dublin.
    Kathleen Barry never married
    Patrick Barry never married
    Dan Barry married Maureen Casey and had three children; Newla Barry, Pauline Barry and Gerald Barry



John Tunney b. Dec. 21,1876   married Katherine Regan.  They had 6 children; John Patrick Tunney, Mary Kate Tunney, Joseph Tunney, Annie Tunney,Peggy Tunney and Martin Tom Tunney.
     John Patrick Tunney never married
      Mary Kate Tunney married Joe Lynch.  They had 3 children; Lilian Lynch, John Lynch and Noel Lynch.  They moved to Sonnagh Charlestown Co.
       Joseph Tunney  married an nurse from county Clare, last name Norris.
        Annie Tunney moved to England and married, name unknown
      Peggy Tunney married Robert Ford, they had 3 children; 2 daughters, names unknown and a son Clinton Ford.  They lived in Red Deer, Alta, Canada
      Martin Tom Tunney married Mona Garvey and moved to England.  They had three children; Catherine Tunney, Mary Tunney and Marty Tunney.


Michael Tunney b. 1868 married Catherine Gallagher.  They had 4 children; Christina Tunney, Mary Tunney, Kate Tunney,and Michael Tunney.
      Christina worked as a nurse in Edinburgh Scotland.  She never married.  She was killed in an air raid shelter during the 2nd world war.
      Mary Tunney died in childhood.
     Kate Tunney married John price and emigrated to Canada.  They settled in Delisle Saskatchewan Canada.  They had 3 children; Michael Price who was living in Regina Sask. Canada, Christina price  who married Earnest Derbach.  They moved to Trinidad in the West Indies and had two sons., and Catherine Price who married Siegfried Langenau. They purchased a farm at R.R.3 Saskatoon Sask. Canada where they raised their two sons. John Price died in 1977, Kate was still living at that time.
    Michael Tunney married Sadie Healy.  They settled in Killasser Swinford Mayo Ireland and had 4 children; Christine Tunney, Brendan Tunney, Irene Tunney, and Michael Tunney who moved to England.


Honor Tunney b. 1866 moved to Chicago Ill. USA married John Heil.  They had two children; Elizabeth Heil and Roy Heil.   Honor Tunney, called Oni and later Annie moved to Corning NY with her sister Mary in or around 1889.  They had come to the US to work as house servants for Edward and Nellie Baines.  Nellie had worked for the Tunney family as a girl in Ireland so this was a good match as the girls would know someone when they arrived in the US.  Annie did not remain long in Corning.  When word came that her mother had died she returned home to Swinford .  Some years later Annie returned to the states and moved to Chicago Illinois where she met and married John Heil.  John was a German immigrant born Sept. 18,1873.  John immigrated to the US at the age of 8 in 1882.  He work for the Railroad as a baggage handler and worked his way up to Station Master.  He and Annie Tunney were married on March 1,1905. On  May 27,1906  they had their daughter Elizabeth Heil.  Elizabeth never married. She went to College and worked at the bank as a records clerk, living at home with her parents until their respective deaths. Elizabeth Heil died in Chicago on Sept. 30,1995.  On December 16,1908 the Heil's welcomed their son Roy Heil.  Roy  worked as a manger in the local grocery store.  He never married and, like his sister, he remained at home until his death on Jan 13,1985.  Honor Tunney Heil died in March of 1966.


