Follow the Evidence
Follow the Evidence
Timony (Timoney, Temony, Tumony) Family Line
(Lineage: Ruth Ryan – Bridget Adelaide Ryan McGonigle (mother) – Catherine Murrin McGonigle (grandmother) – Bridget McCloskey Murrin (great-grandmother) – unknown Timony (great-great grandmother)
In current pop culture, we have learned from CSI, the popular television show, to “Follow the evidence…” As we have tried to uncover our genealogical roots over these past few years, our picture is incomplete. What we do have are the stories that our parents and other family members have told us over the years.
Many of us have heard the stories that we are related to Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. This connection is through Catherine Murrin McGonigle’s side of the family. While we still have not made the connection to Charles Carroll yet, we do have a better idea of our Timony family connection…and more important, how we connect into the families reflected in this document.
The clue to investigating the Timony origin came from Ruth Ryan Smith’s family stories. She said that the family lived in Ohio and Indiana before moving to Illinois. The left Ohio, in particular, to escape from the bigotry that Catholics, especially those of Irish heritage, faced in those early years.
So our search begins in Ohio.
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These represent where “Timonys” lived in Ohio based on census and family tree information. In 1820, most of the family lived around Richland and Chatfield). By 1850, some of these families moved further south. In 1860, we see one of the families, John Timony, moving to Grant county in Indiana. |
As we began to put together census information, it appeared that we were dealing with at least four Timony families; however, as we continued our research, it became clear that these were, in actuality, brothers and sisters.
One of the brothers, Peter Timony, settled in Richfield, Ohio; and one of the first references we find of him is in 1820. He married Elizabeth Ward, who was born in 1802 in Virginia. Elizabeth was the daughter of Elizabeth and Edward Ward. The 1850 Census information shows that their children Margaret, Dennis, Alice and Elizabeth were born in Virginia. One of the family trees suggests they were born in Ohio (http://www.solon.50webs.com/dat153.htm#47), but the census may be most accurate. In addition, one of their children is also shown as having been born in Maryland. In 1850, his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Ward, who at the time of the census was 87, was living with them in Athens.
Another brother, John Timony, lived close to Peter initially; but over the years he farmed in both Washington and Guernsey counties in Ohio. He married Mary McCloskey, born in Maryland in 1806. By 1860, he made his way to Monroe, Indiana; and both he and his wife lived there for the remainder of their lives. They are buried in one of the Grant county cemeteries.
Another brother, Daniel Timony, settled in Chatfield, Ohio. The only thing we know about Daniel’s wife is her name…Sarah. His son, Thomas Timony, was born in Ohio in 1815, and married Jane Kimball, whose parents came from New Hampshire in 1815. Jane’s grandfather, David Kimball, was found living in Newtown, New Hampshire in 1730. One of their sons, James D. Timony, moved his family to Marengo, Illinois; which is about 20 miles from Belvidere, Illinois. Jane's parents moved to Marengo, as well. In 1840 we see Sarah Kimball, who by this time was 69 years old, taking care of her two young grandsons in Marengo. The census does not show James D. Timony or his Eliza Crane Timony living in Marengo.
A sister, Orphia Timony, also accompanied the family to Ohio. In 1850 we see her living near her brother, Peter Timony, in Lodi township, Athens County, Ohio. At some point, Peter moved from Richland to Athens. Their mother, Alice Meighan (Meehan) Timoney, was living with Orphia and her husband, Wakeman Hull. Wakeman Hull traced his roots to some of the oldest New England families.
In our Timony family, our ancestors were well taken care of as they became elderly.
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Above Left: Peter Timony, Elizabeth Ward line. Athens & Chatfield, Ohio. Showing Ward lineage. Above Right: Peter Timony connection to Dennis (born Ireland) and Alice Meehan. Bottom Right: John Timony and Ann McClosky line. Washington, Ohio & Grant, Indiana. Connection to McClosky lines.
