I have connections to Ireland that stem back to approximately 1830 when Elizabeth Feeley (parents unknown) travelled to Canada with her 2 year old son Charles. It is not known where the ship docked. In a marriage seemingly unheard of in its day, Elizabeth (a Roman Catholic) found herself married to David Teed (a Protestant) in July 1831. They lived in Wentworth, Nova Scotia, and had four children: Catherine Teed, David Teed, Issac Feeley Teed and Margaret Teed.

There is an interesting story that David Teed Sr. sent money to Ireland to bring out a bride. When she arrived, she had a young son with her. The woman was Elizabeth Feeley and the boy, her son Charles. The Teeds were originally from the north of Ireland but had been in America since the early 1700s, originally settling in Delaware, New York, and coming to Nova Scotia in 1783 as United Empire Loyalists. By 1830 their connections to Ireland must have been slight, especially considering communications were not what they are today. How did David Teed know of Elizabeth Feeley to send money for her passage and why would a Protestant send for a Catholic bride? It is not known where they were married.

Elizabeth Feeley was born in 1809 and she died on February 20, 1879. Although the funeral ceremony was held at St. Cornelius Church at Streets Ridge, she is buried in the United Church Cemetery in Wentworth.

Her son Charles was born in 1828 and he died on January 14, 1897. He is buried at the St. Cornelius Church cemetery in Streets Ridge, Nova Scotia.

Charles married Mary Garvin on August 14, 1852. Mary was born in 1831 and she died on June 3, 1899. They resided in Wentworth, NS, and had 5 sons: James Feeley, John Feeley, Charles Feeley, Edward Feeley and Cornelius (called Neil) Feeley. She, too, is buried at the St. Cornelius Church cemetery in Streets Ridge.

Their eldest son James (born May 29, 1855 and died in 1941) went to join the Christian Brothers in New York State as per the tradition of Catholic families (especially Irish Catholic ones). He was called home when his father was dying and he never did go back. He married Sarah Dornan (mayhap Doran) of Brookdale, Cumberland County (just outside Amherst, Nova Scotia) at St. Charles Church on September 12, 1899. Reverend W.J. Mihan officiated. The groom was 44 and the bride not quite 24. Apparently my G grandfather was conscious of the age difference because he put his age down as 38. Sarah was most annoyed and berated him for starting out their married life with a lie, but he attempted to placate her with ... "now doesn't that look better?" (as told by their eldest son James Henry Feeley, my grandfather).

ADDENDUM

Long have we suspected that the Feeley's originated in County Donegal. However, my aunt Helen (Feeley) travelled about the area in the fall of 2002. After talking with many of the locals, as well as visiting numerous centers and graveyards, she was told that the Feeley name, albeit not an overly common one, originated in County Leitrim, quite possibly in the township of Kinlough. Given this added information, we continue to perservere.

The facts that we THOUGHT we were once sure of were that both Charles Feeley and his wife Mary Garvin were from County Donegal, Ireland.

There is no documented connection of Mary Garvin to the various Garvins in the area, but it s,has been assumed that she was of that family. The Garvin's were known to be cousins to the Feeley's.

Mary Garvin was about 5 feet tall with black hair and eyes; one of the "black" Irish. We have a story that has survived over 100 years, told with much enjoyment by her eldest son, James, and her eldest grandson, James Henry, my grandfather.

She could neither read nor write but could add up long columns of figures in her head faster that than you could do it on paper. She raised hens and used the eggs to barter. On one shopping trip to Wallace (in the winter they would travel on sleighs on the ice of the river), the storekeeper added up her purchases and told her what she owed. She, herself, had already added it up in her head and reached a different amount, so she told him he was mistaken. When he explained that the difference was caused by a recent drop in the price of eggs, she said ... "at that price it wasn't worth the wear and tear on the hen's ass!"

As to the Garvin's ... Cornelius (called Neil) Garvin (born 1836) married Catherine Teed (daughter of Elizabeth Feeley and David Teed Sr.). He is of a close enough age to Mary Garvin (born 1831) to be a brother, but to date a connection has not been found.

A John Garvin married Mary Anne Corrigan in February 1863, possibly in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. There may be reason to believe that John was a possible brother to Cornelius (Neil), mayhap a twin?

Sarah Dornan (mayhap Doran), wife of James Feeley (born May 29, 1855), was the daughter of Henry Dornan (born 1840 died 1902) and Catherine Corrigan (born 1842 died 1924). Sarah was born on October 28, 1875 and she died on February 14, 1959.