Mary Tunney  b. 1863 moved to Corning NY married John Kneeland (Neilins).  Family report Mary Tunney having been born in 1863 but church records, immigration reports and census record indicate Mary was born in December of 1875.  She came to the US to work for a woman who had help Mary's mother around the house, Nellie Baines.  Mary did not stay long in the Baines household.  She met John Kneeland (original spelling on marriage license Neilins) shortly after she arrived in Corning New York  John was an adventurous irishman from Tyrone Northern Ireland.  John and Mary were married on October 15,1889. John work for the railroad as a fireman, stoking the coal fires on the steam locomotives.  The Kneeland's had three children; John Kneeland Jr. who died at the age of 4 from croup, William Kneeland and Mary Kneeland.  John Kneeland Sr. was killed in a railroad accident while working the night shift in the railroad yard.  He was run over by an incoming engine  on June 16,1908.  Mary Tunney  Kneeland died Oct. 5,1942. 
     Mary was fortunate to have her brother Tomas Tunney living in Corning and ready and willing to help her out after the death of her husband. Mary and the children lived with Tom Tunney and helped raise his growing brood after the death of his first wife.  Tom gave William Kneeland his first job, working on the Tunney grocery store on Market Street in Corning.  Young Bill drove the milk cart and delivered fresh milk door to door each morning.  
      William Kneeland b. Sept 26,1896, married Mary Ethel Keenan in 1922.  They moved to Buffalo NY where, on March 26,1926 they had their first of three sons, Thomas Francis Kneeland, who married Margaret Cronin and had 6 children;  Donna Frances Kneeland had a daughter, Colleen Kneeland , Colleen Kneeland married Jim Cedar and had three children; David Cedar, Jessica Cedar and Cati Cedar, Thomas Kneeland, married Gail McLaughlin.  They had no children,Daniel Kneeland (died in infancy), Mary Kneeland marreid Paul Coates and had four children; Michael Coates, Alexander Coates, Meghan Coates and John Coates,  Timothy Kneeland  who married Laura Goodnough and had four children; Adam Kneeland, Aaron Kneeland, Benjamin Kneeland, and Anna Kneeland.    After Ethel Kneeland's father died they returned to the Corning NY area where they had two more sons, William Kneeland, who married Suzanne Quinlan and had three children ; Mark Kneeland, died young, never married, Jennifer Kneeland married Bernie Janco, no children and Kathleen Kneeland, and Donald Kneeland who married Judy Zammet an dhad two daughters, Beth Kneeland and Kristine Kneeland
     Mary Kneeland b. Dec.27,1893  married Gerald Fleming on Sept. 8,1920.  They had three daughters; Mary Fleming, Marjorie Fleming, and Patricia Fleming. Mary Kneeland died August 5,1940.
      Mary Fleming b 1921 married Blaze John Delongo and had 3 daughters; Barbara Delongo, Patricia Delongo, and Virginia Delongo
        Marjorie Fleming B. Feb 10,1923, Married Joseph Crowley and moved to washington DC
       Patricia DeLongo b. 1927 died 1966 of multiple sclerosis (MS).  She never married. 

     Thomas Tunney b. November 16,1870 inDromada Joyce Swinford Mayo Ireland moved to Corning NY in 1891 to look out for his sister's Mary Tunney and Oni(Annie Tunney.  When he arrived in 1891 he discovered his sister Mary had already married and Oni was planning to return to Ireland.  Tom packed his bags and headed to Scranton PA to work in the steel mills.   Tom worked  in the mills in Lackawanna NY  near Buffalo and then returned home to Ireland. In 1900 he moved back to Corning NY where he went to work in a grocery store. When the owner, Mr.O'Connell died, Thomas purchased the business.  Tom met and married  married Mary Boyle on Oct. 6,1900  They had four children; Mary Evelyn Tunney b. 8/17/1903, Thomas Joseph Tunney B. 4/4/1907,Anne Tunney 8/5/1908,and John Like Tunneyb. 2/12/1910.    Mary Boyle Tunney died on December 18,1911.  Tom, left alone to raise four small children, turned to his widowed sister Mary Kneeland to help.  He moved Mary and her two children in and she took over the care of the house and child rearing, leaving Tom free to concentrate on growing his business. on September 5,1914 Thomas Tunney remarried Elizabeth Driscoll.  They also had four children;Timothy William Tunney b 5/30/1915, Joseph Paul Tunney b. 10/11/1916, Elizabeth Alice b. 1/6/1918, and gene Cornelius Tunney b. 2/16/1927.
    Mary Evelyn Tunney  Married Thomas Culligan and they had 1 daughter;Mary Anne Culligan
    Anne Tunney married J. Savvedria De Figueredo, the vice council of Portugal in New York City.He died in 1943.  She met and married Albert E. Thomas in 1946.  Anne never had any children.
    John Tunney married Helen Sutherland and they had no children.
    Thomas Joseph Tunney   married Virginia O'Shea in Rochester.  They had four children; 
    Timothy William Tunney married Doris Toohil in New York City on 2/10/1944 and had five children; Timothy Tunney, Michael Tunney, Eileen Tunney, Elizabeth Tunney and Ann Tunney.
     Joseph Paul Tunney Married Joan Tonery in Columbia South Carolina on 2/14/1942 and had two children; John Christopher Tunney and Susan Tunney.
    Elizabeth Alice Tunney never married
    Gene Cornelius Tunney  married Elizabeth Rangstrom in Elmira NY on 7/10/1954 and had 6 children;Thomas Cornelius Tunney, Elizabeth Ann Tunney, Bridget Mary Tunney, Kathleen Mary Tunney, Kevin Patrick Tunney and Gene Cornelius Tunney Jr.


