My ancestors - Foley - Contents

Lynch

• References:
  • Will of Andrew Lynch, dated 1 Oct 1879, in Limerick District Will Books, 1858-1888. See larger. From here.

Andrew Lynch, Mungret St, is listed under "provision dealers" in [Slater's, 1856, p.310].
Note also Andrew O'Mara and James O'Mara on the same street.

Andrew Lynch,
born 1806.
He was a provision merchant in Limerick city.
He is called "Uncle Andy" by Stephen O'Mara in letters.

He mar 1836, Limerick, to Mary Foley [born 1814].
There is an A. Lynch of Roches St who is listed in "Spirit Retailers" in [Deane's Limerick Directory, 1838]. There is a "Mrs. Lynch" of Roches St listed in "Grocers". If this is them, they then moved to Mungret St and later back to Roches St.

Andrew and Mary lived Mungret St, Limerick.
They were clearly friends with Andrew O'Mara of Mungret St.
She would be "Mary Lynch" who sp the bapt of Andrew O'Mara's dau in Limerick in 1838.
"Andrew Lynch" sp the bapt of Andrew O'Mara's dau in Limerick in Jan 1841.
In Oct 1841, Mary's sister Honora married Andrew O'Mara's brother James O'Mara.

"Andrew Lynch" is listed on Mungret St in Griffith's Valuation, 1850. Andrew and Mary are at plot no.30. They are leasing from James T. Wilkinson. They are right beside Mary's sister Honora Foley and her husband James O'Mara at plot no.28. Andrew O'Mara is also on Mungret St.
"Mary Lynch" sp the baptism of John O'Mara 1852.
Andrew Lynch, Mungret St, is listed under "provision dealers" in [Slater's, 1856, p.310].
His daughter is listed as living Mungret St at death, Dec 1858.
"Mary Lynch" sp the baptism of Honora O'Mara 1860.

Move to Roches St: He moved his business and residence to Roches St, Limerick, by 1870.
Andrew Lynch, provision merchant, 33 Roches St, Limerick, listed in [Slater's, 1870].
"Andrew Lynch" sp the baptism of James O'Mara 1873.
Andrew Lynch, provision merchant, 33 Roches St, Limerick, listed in [Bassett's, 1875] to [Bassett's, 1880], and [Slater's, 1881].
Andrew Lynch, grocer, and Wine & Spirit Dealer, 1 Wickham St, listed in [Bassett's, 1875] to [Bassett's, 1880], and [Bassett's, 1884] (the last one would be the old name on the business after his death).
His will dated 1 Oct 1879. He is provision merchant, of Roches St. Executors James O'Mara and Michael Cusack. Witnessed by Stephen O'Mara.

Andrew dies, 1882:
Living Roches St at death [burial record]. Listed as "provision merchant" at death [GROI].
He died 15 July 1882, 45 Roches St (address of his dau and son-in-law), age 76 yrs [grave],[burial record],[GROI].
See entry in [GROI].
He was bur 17 July [burial record] in Lynch grave at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.

In letter of 25 May 1888 from her nephew Stephen O'Mara (visiting America) to his wife, he says: "Give my love to Aunt Mary, and tell her I often go over the scenes of my youth when I was a wild scapegrace and she my only friend."

Mary dies, 1890:
She died Roches St, Limerick, 5 Oct 1890, age 76 yrs [grave],[burial record],[death notice].
Can't find death in [GROI].
See death notice in The Nation, October 11, 1890.
She was bur 7 Oct [burial record] in Lynch grave at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Andrew and Mary had issue:

1. Bridget Lynch,
   bapt 14 May 1839, St.John's, Limerick.
   "Bridget Lynch" sp the baptism of Jack O'Mara 1856.
   Living Mungret St, Limerick, at death [burial record].
   She died 4 Dec 1858, age 19 yrs [grave],[burial record].
   She was bur 5 Dec [burial record] in Lynch grave at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.

   
   

2. Mary Anne Lynch, born 1841,
   bapt "Mary Lynch", 16 Aug 1841, St.John's, Limerick.
   Just called "Mary" in father's will.
   She would be "Mary Anne Lynch" who sp the bapt of Anne O'Mara Feb 1855.
   "Mary Anne Lynch" sp the baptism of Jim O'Mara, Nov 1858.
   "Mary A. Lynch" wit the mar of Bridget O'Mara 1861.

