Things to do - O'Connell theory

The theory of O'Connell descent
The top theory is that:
- George Cashel's mother is a sister of Mary O'Connell.
- Or maybe Mary's teenage niece Ellen O'Connor.
- She has an affair in 1807-1808 with a Blennerhassett man.
- She gives birth in mid 1808. The baby is adopted and baptised in July 1808.

Henry Blennerhassett

Henry Blennerhassett, as (probably) the stepfather of the girl, and a close relation of the man, is likely to be highly involved in the case. He is most likely to have placed the baby for adoption.
Expand Henry Blennerhassett branch. Find letters, papers, sources.

List of surnames to search for for O'Connell theory:

One cloud over the theory of an O'Connell baby in 1808 is surely it should be easy to see in the O'Connell letters?
DONE: First pass of the main O'Connell letters for 1808. No mention of a sister of Mary (or anyone similar) giving birth in 1808.
So does this cast doubt on our entire theory? How could it not be mentioned?
Consider:
1. There are only a few letters for 1808 surviving. There may have been a weeding of letters.
2. There will be no letters when the couple are together, only when they are on the road and separated.
3. There is in fact no mention of any sister other than Elizabeth, even though we know at least one other sister existed.
[Bishop, 1999, p.3] notes the large gaps in the letters. No letters survive between Mary and her mother or her sisters.

O'Connell papers at NLI
- Done obvious ones.
Maurice Rickard O'Connell papers at NLI
- Done obvious ones.
Basil O'Connell papers at NLI
- Top priority - but not catalogued yet.
Search for (might be in UCD):
- Ellen Fitzsimon says Miss Tuohy is mentioned in a letter from Daniel O'Connell, 13 April 1806, from Cork.
Events:
- Richard Francis Blennerhassett duel with Daniel O'Connell's brother, John O'Connell, Jan 1813.
- Rowan Cashel trial, Mar-Apr 1816. Defended by Daniel O'Connell.

See originals:
- Ellen Blennerhassett will summary. Irish will register 1836.
- Rickard O'Connell will summary. Irish will register 1835.
Will of Rickard O'Connell, 1799 or 1800, must exist.
DONE: New surnames in Testamentary index (wills card index)
Not found:
- Henry Blennerhassett will existed, 1816. Not found in NAI index. Would be burnt in 1922.
- Ellen O'Connor died unmarried in 1859. Do not know if will existed. No will/admin found in 1859/1860 books.

Bishop funeral 1828.
Kitty Tuohy in 1806 newspapers
- DONE: Searched Tuohy in 1806 in Irish Newspaper Archives.
- To do: See original Limerick Chronicle.
- To do: Other Limerick, Kerry, Munster newspapers.

O'Connell grantor deeds
DONE first pass of 1806 to 1829.
Looking for O'Connell grantor to Blennerhassett, Cashel, O'Mara, Tuohy, etc.

Basil O'Connell in letters of Mar-May 1969 says there was a marriage settlement of November 1803 when Ellen O'Connell married Henry Blennerhassett. He says he has seen it.
He thinks it would be under Blennerhassett or O'Connell or even Tuohy.
He thinks "Splinter" got a share of the settlement. He thought "Splinter" was son of Ellen but it seems he is nephew of her late husband.
Blennerhassett grantor deeds
DONE all Henry Blennerhassett as grantor deeds registered in 1802-1816.
Some are Henry Blennerhassett MD.
Search for Tuohy grantor around time of marriage 1803.

Having trouble fleshing out Stephen Cashel family. Just nothing on them.
The only O'Connell in Cashel records:
- Witness of Agnes Cashel marriage in Buttevant parish, Co.Cork, in 1870, is Bridget A. O'Connell.
- A Cashel cousin invited in from another county? Not necessarily. She might be witness from the groom's side since one already exists from the Cashel side. The groom is David Sheahan of Buttevant. Buttevant is Mallow union.
- Cannot find her in O'Connell tree.
- O'Connell might not be her maiden name.