   

Michael   Joseph  Rochford :   born August 12,1884 in Swinford Mayo Ireland.  Died January 1969 in Chicago Illinois USA.  arrived in the USA in 1907.  Michael met and married Marie Noone on Oct. 20,1920.  Michael  filed his draft card in 1942  during World War II.  On it he lists his birthday as being August 5,1885 and lists his wife Marie Rockford as his primary contact.  Michael did not serve in the war as he was too old and had a family.  Michael initially worked as an elevator operator but after his marriage he went to work as a motorman for the  street cars.  Michael and Marie had three children; John, Rita and Thomas Rockford.  After arriving in the USA several of the Rochford siblings took the American  spelling   of their names , Rockford.  
       John Rochford  was born in 1927.  He joined the priesthood and served as Pastor of St. Emeric's Catholic Church in Country Club Hills Illinois. Below you will find a nice write up about St. Emeric's which includes mention of Father John:
History Saint Emeric began in the late 1950's as a mission church of Saint Joseph in Homewood. But the people of Saint Emeric were a determined lot, and they began building their first church, with a great deal of help from the whole city, many of whom were not Catholic. The founding pastor, Father Stephen Ryan was appointed in 1960, when Saint Emeric became a parish in its own right. The patron saint of the parish, a young Hungarian prince who died in 1031 was chosen because of the youth of the parish. In fact, at the time, Country Club Hills had the second highest birthrate in the state!

In October, 1961, ground was broken for the current church and school, which was officially dedicated by Albert Cardinal Meyer on March 24, 1963. In 1963, Father William Mannion was appointed the first associate pastor, succeeded by Father Richard Bulwith in 1967. Father Ryan died in October, 1971, and was followed by Father John Rochford as pastor.

For twenty years, Father Rochford led Saint Emeric in the ways of faith. Assisted first by Father Dennis Roth, and later by Father Jeremiah Rodell, the parish continued to grow, especially through a program called Christ Renews His Parish. Other programs of spiritual development flourished, and Bible Study groups were formed. Father Rochford's years were marked by racial change in Country Club Hills. While many were threatened by this, others were anxious to welcome all believers to Saint Emeric. This is the greatest part of Father Rochford's legacy to our parish.

In 1991, Father Rochford retired and Father Paul G. Seaman was appointed pastor in March, 1992. In 2001, our school closed, but new ministries were developed. Among the initiatives begun under Father Paul was the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, for helping local families in emergencies; PADS, for sheltering the homeless; expanded Bible study; Disciples In Mission; Growing A Parish, a program of evangelization; the "Over 21" Club; the Peace & Justice Committee and an expanded social life for the parish. "The best part, "Father Paul said, "is that most of these ministries are lead by our deacons or the laity, they are making it happen!"

Working to touch as many people as possible, while still maintaining our family atmosphere, Saint Emeric works hard to bring the light of the Gospel to all people! 

Cardinal Francis George appointed Father Martin T. Marren as the new pastor of St. Emeric Catholic Church beginning June 27, 2004.
Fr. Marren the oldest of 10 childten, was born in 1958 to Luke and Eileen Marren. He graduated from Quigley South in 1976 and from Niles College of Loyola University in 1980 with a B.A. in Fine Art and English Literature. He studied Theology at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mudelein.
Fr. Marren was ordained in 1984 after serving a deacon internship at St. Bernadette parish in Evergreen Park. His first assignment was at St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn.
An artist interested in liturgical art, he painted "Echo of Freedom," the cover of the 1976 Chicago Telephone Directory, while at Quigley. He serves on the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and serves as art director on Upturn, the periodical of the Assiciation of Chicago Priests.
Fr. Marren is the fourth pastor at St. Emeric. 
http://stemeric-countryclubhills.myownparish.com/history.htm

   Rita Rockford ,born about 1924, married William R. Tarad in Chicago on August 26,1953. ( Information from the family indicate Bill's last name was Parad but the marriage license information indicate the last name was Tarad.)  Shortly after their marriage Rita became pregnant with their first child and they purchased a new home.  They were preparing to move into the their new house in anticipation of welcoming their first baby when Rita collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.  Rita died from a blood clot in the brain.  The doctors were able to save the baby, William Jr.  William was raised by widowed father. Bill Senior never remarried.

Thomas Rockford, born1926,  Married Henniatta ? and had one daughter, Mary Lou Rockford. Henniatta died around 1976 or 77.


Mary Rochford:  Born 10/10/1885 in Swinford Mayo Ireland.  Arrived in the USA at New York Harbor on June 10,1905 aboard the Lucania.  On her ship passenger list she stated she was heading to Chicago to live with her Aunt Annie Heil.  Mary moved in with the Heil's until she found employment and found herself a room to rent.  By 1910 Mary was living on her own.  Mary met and married Irish immigrant John Armstrong , born 1887, on November 13,1912.    Michael also immigrated in 1905.  He worked as a motorman for the Chicago street car.  Mary and Michael Armstrong had two children; Marguerite Armstrong born in 1915 and John Armstrong born in 1917.  Mary Died on June 4,1949.
    Marguerite Armstrong, born in 1915 married George  R. Taylor, born May 10,1909, on June 15,1937.  George worked as a clerk in the newspaper and completed 2 years of college before joining the military.  When he married Marguerite he was working 42 hours a week and making 1,300 a year.  George enlisted  on May 17,1942 and served as a Captain until his discharge on July 9,1947.  Marguerite and George Taylor had three sons; Robert Taylor, John Taylor and William Taylor.  George died on July 23,1948, a year after leaving the service.  Marguerite later moved to Austin Texas where she met and married Woody C. Baker on Oct.8,1971.  Marguerite died in 1987 in Austin, Williamson, Texas.


