Mystery Picture on Wall

The photo below was taken at the Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) home in Evanston Illinois most likely in 1909 or 1910. Although I am not sure of the occasion, given that all the Sullivan family who lived in the Chicago area are included and in another photo from the same day, much of the family of Nonie Mahoney (1889-1971) who would become Philip M. Sullivan's (1885-1959) wife, are represented it is my belief that this was either an engagement party or perhaps even a wedding party reception for Philip and Nonie who married on September 21, 1910.

What intrigued me about the photo when I first saw it was the picture hanging on the wall to the left.

It looks like a photo of six men.

Here is a close up of the picture on the wall:

Unfortunately, the image is too grainy to distinguish faces in the picture.

Several years later, I received a photo of Ann McGivney Sullivan (1836-1915) the wife of James Sullivan (c1830-1898) -- brother of Philip J. Sullivan -- from a great, grandson of Ann and James, Joe Sullivan. In this photo of Ann you can see a similar photo on the wall behind her. My guess is this photo of Ann is from 1910 or perhaps a little later given her age.

Seeing the two pictures in separate Sullivan homes led me to believe the photo was most likely of the extended Sullivan family.

Then, I came across this photo of Philip J. Sullivan in the album of Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996), grandson of Philip J. Sullivan. It is believed to be from the late 1870s or early 1880s given the clothing and chair in the photo.

When I look at the picture on the wall, especially in the home of Philip J. Sullivan, the male on the right in the back row looks very much the face in the above photo.

So, if Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) is in the photo, might this be a photo of the five Sullivan male children who immigrated to the U.S., plus who else?

Michael Sullivan - c1826 - 1915
James Sullivan - 1830 - 1898
Patrick Sullivan - 1832 - 1881
Andrew Sullivan - 1833 - 1881
Philip J. Sullivan - 1840 - 1915

Other known brothers: Thomas Sullivan (c1831-b1915) and Matthew (1841 - ?) both remained in Ireland.

Update January 21, 2019. Another brother, Rev. Peter F. Sullivan (c1838-1896) has been identified. He lived in Pennsylvania his whole adult life. It is very possible he is the "sixth" man in the photo! View Peter F. Sullivan (c1838-1896).

Sullivan Home in Denbawn

Recently, I was contacted by Eileen Sullivan a great, great granddaughter of Patrick Sullivan/Sorahan (c1794-a1874). She came across this blog and sent me a photo of the home her father, Matthew Sullivan (1927-2011), grew up in and that his brother, Thomas (c1920-1978) lived in until his death. At this point, I believe the home had been on the same property as the land I visited in 2011. View the video of the land.

I imagine this is not the physical building that Patrick Sullivan (c1794-a1874) lived in. It is most likely that this home was built sometime in the early to mid-20th century. However, it is believed to have been on the property, or near the property, listed in the 1857 Griffith's Valuation. I have more sleuthing to do.

Eileen wrote in the email to me: "I have attached a picture of my father's homestead in Denbawn, which was already abandoned.... I stayed there as a child with my parents. Thomas Sullivan [Matthew's brother] lived there until he died. He married late in life and after a couple of years of marriage he died and his wife sold the family farm."

Thank you so much Eileen Sullivan for sharing this amazing photo.

Eileen later sent a photo from 1972 of this same home when her uncle Thomas was still living in the house.

And, here is a wonderful aerial view of the property from May 17, 1984.

Source of photos: Eileen Sullivan, 2017

Life in Drumbarry c1955

Rose Corcoran Sullivan (c1805-1874) lived on a farm in the Townland of Drumbarry, Denn Parish, County Cavan as a young girl. In Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007), pages 44-46, it describes a shop in Drumbarry which Teresa Clarke Gaffney worked at in the 1950s. At this time it is not clear if Teresa Clarke Gaffney is related to Rita Clarke Galligan, a friend of the Sullivans, who lived down the road from the old Sullivan farm in Denbawn. And, whom I visited with when I was in Ireland in 2011. Rita was helpful with information on the Sullivans.

The description of a general store, although from the 1950s, is fascinating and probably reflects the type of shops that were in the area in earlier times.

To enlarge the page, click once on the image.

The photo on this page shows Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) great, grandson of Patrick
Sullivan (c1794-1874) and Rita Clarke (eventually Galligan)

Source: Eileen Sullivan, great, great granddaughter of Patrick Sullivan (c1794-1874) and daughter of Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) sent me these pages from Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007). I am in the process of trying to order the book with the hopes there are more stories and possibly photos relating to the Sullivans and Corcorans of County Cavan.

Life in Denbawn, c1940s

This article was written by Fr. Patsy Sullivan. As of this writing, I do not know how he relates to the larger Sullivan family but I am pretty positive he does. I spoke with him by telephone in 2011 when I was visiting Ireland and he was living in County Sligo. Although we were not able to determine the Sullivan connection, from what I had learned from Rita Clarke Galligan, neighbor of the Sullivans in Denbawn, he is related.

*** I have learned Fr. Patsy Sullivan is my third cousin, once removed. His sister took an autosomal DNA test to verify the paper trail. Yeah!!!***

Click once on the page images to enlarge so you can read them.

Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) is pictured here. He is the great, grandson of Patrick Sullivan
(c1794-a1874) and was born in Denbawn, County Cavan.

Rita Clarke Galligan invited me and my husband into her home to share what she knew
about her Sullivan neighbors when we visited in 2011. Two of her children
Phelim and Damienne were also present.

Rita Clarke Galligan, with children Damienne and Phelim, 2011
Denbawn, County Cavan

Source: Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007); 3 pages. Copies of the pages received from Eileen Sullivan, great, great granddaughter of Patrick and Rose Sullivan. January, 2017.