Reilly & Colligan, Kilglass Parish, CT, RI

[Mary Lee Dunn]

Michael and Ann Colligan Reilly had seven children between 1822 and 1838 in Kilglass Parish (Ballyfeeny? Legan?). The known children all emigrated through New York and Boston between Spring 1848 and 1850 and went to Providence, RI. <br> John (b. 1822) married Catherine McNally from Latton, Co. Monaghan, in Providence in 1853. 10 children. Both sons named Thomas (the first died young). <br> Bridget married James O'Reilly, son of Edward and Ellen of Kiltrustan. Probably married in Ireland. First child, Thomas, born in RI in 1850.<br> Mary married James Henry of Kilglass in Providence about 1852. At least six children, including a son named Thomas and twins.<br> Ann married widower Peter Featherstone in Providence about 1852. His first wife's name was Bridget and he had 3 children when they married: Luke and Bridget, who may have been twins, and Maria. Ann and Peter had 10 children; oldest son was Thomas. Peter was the son of schoolmaster Thomas Featherstone of Dooslattagh. After Peter's death, Ann married Frank Henry who may have been the brother of her brother-in-law James.<br> Hugh married Ann Sweeney in RI. Had six children, including a set of twins. Oldest son was Thomas. They died in middle age, still with young children; John became their guardian.<br> Michael married Catherine Elwood, dau of Thomas and Bridget Elwood of Roscommon, in RI. Had 10 children; oldest son was Thomas.<br> Alice, born 1838, married Daniel Smith in Connecticut. Had 4 children.<br> They were somehow related to Luke and Elizabeth McDermott Reilly of Kilglass whose three sons -- James, John and Thomas (who married an Ann Colligan, dau of Michael and Ann) -- went to RI and CT. Also connected with a Laurence Reilly of CT and RI.<br> They were related to James Dockery of Legan whose wife was Mary Foley of Killeegan, and who went to RI and CT. James may have had a brother in RI named Peter, whose wife Rosy Green, was lost in the chaos of the Famine emigration. He advertised for her in The Search for Missing Friends. Peter worked for James Reilly, son of Luke and Elizabeth, in RI.<br> The Reilly immigrants lived in Providence, Burrillville and Warwick, RI; and Hampton, CT.<br> Any clues welcomed. Many related Roscommon names -- Beirne, Kenny, Hanley, Lenihan, Logan, Hayden, Monahan, Quinn, etc. <br> I have noted the Hugh Reillys in Ballyfeeny and Legan in the 1749 Synge Census and the Michael Reilly in Ballyfeeny in the TAB.<br> John and Kate Reilly's oldest daughter is my ggrandmother. Their second oldest daughter became a nun who helped found St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and headed its nursing school for decades. Their only son to survive went to college in the Midwest.<br> Ann and Peter's granddaughter Mary Featherstone Prendergast was the first woman to run for alderman in the city of Providence. She ten was the widow of a prominent mill owner and banker.<br> James and Bridget's daughter Alice O'Brien bought and sold properties at the turn-of-the-century resort at Watch Hill, RI early in the 1900s, where she and her husband ran an inn.<br>
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