    John Armstrong, born 1916, work as an electrician prior to his marriage to  Mary Caffey (Marriage information spells last name as Coffey) on June 13,1942.   Shortly after their marriage John enlisted in the service on Sept. 14,1942. for the duration of the war and 6 months. At the time of his enlistment and had completed one year of college and was skilled in the occupations of manufacture of electrical machinery and accessories, n.e.c.e field of electronics. John and Mary had three sons; John Armstrong, Michael Armstrong and William Armstrong.



Bridget Rochford: Born in Swinford Ireland in 1888 followed sister Mary to America.  She arrived in the US in 1909 and, like Mary, she stayed briefly with her a Aunt Annie until she could find work and move to a room of her own.   In 1910 Bridget worked as a servant for the Hartford family of Chicago. On June 24,1914 she married Michael Joseph Leonard, born 8/6/1888 in Sligo Ireland.  Michael worked as a locomotive engineer for the Chicago Junction railroad.    Bridget and Michael had two children; John Leonard , born 1916 and Florence Leonard, born 1918.
  John Leonard married Katherine"Kitty Keating and had four children; Michael   Leonard, Jack Leonard, Kathleen Leonard and Robert "Bob" Leonard.  
      Michael Leonard married Peggy Fahey and had four children; Michael Leonard Jr., Catherine, Peggy Eileen and one whose name is unknown to me at this time.
        Jack Leonard married Linda Tomczyk .  They had no children that I know of.
         Kathleen Leonard and Robert Leonard there is no data for at this time.

Florence Leonard married John Shaughnessy and had six children; Mary Rita Shaughnessy, John Shaughnessy, Michael Shaughnessy, Joan Shaughnessy, Florence Shaughnessy, and Jean Shaughnessy.
     Mary Rita married Robert Freudenthal and had three children; Maura Freudenthal, Michael Freudenthal, and Brian freudenthal.John Shaughnessy married ( name unknown) and had at least one child, Bridget Shaughnessy.   Joan and Florence Shaughnessy were married ( spouses names unknown at this time) in a double ceremony on February 13,1977.

Patrick Rochford  remained in Ireland where he married Mary (unknown) and had two children; Beatrice Rochford and John Rochford.
    Beatrice married Jim Goldrick and had six children; Mary Rochford, Brendan Rochford, Martina Rochford, Decklin Rockford, Michael Rockford and Noel Rochford.

Sarah Rochford  , born 1890 in Swinford, mayo Ireland, traveled to the US with her sister Norah, arriving on April 29,1923 aboard the ship Caronia.  Sarah married Thomas McGaldrick.  They had no children.


John Rochford arrived in the US around 1939.  He  worked for the railroad and boarded with the Powers family of Chicago.  John  had his ankle crushed in a Rail road accident.  He lost his leg and spent a great deal of his life in and out of the hospital. He never married.


Norah Rochford, born 1900 in Swinford, Mayo Ireland arrived in the US with her sister Sarah on April 29,1923.
Norah married Michael McClarey and had five children; Thomas McClarey, Veronica McClarey, Rose McClarey,John McClarey , and Noreen McClarey.
    Thomas McClarey married Marion Schmidt and had four children; Thomas, Veronica, Rose, Mary Kay, Mary Rose, and maureen.
     Veronica McClarey married Jim Boylan and had five children; Jim Boylan Jr., Kathleen Boylan, Michael Boylan, Thomas Boylan and Timothy Boylan.
    Rose McClareymarried John Curran and had two sons; John Curran and Stephan Curren.
   John McClarey married Mary Ann Whitehead and had six children; John McClarey, Kevin McClarey, Barry McClarey, Michele McClarey, Michael McClarey and Jeffery McClarey.
   Noreen McClarey married John Sullivan and had six children; Janeen Sullivan, John Sullivan, Sharon Sullivan, Donna Sullivan, Stephen Sullivan, and Susan Sullivan.

Margaret Ann Rochford: remained in Ireland and joined the convent, becoming Sister Enda, 
 Sister Enda Rochford was stationed in London England.

