25 Sep CFHS NEWSLETTER, SEPTEMBER 20,2020
The Creaghe Family Historical Society
Newsletter
September 20, 2020
There have been multiple inquiries to the society in the last seven months. These are always quite interesting and often bring new information to light.
Graeme Robertson was to make one of his regular trips to Tristan da Cunha this spring, but postponement for at least one year was necessary due to the COVID Pandemic. He planned, in addition to other things, to attempt to find more information regarding Percy Creaghe’s interest in the islands. He also hoped to further investigate the White Porcelain Penguin given to Percy by the island residents. (See CFHS website – Ancestors-Percy Creaghe). Hopefully, the pandemic will be under better control soon.
As mentioned in the previous newsletter, journalist Nicolas Grande of Lujan, Argentina wrote for any information we might have regarding John O’Dwyer Creaghe. In June Alex Trouton from London reached out sharing his information on his distant relative, the same John O. Creaghe, and requested more information if possible. Nicolas and Alex were put in touch in July and are sharing results. I am planning a new entry for the CFHS Website based on their collaboration. If you have anything you want to share, please pass it on.
In March, Edward Jeep from Washington, DC sent a note regarding Laurence Creaghe (1797-1852) and the Castlepark Estate. Laurence was an older son of Richard Creaghe, DL and brother of Richard Fitzroy Heyliger Creaghe. Laurence inherited the Castlepark estate and later lost it – a story for another time. Ed found a Letter of Recommendation for his ancestor, Daniel Matthew Foley, a carpenter, written by Laurence in 1838. Some pretty remarkable decryption of penmanship.
This is Ed’s interpretation:
As you can see, it’s not great penmanship. We have it mostly deciphered to the following:
employment, he is extremely
Clever, and is, as carpenter
A very superior workman
– – – – ..ahit..tion
And I believe him
To be extremely honest
(page break)
And decent
—
Castle Park
–
Golden April 10, 1838
The signature is a mystery to me but a lot of people online where I posted it concur with CastlePark and someone came up with Creaghe, so I’ll go for it for the time being.
If anyone has any other information or can add to interpretation, let me know.
A young lady from Canada wrote inquiring about her 5x great grandfather, a Creagh, from Dagan, County Clare. Our family, the Creaghes, is related as delineated by Percy Creaghe (CFHS Website -Family History-Papers of Percy Creaghe-Connections between Creaghes of Castlepark and Reems and Creaghs of Dagan). Personally, I find the connection quite confusing. If anyone has further information, please share.
Chuck Bowen from Lamar, Colorado inquired in July about St. George Creaghe and the SS Ranch north of Lamar in the early 1900’s. He wrote:
“In the Betz Prowers County history book page 307 it says “A. G. (Gillette) Fluke was foreman of the SS ranch after it was bought by St. George Creaghe and his sons Jack and Dick from the estate of W. J. Wilson in 1907. They apparently sold it in 1909. I also have a reference to Dick Creaghe, his brother (not named) and another man with a heavy Irish accent (not named), I’m assuming was Jack & St. George (this was in 1908). They were apparently batching somewhere along Sand Creek and seems possible on our ranch. Our place is 40 miles due north of Lamar along Sand Creek in Cheyenne County joining Kiowa County. I’m working on the history of our ranch and have found this very interesting.
Personally, I have no knowledge of this other than the mention in A Prowers County History by Tom Betz. There is no doubt in my mind that the three Creaghes mentioned were St. George and his oldest sons, Gerald (Jack) and Richard (Dick). Again, if anyone has further information about this, please let me know.
James A. Richmond
On May 19, an email from Dorotha Simmons Piechocki of Michigan popped up. In her childhood Dottie heard stories from her grandmother about a great-grand uncle, James A. Richmond, who had been killed with another man by Indians in the Arizona territory in 1880. Her interest was piqued, and this led to fifty – plus years of painstaking research; much of it done in pre-internet days. She would write a letter to a source requesting information and then wait months for a reply. Her efforts have amassed a great deal of information. What she has come up with over her years of work is truly remarkable. A master investigator, she recently took another tack and googled the name of the man killed with her relative – Gerald “Paddy” Creaghe. Up came the article on Gerald in the CFHS Website. Dottie reached out, and the resulting collaboration led to a major rewrite of the article. Many questions were answered, such as where did the event actually take place? We think we have the answer. Check it out; see what you think. Someone needs to go there! CHFS Website – Ancestors – Gerald F. Creaghe
Again, please let me know about any corrections – even typos, and feel free to write an article yourself or make any other contributions. All are welcome.
Steve Creaghe, September 20, 2020
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