August 14 – 16, 2009
Pat and Carol Kavanagh of Vinton, Quebec looking out toward Grosse Ile
Our Great, Great Grandfather Patrick Kavanagh (1785-1863) son of
(Muirgaine Kavanagh) were members of the landless branch of the Kavanagh family
in Ireland. Patrick was born in 1785 in County Wexford, Ireland in the townland
of Ballindaggan (an area of 431 acres) in the barony of Scarawalsh in the parish
of Templeshanbo, and came to America, 1846, leaving County Wexford on April 2 and
arriving in Verdun, Quebec (most of the ships landed at Grosse Ile near Quebec),
near Quebec City, on June 3 with sons James (1832-1883) and John (1826-1915) and
John’s wife Jane Hearty. His wife Margaret Sullivan was born 1800 or before. She
died in Ireland before he came to Canada. (There were references to the father’s
name as John or Jack but quite likely since Edward’s first two children were named
Patrick and Margaret, these names are correct. Information from Jack Cunningham,
son of Bridget shows that the names were Patrick and Margaret).
• ID: I0279
• Name: Patrick KAVANAGH
• Sex: M
• Birth: ABT. 1795 in Co. Wexford, Ireland 1
• Death: 1863 in Vinton, Pontiac Co. Que. 2
Marriage 1 Margaret SULLIVAN b: ABT. 1800 in Co. Wexford, Ireland
• Married: ABT. 1821 3 Children
1. Morgan KAVANAGH b: 1823 in Wexford Co., Ireland
2. John KAVANAGH b: 1 MAY 1826 in Templeshanbo, Co. Wexford, Ireland
3. James KAVANAGH b: ABT. 1827 in Ireland
4. Daniel KAVANAGH b: ABT. 1828 in Co. Wexford, Ireland
5. Loughlin KAVANAGH b: 1829 in Ireland
6. Edward James KAVANAGH b: 1832 in Templeshanbo, Co. Wexford, Ireland
He had at least 6 sons and possibly two daughters who remained in Ireland.
Kavanaugh Family\Family Tree.doc James journal referred to a sister living in
Jackson Mississippi. A family member related that when James came to New Orleans
in 1851 he was with his married sister and brother-in-law. Patrick’s wife had died
earlier in Ireland and a cousin, Catherine had helped him keep house and care for his
children. This was during the potato famine that had devastated Ireland. They were
but a few of many of Irish heritage that left Ireland during and after the starvation
of the potato famine to seek new opportunity in the United States, Canada, and
Australia. They made their way up the Ottawa River by raft, settling near the river
at a spot that is now Vinton, Quebec near Campbell’s Bay. This is in Litchfield
Township, 15 miles from Portage DuFort and 60 miles northwest of Ottawa. There were
a few Irish settlers there before them who had come as early as 1842. Some family
history says they lived in Perth for awhile before coming to Vinton. John Kavanaugh
and Jane Hearty bought 100 acres of land and he worked in the lumber industry during
the winter. John was considered an expert in selecting trees to use for masts on
large sailing ships. When Jack had saved enough money he returned to Ireland with
money to help other family members come over.
** Irish History of the Kavanaugh’s as written by Tim Kavanaugh, son of Sherman and
Mae Kavanaugh, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Tim Kavanaugh
Elk River, MN.
Tim Kavanaugh with any questions, concerns or updates involving ancestral information.