Descendants of Bartholomew Houlihan
of County Kerry, Ireland

County Kerry

Generation #1

Bartholomew Houlihan of County Kerry, Ireland

Bartholomew Houlihan was born 1789 in Kilshenaugh Parish, County Kerry, Ireland. And, he probably was married first to an unknown spouse. In about 1830, he married the much younger Mary Galvin b. 1803 Kilshenaugh Parish, County Kerry, Ireland. 

Beginning in 1845, a disease struck Ireland, destroying the primary food crop. The Potato Blight began in southeastern Ireland and eventually spread throughout the island. By 1849 one out of every four Irish had died from starvation or disease and one out of every four Irish had migrated, mostly to America. And, the Houlihan Family became part of this great migration. [Great Famine]

In February 1849, Bart and Mary's daughter, Margaret, was wed to Dennis Mullin of Knockenaugh Parish. To survive the famine, the family migrated to America in stages. Reportedly, Dennis' mother Margaret, sister Ellen, and Maurice Daughton immigrated first in about 1849 to New York. Once established, the Daughton's sent for the remainder of the family. Bart and Mary, daughter Margaret and Dennis Mullin, and Dennis' brother, Patrick, sailed aboard the Barque Hopewell, arriving 5/9/1851 in New York.

The Mullin/ Houlihan family are next found 9/15/1851 in Pickaway Co OH where grandsons Joseph and Michael were christened.

In 1858 the family migrated to Decatur Co IA where son-in-law Dennis Mullin is cited as having donated land for the local Catholic cemetery at "Little Ireland." And, Bart is listed in the census as owning his own farm.

Bart and Mary migrated with the Dennis Mullin family to Taylor Co IA in 1876 where they are found in the 1880 Taylor Co IA Census. Fr. Harkin, historian of the Catholic Church in Decatur County, describes Bart riding his horse back from Taylor to Decatur County to visit friends and relatives in "Little Ireland." Dennis built a one-room cabin attached to his house where Bart and Mary lived the remainder of their lives.

Bart died 12/6/1884 and Margaret died 12/12/1893. Both are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ringgold Co IA.

St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Maloy, Ringgold Co IA
Bart Houlihan
Died Dec 6 1884
Aged 95 Years
He was a native of the Parish
 of Kilshenaugh Co. Kerry Ireland		 Mary Houlihan
Died Dec 12 1893
Aged 90 Years
Name DENIS MULLINS MARGARET HOULIHAN
Address LAHISHRA NR
Priest REV.J.WALSH
Husband's Father's Occupation NR
Witness 1 BARTHOLOMEW HOULIHAN
Witness 2 ELLEN MULLINS

The Mullin/ Houlihan/ Daughton family immigrated
aboard the Barque Hopewell to New York

Limerick, Ireland to New York, 9 May 1851

I, Abm Dixon, Master of the Br Bark Hopewell, do solemnly. . .swear that the following List. . .delivered by me to the. . .
District of New York, is a full and perfect list of all the passengers taken on board the said Bark at Limerick, from which port said Bark has now arrived. . . .
Abraham Dixon
Sworn to this May 9 1851

List or Manifest of all passengers taken on board the Bark Hopewell whereof Abraham Dixon is Master, from Limerick. Burthen 268 tons

[The Houlihan/ Mullin family]
112 Patrick Holohan 40 M [Bartholomew Houlihan, age 62 M; father of Margaret]
116 Mary Holohan 40 F [Mary Galvin Houlihan, age 48 F; mother of Margaret]]
113 Dennis Millins 20 M [Dennis Mullin, age 24 M; ]
115 Margaret Mullins 17 F [Margaret Houlihan Mullin, age 17 F]
117 Holohan Infant M [Joseph Mullin]
118 Holohan Infant M [Michael Mullin]
114 Patrick Millins 16 M [Patrick Mullin, age 22 M; brother of Dennis]

    Immigrant Ship Transcribers Guild, "Bark Hopewell (1851)," <http://www.immigrantships.net/v7/1800v7/hopewell18510509.html> 2011.
At the Leon Abstract Office, BARTHOLOMEW WHOLIGAN is shown as having recorded a deed to 40 acres in Section 29 dated June 8, l86l. It could be presumed that he purchased it from J.D. WASSON even before l860 but failed to have the transaction recorded until a late date. This property later passed to MRS. DENNIS MULLIN who was the daughter of the above BARTHOLOMEW HOULIHAN. 
1860 Decatur Co IA Census: Woodland Twp
DW#   FM#   Last     First       Age Sex  Occup.  POB
=====================================================
1563  1453  Holhan   Bartholomew  85  M   Farmer  Ire
                     Mary         85  F           Ire 
1870 Decatur Co IA Census: Woodland Twp
DW#   FM#   Last      First      Age Sex Occup.  POB
=====================================================
117   114   Holtham  Bartholomew  65  M   Farmer  Ire
                     Mary         65  F           Ire
 Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
 Houlihan BARTHOLEMEW   FatherL   M   Male   W   90   IRE   Retired Farmer   IRE   IRE 
 Mary BARTHOLEMEW   MotherL   M   Female   W   82   IRE   Retired Housekeeper   IRE   IRE 

    Children with first wife

    1. James Houlihan

Husband Wife
Name JAMES HOULIHIN MARGARET MULVIHILL
Address GORTNASKIHI NR
Priest REV.J.BUCKLEY
Husband's Father's Occupation NR
Witness 1 ROGER HARTY
Witness 2 MARY REGAN
Name MARGARET HOULEHIN
Date of Birth 2 January 1841
Address GORTNASKEHI
Father JAMES HOULEHIN
Mother MARGARET MULVIHILL
Father Occupation NR
Sponsor 1 BARTHOLOMEW HOULEHIN
Sponsor 2 MARY BARRY
Priest REV.D.BRASBEE

    2. John Houlihan

Husband Wife
Name JOHN HOULIHIN ELLEN KELLY
Address BALLYCONRY NR
Priest REV.J.BUCKLEY
Husband's Father's Occupation NR
Witness 1 JAMES KELLY
Witness 2 DERMOT DEE
Name MICHAEL HOULIHIN
Date of Birth 16 April 1838
Address BALLYCONRY
Father JOHN HOULIHAN
Mother ELLEN KELLY
Father Occupation NR
Sponsor 1 MARTIN HOULIHIN
Sponsor 2 ANN STACK
Priest REV.J.BUCKLEY

    3. Edmond Houlihan

Name JOHN HOULIHIN
Date of Birth 3 July 1836
Address BARRACKS
Father ED. HOULIHAN
Mother HONORA GRIFFIN
Father Occupation NR
Sponsor 1 ED. GRIFFIN
Sponsor 2 MARY GRIFFIN
Priest REV.D.O'SULLIVAN

    4. Johanna Houlihan

Name JOANNA STACK
Date of Birth 25 October 1837
Address WARRIN
Father PATRICK STACK
Mother JOANNA HOULIHIN
Father Occupation NR
Sponsor 1 ED. HOULIHIN
Sponsor 2 HONORA GRIFFIN
Priest REV.D.O'SULLIVAN

    Child with Mary Galvin

    5. Margaret Houlihan b. 6/1/1834 Kilshenaugh Parish, County Kerry, Ireland

Generation #2

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This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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