My ancestors - Lyons - Contents

Lyons

Pat Lavelle's notes

We start with the notes by Patricia Lavelle about her Lyons ancestry, basically the only written record that survived in our branch.

Pat had us descending from Lyons and Falvey.
She thought that the mother of our Maria Agnes Lyons was Falvey of Tralee. Pat said that Maria Agnes visited the Falveys in Tralee with her small children (maybe in late 1870s).

However, we find that someone of Maria Agnes Lyons' generation, Mary Ellen Lyons, married in 1874 to Dr. Francis Falvey of Tralee. And there are connections between the families:

"Mary Ellen Lyons" (not yet married) sponsored the baptism of our Maria Agnes' daughter Agnes Cashel in 1870.
"Julia Lyons" (would be Mary Ellen's sister or mother) sponsored the baptism of our Maria Agnes' son Willie Cashel in 1875.
"Sarah Lyons" (may be Mary Ellen's sister) sponsored the baptism of our Maria Agnes' daughter Alice Cashel in 1878.
In 1904, Dr. Francis Falvey died, and Maria Agnes' widowed husband Blennerhassett Cashel is listed as one of the chief mourners at the funeral (Maria Agnes had died in 1896).

Conclusion: Maria Agnes Lyons and Mary Ellen Lyons are close relations:

Mary Ellen Lyons is where the Falvey connection comes in, rather than being our ancestors. It was Mary Ellen that Maria Agnes went to visit in Tralee.
Mary Ellen Lyons' father is Michael Lyons, son of Laurence Lyons. Maria Agnes Lyons' father is John Lyons. So they are not sisters. Probably they are 1st cousins. (i.e. Michael and John are probably brothers).
Michael Lyons, son of Laurence Lyons, in fact did have a brother John, who is probably identical with our John.

The somewhat confused reference to the Falveys of Tralee by Patricia Lavelle.

Proof that Mary Ellen Lyons (wife of Dr. Francis Falvey) is connected to our family:
Chief mourners at the funeral of Dr. Francis Falvey in 1904 include Blennerhassett Cashel.
Falvey's wife and Cashel's wife must be 1st cousins.

The Laurence Lyons family

Laurence Lyons,
born 1782.
He lived near Millstreet, Co.Cork.
He is possibly Laurence Lyons listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] at Rathcool, Dromtarriff par, Co.Cork (near Millstreet).
He died 10 Nov 1870, age 88 yrs [grave].
Can't find death in [GROI].
He was bur in Lyons grave, Millstreet, Co.Cork.
He had issue:

John Lyons.
He and his brother Michael erected father's grave 1870.
Probably identical with our John Lyons.
Michael Lyons,
Michael Laurence Lyons, born 1825 or 1826 (by age at death),
Falvey tree thought born 1821,
born near Millstreet, Co.Cork [obituary].
Lived in Mallow.
Later a draper and T.C. in Tralee.
He and his brother John erected father's grave 1870.
He is father of Mary Ellen Lyons who married Dr. Francis Falvey of Tralee.
He was bur at Millstreet, Co.Cork.

There is a Laurence Lyons listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] at Rathcool, Dromtarriff par, Co.Cork (near Millstreet, see modern map).
He is renting plot 15 from Sir George Colthurst. 39 acres and a house.
This might be our Laurence.
From askaboutireland.ie.

Grave of Laurence Lyons (ivy-covered obelisk), Millstreet, Co.Cork.
Photo 2020. See full size.

Our family

Our John Lyons is probably identical with John Lyons, son of Laurence Lyons above.
Also, descendants of our John DNA match descendants of Francis Lyons of Millstreet below. So they must be brothers or close cousins. So John's line is DNA proven.

John Lyons.
Draper.
Apparently of Mallow, Co.Cork.
Though originally probably of Millstreet area, Co.Cork. We know he DNA matches Francis Lyons of Millstreet.
I had once thought he was of Tralee, Co.Kerry, but this must be confusion with Michael Lyons, draper of Tralee, who is probably his brother.
His dau was born 1846.

Francis Lyons of Millstreet

The family of Francis Lyons of Millstreet has multiple DNA matches with the family of our John Lyons above.
So these are proven DNA relations of our family.
Francis must be a brother or cousin of our John.

Francis Lyons,
born 1806 [by age on death cert, but suspect probably younger].
Labourer, of Millstreet, Co.Cork. Apparently illiterate.
Children born 1853 to 1866.
He was apparently jailed for assault in 1882.
His widow died in the Workhouse.

References

Notes by Patricia Lavelle in p.16 in [PAT/12]
Falvey family tree.
- Made out in John Charles Falvey family.

Miscellaneous Lyons

Rathcool is in Dromtarriff civil par and Dromtarriff RC par (records from 1832).
Millstreet is in Drishane civil par and Millstreet RC par (records from 1853).
Mallow is in Mallow civil par and Mallow RC par (records from 1757).
Mallow Archaeological & Historical Society
- Index of Mallow Names