Timothy O’CALLAGHAN died on November 10th, 1917 at his home, College View House on St. Mary’s Road. The recorded cause of death was Senile degeneration, 9 months certified. Timothy’s death was registered on the 13th of November by his oldest surviving child, his daughter, my great grandmother, Mary B. DAVIS of 95 Wolfe Tone St, who was present at his death.
Timothy’s death certificate suggests he was born in 1844. As yet I have not found a birth record of Timothy, son of Eugene. However, given Timothy first married in 1861 a birth year as late as 1844 is highly unlikely. Perhaps he claimed a birth year of 1844 to de-emphasise the age gap between himself and his second wife!
Death Notice
Cork Examiner
Monday morning November 12, 1917
Timothy’s death also made page 3 of the Cork Examiner:
Death of Cork ’67 Man – the death of Mr. Timothy O’Callaghan, College View, St. Mary’s Road, which occurred on Saturday, removes one of the few remaining links with the Fenian movement, in which he took an active part. At a meeting of the Old Guard Union held yesterday, a resolution was passed expressing sorrow at the death of Mr. O’Callaghan, and tendering sincere sympathy to his widow and family. It was decided that the members should attend the funeral, which takes place today at 11am from the Cathedral.
My aunt Maura recalled a family story of George DAVIS being an early Fenian and buried under a Fenian flag – green with a harp on it. It is far more likely that the story refers to Timothy, and that it was he who was buried under this flag.
Timothy O’Callaghan’s will
Timothy made his will four months before he died.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Timothy O’Callaghan of St. Mary’s Road in the City of Cork Master Tailor and I hereby revoke all former Wills and Edicts by me at any time heretofore made and I devise and bequeath unto my wife Margaret O’Callaghan all my property of every nature and kind and I appoint my said wife Executrix of this my will. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of June 1917 – x his mark signed, published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request in his presence and in presence of each other are three being present at the same time have here unto signed our names as witnesses name having been first truly read over and explained to him by me William Murphy when he seemed to thoroughly understand the same and put his mark thereto – Wm Murphy Solicitor Cork Michael Cremen Law Clerk 44 South Mall Cork.
There is a record in the National Archives showing that Timothy’s will was settled on 2nd February 1918.
I have not found a record of how much was left in Timothy’s will.
Margaret (O’Brien)’s death
Margaret (O’Brien) O’CALLAGHAN outlived Timothy by only two years despite being much younger than him. She died on 8th December 1919 at College View, St. Mary’s Rd. She was recorded as being 66 years, a widow and house keeper on her death certificate. She died of Lobar Pneumonis, 8 days certified. One of the likely causes of lobar pneumonis is TB. Margaret’s death was notified by her daughter, Josephine (O’Callaghan) OLLIVERE, who was present at her death.
Margaret was not buried with Timothy. She was buried in St Joseph’s cemetery, on 10 December. Her burial record shows her as 73 years old. She was buried in a grave owned by Denis Murphy, where her daughter Josephine would be buried decades later.
Source: St Joseph’s cemetery burial registers, Cork City Archives.
Margaret’s will was granted on the 5th January 1920. The administrator (primary beneficiary) was Josephine (O’Callaghan) OLLIVERE. M.W., daughter of the deceased[1]. I noted there were no mention of daughter Christina.
I have not found anything to indicate how much was left in Margaret’s will.
I will return to Josephine in a later piece.
[1] I presume M.W. means married woman.
In Search of Thomas Davis 