Enda was a warrior-king of Oriel in Ulster, converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, an abbess. About 484 he established the first Irish monastery at Killeaney on Aran Mor. St. Enda is described as the "patriarch of Irish monasticism". Most of the great Irish saints had some connection with Aran.

Kate Rochford remained in Ireland and married at the age of 15.  spouses name is unknown to us at this time.

Thomas Rochford  Also elected to serve the church and joined the Brother's of Charity, becoming Brother Fintan.  He was stationed in Philadelphia PA, USA.

Abbot and disciple of St. Columba. Fintan was a hermit in Clonenagh, Leix, Ireland. When disciples gathered around his hermitage he became their abbot. A wonder worker, Fintan was known for clairvoyance, prophecies, and miracles. He also performed very austere penances.


Well, that wraps things up on Bridget Tunney- Rochford's family. Remember to like us on facebook and come back in a day or two when we will look at some of Bridget's siblings. Until then may the snow fall lightly upon your roof and your hearth be warm and welcoming.

THE TUNNEY CLAN –CONTINUED- The Tunney- Rochford families

Today we will begin our look at the children of John Tunney and Mary McNulty.  The eldest child was Bridget born 11/11/1862.  Much of the information comes from the daughter of Honor Tunney Heil, Elizabeth, who learned about her Irish family from her mother.  She knew and spent time with many of the people we will be talking about so this is a nice and fairly accurate picture of this family.

   Brigit was called Bessie by her friends and family.  As a girl she was sent to live with her maternal Grandparents, Mary Jeffers McNulty and John McNulty. While she was living there her Grandmother passed away and Bessie remained with her Grandfather and her maiden aunt.  When her aunt finally married Bessie was brought back to her parent’s home, though she did not want to leave her Grandfather.  She was much older than her siblings and, having lived so long away from home, she was more like a visiting teen-age relative than a sibling to them. She was unhappy in the home and wanted to return to Tierninny where her Grandfather lived but there was no room for her there.  She was in her late teens when a friend of her Fathers told him about a young man of excellent character who was interested in meeting and marrying Bessie.  A meeting was arranged and Bessie liked him so the marriage was arranged.

   In the meantime a young boy by the last name of Davaney professed to be in love with Bessie and vowed that he would not allow the marriage.  He threatened to kidnap her on the way to the church and take her for his own bride. Fearful that he just might make such an attempt, John Tunney arranged to have a large crowd of people to be with them at the church to protect Bessie and insure the marriage took place as arranged.  Devaney did indeed show up with a crowd of his own friends, intent on keeping his vow.  Alas for him, the Tunney crowd was larger and more resolved and so the wedding took place as arranged and Bessie became Mrs. John Rochford.

     John Rochford’s home was at the top of a mountain from which one could look out over the land.  Bessie could see her family’s farm from her new home.  The road up to the new house was very steep, so steep that a cart could not be pulled up it and so one had to leave their cart at the bottom of the mountain and climb up on foot.

   John Rochford had a farm but also worked in England and traveled back and forth often, leaving Bessie home to take care of the farm.  John Tunney and his sons helped Bessie with the hard labor.  When Bessie became pregnant shortly after her marriage, her father cautioned her about lifting heavy loads.  Bessie did not listen to him.  She was young and strong and thought she could do anything.  Unfortunately she soon discovered her vulnerability when she suffered a miscarriage of her first child.

    When she again became pregnant she was more careful and delivered a healthy baby boy; Michael Rochford .  Michael was happy, healthy and always hungry.  When he started walking and Bessie was expecting another baby, Michael was sent to live with John and Mary Tunney.  Honor Tunney recalled that she would often be woken by Michael in the middle of the night demanding food.  In order for anyone to get any rest Honor would have to scrounge around to find the boy something to eat each night.  This came to an end after Bessie’s second child, a daughter- Mary began walking.  One afternoon John Rochford stopped at the Tunney home on his way to town to check up on his son.  When he heard about the nightly meal he decided to take the boy back home and send his daughter in his place.  (Apparently this was a custom, though I am not sure if it was peculiar to this family or to the entire Irish people.  The eldest son was supposed to remain home and the eldest female was often sent to be raised by relatives, as Bessie had done with her own Grandparents.)  Mary was sent to live with the John Tunney family and remained there as a part of their family until she immigrated to the US in early adulthood.

   Bessie Tunney Rochford had 10 children as follows:

Michael Rochford- moved to Chicago Married Marie Noone

Mary Rochford- moved to Chicago, met and married John Armstrog

Bridget Rochford- moved to Chicago

Patrick Rochford- remained in Ireland and Married Mary.  They had 2 children; Beatrice and John

Sarah Rochford-moved to Chicago

John Rochford-moved to chicago

Nora Rochford- moved to Chicago

Margaret Ann Rochford – joined the convent became Sister Enda stationed in England near London

Katherine (Kate) Rochford- married at age 15 in Ireland

Thomas Rochford- joined the priesthood became Brother Fintan with Brothers of Charity- stationed in Philadelphia PA.

