The Mescall family originated in Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland. The earliest known people were John Mescall and his wife, Mollie Boland. They had a son, John Mescall who married Catherine Murphy of Leadmore, Kilrush. They had six children, John (24^th June 1836), William (1843), Peter(19^th June 1845), Joseph (about 1851), Mary and Margaret. Dates of birth of Mary and Margaret are unknown.

All apparently survived the famine, however John Mescall died when, according to William’s letter, he was "in first or second reader" in school. A gravestone has been erected, by his wife Catherine, in the Church of Ireland graveyard in Kilrush, to the memory of John Mescall. There is no definitive proof that this is the grave of our John Mescall, however the details appear to match somewhat. More research is needed in the area. This gravestone is of granite, as opposed to most of the others surrounding it which are of the less durable Liscannor slate. Also the grave is of raised form and clearly indicates a high economic standing of those who erected it. My Aunt, Nora (Cooney) Dempsey recalls, when very young, being shown a different stone, a vertical one with the inscription "Erected to John Mescall and Posterity".

Given the high economic standing, some evidence should exist of its source, however John Mescall does not appear in Griffiths valuation, conducted in the area in 1854. There is no reference to a holding by either John or Catherine Mescall in Griffiths. Perhaps John was already dead (probably) by the time Griffiths was carried out.

Unfortunately Roman Catholic church records for Kilrush do no begin until 1863 for Baptisms and 1829 for marriages. I have searched the LDS microfilm records and, while finding several Mescall references, including one for Hanoria Healy, no sign or our Mescalls was in evidence. The death records were not available. I will try to see if the Church of Ireland records are available and if they contain records of burials. According to Peter Mescall’s American descendants, Peter was born in Cooraclare, a small village about 5 or 6 miles north by northeast of Kilrush. Parish records for Cooraclare are in the custody of the local Parish priest and have not been microfilmed. Another Parish, Killimer, some 6 miles East of Kilrush, is the birth place of Kate Mangan, wife of Peter Mescall. Again parish records are in local clerical custody and have not been microfilmed. Clearly there is considerable scope for local research. Word of warning: If intending to examine local records, ensure that you have permission to do so before travelling, to avoid disappointment & frustration and make more productive use of your time.

John Mescall

John Mescall (1836) enlisted in the British army , on Feb 1^st 1854, when aged 18 years. He served in the 2^nd East Indian Infantry and was promoted to Corporal in Dec 1857 and Sergeant in August 1859. He served in the Siege of Dehli (1857), the Battle of Budulkis Derai (June 8^th 1857) and was decorated for his part in the Indian Mutiny. After India he served in Canada, where he was initially stationed in Quebec and later in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Whilst in Quebec, he was joined by Hanoria Healy of Kilrush. Hanoria left Kilrush sometime after September 27th 1868 and married John in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Quebec on October 19^th 1858.

Hanoria Healy, daughter of Timothy Healy, was reputedly born in a tent in the Punjab, India.

There is also a story of someone marrying by proxy. It isn’t known whom this refers to, but probably someone in the British Army – I suspect possibly Tim Healy and his wife, but I have nothing to go on.

The couple moved to Nova Scotia, where John was laboratory foreman, probably in some sort of military facility. Hanora gave birth to five children there, Violet (26^th July 1869), John, Mary Kate (1872), Susan M (1874) and Mabel Teresa (28^th July 1879). A diptheria epidemic hit in 1879 and John, Susan and Mary Kate all died. Shortly after this the family returned to Kilrush, where William was born (May 6^th 1882).

I do not know what occupation John Mescall pursued when he returned to Ireland. He was approximately 44 years old then and had about 26 years service with the British Army.

Violet, the eldest daughter, had an address at the Metropole Hotel in Dublin around the turn of the century. She married Robert Borrett, and died of cancer on Dec 21^st 1921, in Norwich, England. Violet had three children, Leslie John, Nora and Eileen. Leslie became a Jesuit priest after his father’s death.

Mabel Teresa

My Grandmother met Thomas Cooney, a ship’s engineer/fitter on a paddle boat operating between Limerick and Kilrush. They married and settled in Kilrush before moving to Tipperary and eventually to Dublin.

William J Mescall

William emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Chicago. He served in the Union Army in the late stages of the civil war. He became a Commander of the Sons of Veterans organisation after the war. He had several addresses in Chicago:

120 West Warrior St., Chicago

173, Sth. Desplaines St., Chicago, Illinois. (28/11/1878)

William married twice, first to Kath, mother of his children and then Teresa J Hand. There were four children: John W, Kate, Minerva (Minnie) and Joseph.

John W had an address at 3419 W. Monroe St., Chicago

Kate married a railroad man named Tom Fitzgerald and they lived at 1919 6^th Ave West, Seattle Washington

Minnie, apparently lived with her mother in Ontario, from two years old until she was sixteen and, apparently, didn’t meet her father during this period. I have two letters written by her, one of which is on St. Vincent’s Hospital New York letterhead.

She wrote from 675 W. King St, Toronto, Canada in Sept 1891.

Miss Minerva Maskell, St Vincent’s Hospital, 12^th St and 7^th Avenue, New York

Miss Maskell, 599 Lexington Ave, New York (24/11/1897)

I can find no trace of her after this.

Joseph, son of William: No information available.

Peter Mescall

Peter also emigrated to the U.S. and initially settled in Chicago before moving to Hartman, Arkansas. Peter married Kate Mangan, from Knockerra, Killimer, Co. Clare. Kate had emigrated along with her Aunt Marie Gallagher. Peter lived at either 171 or 173 South Desplaines St., Chicago. He was joined there by his brother, Joseph, and mother, Catherine. Both Joseph and Catherine appear on the 1870 census as living with Peter. By 1880 Peter had moved to Arkansas ans Catherine moved next door to William. I have a photo of Catherine taken in Chicago, in 1868. I am assuming that it was taken on her 60^th birthday, which would put her year of birth as 1808.

Joseph, son of John:

Emigrated to the U.S. and initially lived with his brother Peter. By the mid 1880’s William wrote "I can find no trace of Joseph".

Mary and Margaret both emigrated to Australia as "helps" to families on the voyage. Mary was with the family of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Miners. Mrs. Miners died on the voyage and Mary stayed with the family afterward. The Miners had six children. After settling in Australia, Mary and Thomas Miners married and had three more children. Mary, Margaret and the Miners travelled to Australia on The Fiery Star, previously named The Comet. The Miners had intended staying in Australia for a relatively short period and returning on the next voyage of The Fiery Star but, in the event, decided to settle in Australia. It was a wise choice. On the return voyage they would have taken , the cargo of wool caught fire. Seventy eight passengers and crew took to the boats while eighteen crew, including the mate, Mr. Sargeant, four able seamen and thirteen apprentices, remained on board to fight the fire. The ship had set sail on April 1^st, 1865 , from Moreton Bay, bound for London, and the fire was first spotted on April 13^th. The boat finally foundered on Chatham Island but the crew were rescued by the barque Dauntless of Kingston on May 11^th. The passengers and crew that took to the boats were never heard of again.

Margaret Mescall

Margaret married a man named Berryman and had two daughters, Margaret and Pauline. Margaret married Pat Durkin and had possibly four sons: William, Harold, George and Jack. The Durkins visited Ireland around the time of the first World War and had to remain in Ireland on that account. During this period Harold suffered pneumonia when he was seven years old. A poultice, which had been placed on his back, burnt it and his mother complained that he came home with "the map of Ireland on his back".

This basically is the Irish side of the story.

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