Bridget Brien was born and raised in Mullingar, County West Meath Ireland. There she married Thomas Cooney in January 1858. Their first two children were born in Ireland. Between 1861 and 1864 Thomas and Bridget immigrated to America. They first settle in Illinois where six more children were born. Then between 1877 and 1880 the family moved to the south east part of Dawson County Nebraska. Frances Ann their last child was born in Dawson county. While on the way to Nebraska Christoper the oldest son 'disappeared'. What happened to him no one knows. Did he run off, was he kidnapped or did he fall in a hole and die? The family never did find him and Bridget always kept a light in the window wating for him to come home. This is the story that my great-aunt Fan Saulsbury told me about Christopher.
Thomas and Bridget were some of the early Catholic settlers in Dawson county. There was a small settlement of Irish in that area of the county, the Cooney's, the Kearney's, the Bamrick's, the Priel's the, Brennan's and the Delahunty's were some of these families.
Thomas and Bridget bought a farm for each of the children, I discovered that Bridget had purchased several of the farms in her name, and she paid for them in gold. This is documented in the land records at the court house in Lexington Nebraska.
Bridget died in 1898 and is buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery just east of Lexington.
Sept 15, 1883 - Bridget Brien Cooney placed an ad in the Boston Pilot 1831-1920 - Looking for her son Christopher Cooney. She spelled her last name Bryan at that time. "Of Christopher B. Cooney, son of Thomas and Bridget Cooney (maiden name was Bridget Bryan), who left Braceville, Grundy County Illinois, about 8 years ago. Is about twenty-five years of age;low, heavy set. Information of him dead or alive will be thankfully received by his mother. Mrs. Bridget Cooney, Overton, Dawson County, Nebraska
2017 - I have identified James Christopher Cooney, using DNA, as the son of Thomas Cooney and Bridget Brien, being born in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland.
I ordered the Social Security Application, dated 8 May 1937, for James Christopher Cooney where he identifies his father as Thomas Cooney and his mother as Mary Brien.
Bridget Brien was born and raised in Mullingar, County West Meath Ireland. There she married Thomas Cooney in January 1858. Their first two children were born in Ireland. Between 1861 and 1864 Thomas and Bridget immigrated to America. They first settle in Illinois where six more children were born. Then between 1877 and 1880 the family moved to the south east part of Dawson County Nebraska. Frances Ann their last child was born in Dawson county. While on the way to Nebraska Christoper the oldest son 'disappeared'. What happened to him no one knows. Did he run off, was he kidnapped or did he fall in a hole and die? The family never did find him and Bridget always kept a light in the window wating for him to come home. This is the story that my great-aunt Fan Saulsbury told me about Christopher.
Thomas and Bridget were some of the early Catholic settlers in Dawson county. There was a small settlement of Irish in that area of the county, the Cooney's, the Kearney's, the Bamrick's, the Priel's the, Brennan's and the Delahunty's were some of these families.
Thomas and Bridget bought a farm for each of the children, I discovered that Bridget had purchased several of the farms in her name, and she paid for them in gold. This is documented in the land records at the court house in Lexington Nebraska.
Bridget died in 1898 and is buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery just east of Lexington.
Sept 15, 1883 - Bridget Brien Cooney placed an ad in the Boston Pilot 1831-1920 - Looking for her son Christopher Cooney. She spelled her last name Bryan at that time. "Of Christopher B. Cooney, son of Thomas and Bridget Cooney (maiden name was Bridget Bryan), who left Braceville, Grundy County Illinois, about 8 years ago. Is about twenty-five years of age;low, heavy set. Information of him dead or alive will be thankfully received by his mother. Mrs. Bridget Cooney, Overton, Dawson County, Nebraska
2017 - I have identified James Christopher Cooney, using DNA, as the son of Thomas Cooney and Bridget Brien, being born in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland.
I ordered the Social Security Application, dated 8 May 1937, for James Christopher Cooney where he identifies his father as Thomas Cooney and his mother as Mary Brien.
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