   She mar 23 Mar 1863 [St.John's, Limerick] to Thomas Ryan.
   Mar wit by Timothy St. Laurence and Hanora Cusack. See entry. From here.
   Thomas Ryan sp bapt of Joseph O'Mara 1864.
   Thomas died pre-1883.
   Admin of Mary Anne's will says she was "grocer", of Wickham Street, Limerick.
   Burial record says she was living Roches St, Limerick, at death.
   She is listed as "wine and spirit dealer" at death.
   She died 1 Wickham Street, Limerick, of tuberculosis, 27 Aug 1883 [grave], [burial record], or 26 Aug 1883 [GROI], or 28 Aug 1883 [admin], age 42 yrs.
   See entry in [GROI]. Death reported by her 1st cousin Stephen O'Mara.
   "Mary A. Ryan" bur 30 Aug 1883 in Lynch grave at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
   Will pr 13 Dec 1883. See admin from here. Estate of £1210. Executors Thomas Ray and Stephen O'Mara.
   Mary Anne and Thomas had issue:

   1. Mary Ryan, named in grandfather's will 1879.
   2. Bridget Ryan, named in grandfather's will 1879.

   
   

3. Catherine Lynch,
   bapt 21 Aug 1845, St.John's, Limerick,
   must have died young [there is another Catherine].

   
   

4. Kate Lynch,
   Catherine, bapt 22 July 1848, St.John's, Limerick, sp James O'Mara and Bridget Duffy.
   See bapt entry from here.
   Catherine Lynch sp bapt of Joseph O'Mara 1864.
   She was living Roches St, Limerick, at mar.
   Kate's parents were not at first happy about her marriage:
   Her 1st cousin Stephen O'Mara writes two letters on 8 July 1875 to his wife, and says that Kate's parents oppose her marriage to Michael Spain, a draper. Kate has asked Stephen to help convince her parents to give consent. Stephen says: "I may as well tell you that I don't care about Spain, but Kate seems and is very fond of him, and for her sake I will leave no stone unturned". In the second letter, Stephen writes: "I have seen Mr. Lynch and he even is worse than Aunt Mary. He does not like drapers as a body, nor like any one of them individually".
   Letter of 27 July 1875 reports a breakthrough. The parents gave Spain a meeting. Stephen writes at length describing Spain's nervous state and interview. The parents finally consented.
   Stephen's mother gives him credit: "My mother says I am a second Peg Stapleton, the St.Mary's parish match maker."

   Kate mar 17 Aug 1875 to Michael Spain [bapt 25 Apr 1847] and had issue.
   They mar at St.Michael's, Limerick [GROI]. Mar wit by Thomas Joseph Lalor and (1st cousin) Margaret O'Mara.
   See church entry from here.
   Whatever about early misgivings, by the time of Andrew Lynch's will 1879 he is asking that the business be carried on after his death by his son-in-law Michael Spain.

Mary Foley's nephew Stephen O'Mara writes an undated letter (of around 1877) to his wife in which he recalls her in Lynch's store before they married (before 1867). This would be his uncle Andrew Lynch's store.
"although these latter years I have got more worldly and have lost a great deal of the romance of my earlier life, I am as much in love with my wife today as I was ten years ago with Ellen Pigott, standing in Mr. Lynches store of a Sunday morning, watching and listening for her knock on the chimney or her step in the conservatory."
See full size.

Baptism of Kate Lynch, 22 July 1848.
From here.

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Ryan of New Zealand

• There is an undated letter to Stephen O'Mara from his "nephew" Mr. (illegible) Ryan in New Zealand.
  • The address is c/o Mr. M. Ryan, (illegible) Hotel, Napier, New Zealand.
  • The letter says he lived in Sydney, Australia, but is now in New Zealand.
  • He writes to "Uncle Stephen". He signs it from "Your affec[tionate] nephew". He asks about Stephen's wife as "Aunt Ellen".
  • He asks about "Uncle James" (so the letter is before 1893) and "Aunt Poll" and "Aunt Katie" and "Uncle Dick"
  • Could this be a son of Stephen's (and Poll's and Katie's) 1st cousin Mary Anne Lynch who married Ryan? And he calls them uncles and aunts rather than 1st cousin once removed? We do not know who Ryan is otherwise.
  • He also says "Mick is over here with me". Probably his brother, and the person in the address.

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Lynch / Spain / O'Mara grave

Lynch / Spain / O'Mara grave, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Location: Lat. 173 to 183, Long. Qa to Qb.
Go through gate, up towards chapel, go past the main O'Mara graves, then on LHS a bit before path junction, in a bit.

• Also buried for some reason in this grave is:
  • Patrick Mulcahy, born 1834.
    Living Listowel, Co.Kerry, at death [burial record].
    He died 27 Mar 1860, age 26 yrs.
    He was bur 29 Mar 1860 at Mount St. Lawrence.

Lynch / Spain / O'Mara grave at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. See larger and full size and similar shot.

Andrew Lynch grave (LHS of this stone) and Margaret O'Mara grave (RHS of this stone).
Close-up of Lynch / Spain / O'Mara grave. Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. See larger and full size.

Mary Foley's tombstone.
Close-up of Lynch / Spain / O'Mara grave. Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. Detail of image above. See full size.

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Protestant Andrew Lynch

In St.John's (CoI) churchyard, Limerick, is a gravestone erected by an Andrew Lynch to his wife Elenor Kenedy.
There is no evidence of a connection, just that the first name "Andrew" is interesting.

The Andrew Lynch gravestone in St.John's (CoI).
Photo 2023. See larger and full size.
There is clearly a date for his wife's death, but that part of the stone is buried in the ground.
(todo) See burial register.

• See location of Lynch stone (Wilkinson grave on RHS). And closer shot.
• See photos before and after some clearing.
• All photos 2023.