    When Mary Rochford reached adulthood she traveled to Chicago USA to stay with her Aunt Honor Tunney who had recently married the distinguished John Heil (more on the Tunney’s later).  Mary found work and moved from her Aunt’s home into her own apartment.  Birdget Rochford and Michael Rochford followed her lead and also settled in the Chicago area, staying at first with Mary, finding work and moving out on their own.  Mary met and married John Armstrong in Chicago.  Shortly after their wedding Sarah Rochford , John Rochford and Nora Rochford all moved to the Chicago area.

Michael Rochford moved to Chicago and married Marie Noone.  They had 3 children; John:.  John joined the church and became Father John Rochford. He was the Pastor of St. Emeric’s Catholic church in Country Club Hills Illinois.

Rita: Married Bill Parad.  While getting ready to move into their first home and welcome their first child Rita died suddenly of a blood clot in the brain. The doctors were able to save the baby; William Jr..  Bill Parad never remarried following Rita’s death.

 and Tom: Married Henniatta.  They had one daughter, Mary Lou.

Mary Rochford married John Armstrong in Chicago.  They had two children;

Margaret: married George Taylor and had three boys; Robert, John and Bill.  George Taylor served in the army and died shortly after WWII ended.  Margaret remarried Woody Baker.  They moved to Austin Texas. 

John Armstrong married Mary Caffer and had three sons; John, Michael and Bill.

Bridget Rochford ( Bridgie) married Michael Leonard and had 2 children; John and Florence.

John Leanord married Kitty Keating and they had 4 children;

 Michael Leanord: married Peggy Fahey and had 4 children; Michael, Catherine, Peggy Eileen, and one baby whose name is unknown to us at this time.

Jack Leanord: married Linda Tomczyk.  They had no children

 Kathleen Leanord , and Bob Leanord.

Florence Leanord: married John Shaughnessy and had 6 children; Mary Rita, John, Michael, Joan, Florence and Jean.

Patrick Rochford remained in Ireland, married Mary? and had 2 children Beatrice and John.  Beatrice married Jim Goldrick and had 6 children (Mary, Brendan, Marina, Decklin, Michael and Noel)

Sarah Rochford married Thomas McGaldrick.  They had no children

John Rochford worked for the railroad and had his ankle crushed in an accident.  He lost his leg and spent a great deal of his life in and out og the hospital.  He never married.

Nora married Michael McClarey and had 5 children ; Thomas, Veronica, Rose, John, and Noreen.

Well, that is a lot to digest for one day.  Stay tuned for more installments of this Tunney clan.  The Rochfords are clearly a Chicago branch of this large and interesting family. Imagine that  all of the Rochfords listed above and those still yet unlisted all generated from one Tunney sibling.  What a prolific family.     Next time will we try to add a few more facts and information of the Tunney -Rochford clan before moving onto the rest of the Tunney siblings.  If you happen to be someone from one of the Tunney branches drop us a line.  I would love to hear from some of the living relatives.  Until next time, May your days be filled with sunshine and your night be filed with laughter.

  The Tunney's originated in Swineford County Mayo Ireland, in the parish of Killasser.  

I am posting a brief history of the parish here taken from their web page at 
http://www.killasser.com/

The parish of Killasser is situated about one mile north of Swinford.

The parish takes its name Killasser from Cill Lasrach – the church of Lasair. Lasair was an eight-century Irish saint who built a church in Knockmullin townland. The parish is rich in archaeological field monuments with Court Cairns in Cartronmacmanus, Coolagagh, Cregaun, a crannog in Lower Lough Callow, nearly 200 ring forts and several Fulachta Fiadh (Bronze Age cooking sites.).

The oldest church ruins in the parish are in the townland of Killshesnaun. It was built by Sheshnan O Ruane, who was a descendant of the local chieftains the O Ruanes. According to local folklore Sheshnan was a handsome young man who enjoyed a good time in his younger life. As he grew older he changed his ways and went to Rome to beg forgiveness from the Pope. 
The Pope was impressed by this fine young man and invited him to take a seat and sit down. Sheshnan declined the offer until such time as he had confessed his sins. The Pope requested him to build a church in his own parish as an act of penance for his sins. This he did and he acted as its caretaker for the rest of his life.

