Children of John Kinsella and Margaret Grace of County Kilkenny- Ellen Kinsella Quinn- 1834 Mooncoin Parish, Kilkenny- 1902 Jerseyville, Illinois

 

                                         Ellen Kinsella- my great grandmother

Ellen was the eldest child of John Kinsella and Margaret Grace. She was born in the coldest days of winter, on January 15, 1834, three years after the marriage of her parents. 

The church, in the Diocese of Ossary, Parish of Mooncoin, would have been at Killinaspick. There was an older church ruin at Tubbrid, closer to Barronswood, but that was likely no longer in use. Her baptismal sponsors were Thomas Kinsella and Mrs. Farrell.The new church we see now at Killinaspick would not be built until 1866; when Ellen was baptized, it would have been at a smaller chapel on the same site, built in the early 1800's.

The family lived at Barronswood; a townland also known as Kileavaroon in Clogga. In 1833, her father farmed 28 acres of land. Their neighbors included two other Kinsella relatives; Denis and James, who each farmed 14 acres. It is likely they were John's cousins, rather than brothers, as it appears that they had split a 28 acres plot. Other neighbors included the Farrells (one of whom was likely her godmother, Mrs. Farrell, the Delehunty's, and the Kilmartins.

Despite being Catholic, John Kinsella and his neighbors were required to pay a yearly tithe to the Protestant Church of Ireland. In 1833, John paid a pound for his tithe.


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