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Dennis Timony.
Below is the family line of Dennis Timony (born circa 1760 in Donegal) and Alice Meighen (born 1763 in Donegal). All the children of Dennis and Alice were born in Donegal, and immigrated to the United States in 1792. Along with the Timonys, James W. Meighen and his wife Susan McCloskey Meighen, came to the new world with them. It is with Dennis, that the Frank and Adelaide Ryan family connect to…where we need to investigate further is to find “which of Dennis and Alice’s children” we line up to. At this time, we have only documented 4 of the 7 children’s family lines.
The migration of this family is interesting. Many of the Timony siblings and their new families made their way to Pennsylvania, and in short order moved further west to Ohio. Most of the Timony families stayed here for 30-40 years. The Mieghen family, on the other hand, moved to South Carolina, as this reference shows:
• The Meighen Family were late comers to the Tenmile Country, not having arrived in America from Ireland until the year 1792, but the imprint they made in the early history
• James Meighen, and his wife, formerly Susan McClaskey, came to America in 1792, bringing with him his three sons and three daughters, all of whom had been born in Ireland
• The Tinmile Country records show that one of the daughters, Elsie (Alice) was married to Dennis Tommony.
The Military
The Timony men have volunteered for every major war fought by the United States. We know that our families can trace their lineage to pre-revolutionary days, and most likely will find a distant ancestor that fought in this great battle. Since 1792, the descendents of Dennis and Elsie Timony have fought bravely for their country. Here are a few examples:
United States Mexican War
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Thomas Timony, 1st Lt, 1847 Mexican American War
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TIMONEY, THOMAS D 1LT E 2 IL FOOT BELVIDERE The Mexican War took place in the years of 1846 to 1848. There had been many disagreements for two decades that led up to the war Texas in 1835 revolted against the Mexican control and formed the Republic of Texas. Texas claimed the land to the Rio Grande. Then there was a request that Mexico was to pay the American citizens three million dollars to make up for lives and property lost in Mexico through the revolution, theft, and confiscation since the 1820’s. By the 1840’s the American’s were demanding that the United States collect these debts by force. President Polk decided that the United States would pay Mexico 25 million dollars and cancel all claims for damages, if Mexico would accept the Rio Grande boundary and sell New Mexico and California to the United States. Afraid of showing weakness they did not accept. On May 13, 1846, Congress declared war after there had been a small regiment of United States soldiers defeated by a larger body of Mexicans. W. Johnson |
Civil War
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Capt. James Patrick Timoney, was in a Illinois. artillery unit during civil war
Marengo, McHenry Cty,
ILL
"Woodstock Senteniel
Newspaper" Dec. 31, 1862 Muster Roll 95th Regiment ILL |
Joseph Timoney, Cpl., Marengo “Died in a hospital at Lake Providence, La. From Congestion of he Lungs. No grave marker found. (3/23/1862)
Joseph Timoney Residence: Marengo, Illinois Enlistment Date: 8 Jul 1862 Rank at enlistment: Corporal State Served: Illinois Survived the War?: No Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Illinois 95th Infantry Regiment on 04 Sep 1862. Mustered out on 31 Mar 1865 at Lake Providence, LA.
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THE BELVIDERE TIMONY FAMILY
This family came to Marengo, Illinois (McHenry county) before the Civil War. The Marengo Timoneys connect with Peter and Elizabeth Timony of Athens, Ohio. We assume that other Ohio Timony families made their way to the Rockford/Belvidere area around this time as well. One of the clues comes from the death of Thomas Timony, a resident of the area, but not a son of James D. Timony or Eliza Ann Crane (see below).
Conclusion
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to find the right connection into our Timony line. As you think about the stories you heard over the years, send them our way. They may be the key to help us develop the right lineage, and subsequently help us to connect our family to the Carrolls. As an matter of reference, the Carrolls do show connections to families like Timmons, Mcloskeys, Wards, etc.