The parish suffered a decline in population as a result of the famine and emigration over the years. In 1838 the total population was almost 7,000, while the present day population is only approximately 900. 
The area is renowned for its fishing waters in particular the Callow lakes which yield excellent brown trout and the world renowned River Moy for salmon. The Killasser area also boasts two fine visitor centres Carraig Abhainn Open Farm and Hennigans Heritage Centre.
complements of 
http://www.killasser.com


More history of Swinford Mayo Ireland:
The Famine and Swinford Workhouse

Swinford, Co. Mayo in the West of IrelandOverview
To See & Do
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The remains and site of the Swinford Union Workhouse should be of interest to visitors to the area. The front portion of the workhouse is now a hospital and is typical of all workhouses built at the time.

One of the best preserved mass Famine Graves can be seen at the back of Swinford Hospital, where 564 inmates were buried 'without coffin, without sermon, without anything which denotes respect for the dead', as Michael Davitt recalled in his book Defence of the Land League. The site of the Famine Grave is marked by a simple plaque bearing the inscription: Erected by the people of Swinford to the memory of 564 famine victims buried in this place. May they rest in peace.

The Poor Law Act of 1838 was an act 'for the more efficient relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland'. The principle of this act was that local property owners should alleviate local poverty. The country was divided into 130 Poor Law Unions, five of which were in Mayo. The Unions were funded by a system of levies known as rates. Under this system each property was given a rateable valuation. The valuations were determined in a scheme supervised by Sir Richard Griffith. The Griffith Valuations form the basis for the system of rates that exist up to the present.

Swinford Union was established on April 2nd, 1840. and had a Board of Guardians numbering 28 members. A six-acre site was obtained from Sir William Brabazon for the erection of a workhouse. The contract was signed on the October 16th, 1840 and the building was completed in February 1842. It had accommodation for 420 adults and 280 children. Collecting the rates proved to be difficult and this delayed's opening .It was officially opened on 26th March 1846 and the first inmates were admitted on 14th April 1846.

By the end of 1846 there was overcrowding in the workhouse with as many as 200 people per day seeking admission. The Board of Guardians responded by cancelling further admissions. Hundreds of men women and children roamed the streets begging for food, while others were forced to emigrate.

Influence on Michael DavittSwinford Workhouse was recalled by Michael Davitt in a speech before The Times- Parnell Commission in London in October 1889. He stated that as a child he travelled to the workhouse in Swinford with his family, but they were refused admission as his mother refused to accept some of the conditions imposed in those 'abodes of misery and degradation'.

He also remembered hearing from his mother how poor people from between Straide, his birthplace, and Swinford had died of starvation and had been buried in a mass grave. So vivid an impression did these events make on his mind that on a visit to Swinford some 25 years afterwards he went to the burial place without asking anyone for directions.

Conditions inside the workhouse were inhuman and degrading, discipline was strict and inmates were compelled to work without compensation. Death and fever were commonplace within the institution.

In 1847 Government policy began to change, the Soup Kitchen Act phased out institutional relief and the provision of Soup was introduced. Sir William Brabazon bought two houses for the establishment of soup kitchens. Relieving officers were appointed for the provision of aid to the able bodied. That same year fever sheds and temporary wards were erected giving accommodation for an extra 260 people. Plans were prepared by G. Wilkinson for a fever hospital.

In the years after the famine the numbers of inmates dropped and the workhouses became more 'the refuge of the sick, aged, infirm, illegitimate children and their mothers than the able bodied poor'. The famine showed the folly of over dependence on the potato and ushered in an era of high emigration.

In 1926 the remaining inmates were transferred to Castlebar where Sr. M. Berchmans took charge of them in The County Home. The fever hospital remained in use, dreaded by patients, visitors and staff. In the mid 1930's some of the workhouse and infirmary buildings were demolished. What remains today is what was the fever hospital (originally the administration building of the Union.) This part of the building has retained it's original features to the present day and is located on the Dublin road, exiting out of Swinford.



By Brian Hoban  http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/swinford/history/famine-and-swinford-workhouse.html




some pictures of the Swinford Ireland area for your viewing pleasure.

Joseph Tunney and Mary Judge were married in Swinford in 1834.  Joe was a farmer with 30 acres of land to work.  Joseph and Mary had nine sons. Those known to us are; John(born 1826), Tom,Anthony.  Tom settled in Bradford England.  Anthony married a Durkin and settled in Philadelphia PA.  another brother emigrated to Boston Mass.  John remained on the farm and helped his father.  He married Mary McNulty, daughter of John McNulty and Mary Jeffers, on February 19,1862.   Mary McNulty had at least one brother and three sisters,(James McNulty married ?Dugan, Honor McNulty married ?Gallagher and Katherine(Kitty) McNulty married ? Gallagher) 
John Tunney  and Mary McNulty  had the following children:
Bridget born 11/25/1862 ( maybe 11/11/1862)
Mary born  11/20/1863
Honor born 1866
Michael born 1/13/1868
John born 12/22/1876
Thomas born 11/16/1870
Katherine (Kate) born 1/5/1879
Margaret born  9/20/1874
Patrick born  2/26/1865
Joseph born 11/24/1869
Catherine 10/8/1872-(died in infancy)
James born 2/23/1881 (died in infancy)
  John Tunney was a hard working, proud farmer with 30 acres of stripe farm land.  In Ireland in those days the English still controlled the country  and would not allow an Irishman to own a 30 acre block of land.  Instead the land was parceled out into 1 acre stripes of a larger tract of land as depicted in the picture below:

