My ancestors - McEllistrem - Contents

McEllistrem of Ballylongford, Co.Kerry

Spelling:
Universally spelt "McEllistrem" by the family in Ballylongford now, and they believe that is what was on the old shop door in Ballylongford (demolished 1957). They say it was NOT "Mac", always "Mc".
Other branches in Co.Kerry spell it "McEllistrim". Think "McEllistrim" is how The O'Rahilly spelt it in his son's middle name. Spelt this way in [Bourke, 1967].
"Mac Ellestrem" is on Richard's tomb at Lislaughtin Abbey in 1848 - the only contemporary record that we have from the family themselves.

• References:
  • "Mac Ellestrem" family grave, Lislaughtin Abbey, nr Ballylongford, Co.Kerry.
  • Papers of Aodogán O'Rahilly

  • McEllistrum family tree (or via here) by Mary Ann Hagen
    • She descends from McEllistrum of Co.Kerry (think Tralee area), who went to Ontario, Canada.
    • Start here. See all descendants.
    • She has also collected information on McEllistrem and McEllistrim.

Grave of Richard Mac Ellestrem, Lislaughtin Abbey.
See full size.
See also alternative shot and alternative shot (these two photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys).
Photos 2006.

McEllistrem (and many spelling variations) is thought to be a Norman family in Co.Kerry, adopting a Gaelic-style surname.
There was a "Castle MacEllistrum" in Tralee. These MacEllistrums were dispossessed of the castle in 1579-1604 [King].

[Mary Barrett, née Patt] said about our line: "the Mc Carthys, Mac Ellestrems and Scollards are all from Ardfert", Ardfert par, just NW of Tralee, Co.Kerry. (todo) who are the Scollards?

The McEllistrems of Ballylongford thought that the family of Tralee (presumably the family of Castle MacEllistrum) was the ancestor of 3 branches:

1. McEllistrem of Ballylongford.
2. "McEllistrim" of Ballyduff, Rattoo par, SW of Ballylongford, NW Co.Kerry.
3. "McEllistrim" of Ballymacelligott, Ballymacelligott par, just E of Tralee.

The name "Richard" is found in different branches in Co.Kerry (see below). This might indicate that "Richard" in the family goes back to a common ancestor in the earlier 18th cent or even 17th cent.
The Ballylongford line begins with:

Richard McEllistrem,
or possibly Mac Ellestrem,
of Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
poss. originally of Ardfert, nr Tralee, Co.Kerry,
born est c.1780,
mar Mary Mc Carthy, of Ardfert, nr Tralee,
ran big business, Main St, Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
shipping agents, post office and general store,
did not approve of dau Margaret marrying Rahilly,
all the business (including ultimately the post office) went with Margaret to Rahilly's shop,
chart of their descendants in [Family tree by Mary Ann Hagen] is inaccurate,
had issue:

1. Richard Mac Ellestrem, born 1805,
   spelt "Mac Ellestrem" on tomb,
   Mary Barrett (née Patt), writing to The O'Rahilly, described him as "your esteemed grand uncle",
   he would be "Richard McEllistrim" who sp the bapt of his nephew Richard Rahilly 1839,
   died 10th Aug 1848, age 43 yrs,
   bur impressive tomb, Lislaughtin Abbey, nr Ballylongford, a big vault, standing on its own,
   on which is written "In life esteemed and beloved. In death deeply and universally deplored.",
   [Family tree by Mary Ann Hagen] shows him with issue, but these are the issue of his brother Thomas.

   
   

2. Thomas McEllistrem, born est c.1810.

   
   

3. Margaret McEllistrem, born 1812, Ballylongford,
   note the connection of the Rahillys to the parish priest was through O'Sullivan, NOT through McEllistrem,
   her family didn't want her to marry him,
   they "eloped" to marry in Limerick,
   but returned to Ballylongford and set up shop (i.e. continued Rahilly family business),
   mar est c.1836, Limerick,
   not found in initial search of Limerick par records,
   to Michael Joseph Rahilly and had issue.

Close-up of grave of Richard Mac Ellestrem, Lislaughtin Abbey.
Photo 2006. See full size.

Must be related:

• "Thomas Mc Ellistrem", Lislaughtin, nr Ballylongford,
  listed as head of household in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852].

  
  

• James McEllistrem,
  farmer, of Drombeg, Galey par, nr Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
  illiterate [GROI],
  mar Bridget Hurly and had issue:
  1. Catherine McEllistrem, born 13 July 1865, Drombeg [GROI].