each of these stripes of land was farmed by neighboring farmers.  A farmer with as much land as John Tunney was forced to spend long hours traveling around the country side each day in order to tend the various crops and livestock located on each of the various stipes.  The  cows were driven a distance from home each day to graze on the pasture in one of these stripes.
    John built most of he whitewashed stone home, barns and outbuildings himself.  While he had a large family he was also a man who insisted his children receive a good education and so he hired in help when needed rather than keeping the children back from school as most families did.  The family farm and homestead is still occupied by the Tunney family.  It is about three miles from the town of Swinford in County Mayo on the river Moy.  The house had two large bedrooms, one for the girls and one fro the boys and a "tent room" that John and Mary slept in.  A tent room was a small room added to the house large enough for a bed, the entrance of which was covered by draperies rather than a door.
    While John worked the fields and tended the cattle, Mary remained at home, cooking and cleaning, scrubbing the flagstone floors by hand, churning butter to use and sell, feeding the pigs, spinning flax grown on the farm into linen and making clothing for the children and linens for the bed and table hand sewn.  There was no sewing machine then to ease the load.  Sheep were raised for wool, which Mary spun into yarn and wove into clothing, and blankets.
   The Tunneys were devout Catholics and Mary made a special trip each year, walking 12 miles to visit the shrine of Knock  on the feast of the Assumption each August 15th.  Mary would stay at the shrine all night praying.  In her later years she  told her Granddaughter of one time that she visited the shrine, and spent the night praying and was blessed to see a blind man receive his sight .



The history of the shrine of Knock:
On the wet Thursday evening of the 21st August, 1879, at about 8 o'clock, Our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist appeared in a blaze of Heavenly light at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. Behind them and a little to the left of St. John was a plain altar. On the altar was a cross and a lamb with adoring angels. The Apparition was seen by fifteen people whose ages ranged from six years to seventy-five and included men, women and children. 

The witnesses described the Blessed Virgin Mary as being clothed in white robes with a brilliant crown on her head. Over the forehead where the crown fitted the brow, she wore a beautiful full-bloom golden rose. She was in an attitude of prayer with her eyes and hands raised towards Heaven. St. Joseph stood on Our Lady's right. He was turned towards her in an attitude of respect. His robes were also white. St. John was on Our Lady's left. He was dressed in white vestments and resembled a bishop, with a small mitre. He appeared to be preaching and he held an open book in his left hand. 

The witnesses watched the Apparition in pouring rain for two hours, reciting the Rosary. Although they themselves were saturated not a single drop of rain fell on the gable or vision.  http://www.knock-shrine.ie/history


  In the evening, after the days work was done and school was ended the Tunneys would gather together for supper and then John would take the children to dancing school.  The older children took dance lessons and the younger ones waited quietly, entertaining themselves in another room while John visited with the old folks.
   John enjoyed fishing and taught his children to fish the Moy river for salmon.  This was against the law set own by the British, but the farm followed the bank of the Moy for some distance and the fish were there for the catching.


I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of the Tunney clan of Corning NY.  Tomorrow we will take a look at the children of John and Mary Tunney.  

  welcome back everyone.  Sorry for the long hiatus.  Work has been busier than usual but I am back.  We will continue the medal of honor recipient post at a future date when it gets closer to memorial day 2015.  I had a recent E-mail from a woman inquiring about the Tunney family of Corning NY so I thought we could jump back into things with a look at this intriguing Irish family and see what we can dig up.  If any of you is a fan, friend or family member of the Tunney clan I urge you to drop me a line.  I would love to hear from you.  If you have any pictures to share, feel free.

    The Tunney's from Corning NY originated in Ireland in the small county of Mayo, township of Swineford.  They  were farmers.    Mary Tunney and her sister Oni  (Honor- called Annie) immigrated to the U.S. around 1889 to work as domestic servants in Corning NY.  Mary soon met and married a dashing young Irishman, John Neilins from county Tyrone Ireland.  John and Mary settled in the Corning area and had three children.  Oni met an enchanting German immigrant, John Heil and moved to Chicago where they too started a family.  Brother Thomas Tunny arrived a bit later, immigrating in 1900, also to the Corning area.  Tom married twice and had a very large clan.  Tune in tomorrow for more details about this family and the family they left behind in Ireland.