Wonder if some relation of Richard Rahilly's grandmother Mary Mc Carthy:

[Diary of Richard Rahilly] says: "I got ill on 1st May 1866 and was not able to go to business again until after my return from Dingle with Fr. Dan Mc Carthy - 18th June 1866"

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McEllistrim of Ballyduff

"McEllistrim" of Ballyduff, Rattoo par, SW of Ballylongford, NW Co.Kerry.

• Richard McElistrum,
  of Birhill(?), or Firhill(?),
  must be Heirhill, Ballyheige par, W of Causeway, NW Co.Kerry,
  mar Bridget Corkerin and had issue:
  1. Mary McElistrum,
     bapt 16th Feb 1807 [Causeway RC par records, i.e. civil parishes of Killury and Rattoo, NW Co.Kerry],
     sp Eugene McEgan(?) and Margaret Corall(?).

  
  

• John McEllistrum,
  farmer, of Ardoughter, Killury par, NW Co.Kerry,
  mar Mary Hickson,
  both illiterate [GROI],
  had issue:
  1. John McEllistrum,
     born 2 June 1865, Ardoughter, Co.Kerry [GROI], must have died young.
  2. John McEllistrum,
     born 12 Aug 1871, Ardoughter, Co.Kerry [GROI].

  
  

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McEllistrim of Ballymacelligott

"McEllistrim" of Ballymacelligott, Ballymacelligott par, just E of Tralee:
This is the political family. Supposedly distant relations, but no proven connection.
They turned up at the unveiling of the plaque to The O'Rahilly in Ballylongford in 1966:

• Michael McEllistrum, of Ballymacelligott,
  mar Margaret Barrett and had issue:
  1. Richard McEllistrum, bapt 28 February 1847 [Causeway RC par records].

  
  

• Thomas McEllistrim, born 1894,
  of the family of McEllistrim of Ballymacelligott, nr Tralee,
  FF TD for Kerry and Kerry North, 1923-69,
  see election record,
  died 1973, age 79 yrs,
  had issue:
  1. Thomas McEllistrim,
     born 1932, Boherbee, Tralee, Co.Kerry,
     FF TD for Kerry North, 1969-87 and 1989-92,
     Minister of State (Junior Minister) 1979-82,
     see election record,
     died 2000, age 68 yrs,
     had issue:
     1. Tom McEllistrim (and here),
        Thomas, born 1968,
        FF TD for Kerry North, 2002 to date,
        see election record.

     2. Anne McEllistrim,
        FF local councillor for Tralee, 2003 to date,
        see election record.

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Miscellaneous families from Co.Kerry

• Patrick McEllistrim, mar Catherine Kane and had issue:
  1. Richard McEllistrim, bapt 23 July 1781 [Tralee RC par records].

  
  

• Gerard McEllistrum,
  mar 22nd Aug 1797 [Tralee RC par records] to Joanna Wild, of Derrymore,
  wit Thomas Wild, Christopher Wild, Margaret Wild.

  
  

• Gerard McEllistrum,
  mar 17th Jan 1802 [Tralee RC par records], also duplicate entry under 26th Feb 1802,
  to Catherine Sweeny of Blennerville,
  wit Daniel Sullivan, Maurice Collins.

  
  

• James McEllistrum,
  mar 2nd Oct 1807 [Tralee RC par records] to Mary Commane of Ballynelly,
  wit Michael Commane, Thomas McEllistrum.
  He is prob. James McEllistrum, born 1787, mar Mary ----, emig post-1820 to Canada, had issue.

  
  

• James McEllistrim, of Buncurrig,
  mar Elizabeth Hurly and had issue:
  1. Richard McEllistrim, bapt 6 June 1849 [Causeway RC par records].

  
  

• John McEllistrim, of Arduaither,
  mar Mary Hickson and had issue:
  1. Richard McEllistrim, bapt 20 February 1851 [Causeway RC par records].

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• McEllistrum surname discussion forum

• This is sometimes considered to be the same name as McAlister:
  • McAlister surname discussion forum
  • McAllister surname discussion forum
  • Clan McAlister of America

  
  

• Google searches for Ballylongford with all likely spellings:

  McEllistrem McEllistrim McEllistrum	McEllestrem McEllestrim McEllestrum
  MacEllistrem MacEllistrim MacEllistrum	MacEllestrem MacEllestrim MacEllestrum
  Ellistrem Ellistrim Ellistrum	Ellestrem Ellestrim Ellestrum