Why I "Do" Genealogy
I am a little over ten years into this interest (actually an addiction) of tracing the genealogy of my family and related families. I am sometimes asked why do you do it? My answer is twofold - a love of history and a sense of appreciation.
First, what's not to love about an interest that takes you on a trip through time, and lets you explore lands and people by studying their geography, religion, architecture, occupations, political beliefs, economies, and culture (their dress, foods, & music). Add visits to libraries, archives, churches, genealogical societies, and cemeteries in near and far off places to the mix ~ and you become a time traveler, an adventurer of sorts. I have an incomplete map and get to go on a treasure hunt!
Second, I truly believe that the more we study our families' stories the greater understanding and appreciation we have for who they were, what they experienced, the choices they made, and the gifts they gave us. Everyone has a story to tell. Oftentimes our ancestors were so busy surviving that they did not have the time or the ability to tell their stories. Thankfully today we have that luxury ~ so I am doing my part to make sure their stories are told.
The Families That Make Up The Two Distinct Trees of
The Keough Corner
The Keough Corner
Members of The Keough Tree originated in Ireland, spent several generations in Newfoundland, emigrated to the United States and settled in the Pacific Northwest. Affiliated families remained in Newfoundland, some ventured to other parts of Canada, others emigrated to the United States and settled in Michigan, New York, Oklahoma and Vermont (this list is not complete and my tree is a work in progress).
These are the surnames that are most common in the Keough Tree
- Aylward
- Barker
- Dooley
- Driscoll/O'Driscoll
- Furlong
- Heaney
- Kenny
- Keough/Kehoe/Keogh/Kough
- Michan
- Murphy
- Philpott
- Tracey
- Walsh
- Whelan/Phalen
These are the surnames that are most common in the Murphy Tree
- Butler
- Doran
- Henigan/Hennigan
- Hennesy/Hennessy
- Kavanaugh/Cavanaugh
- Kelly
- Kiley
- Malone
- McDonnell
- Murphy
- Shaughnessy
- Sullivan
Oh the Places We've Been
Family in the Keough Tree came from County Carlow, Ireland (and as yet other unknown counties in Ireland) and emigrated to Saint John's, Newfoundland. They moved from Saint John's to King's Cove, then to Open Hole/Hall, and settled in Plate Cove. Most of the families remained in the Bonavista region of Newfoundland, moving to nearby communities because of marriage, employment or other opportunities. My grandfather emigrated to the United States and settled in the Pacific Northwest. Our Keoughs and affiliated families can be found in various parts of Newfoundland, other provinces of Canada, Australia, and several States in the United States.
Family in the Murphy Tree came from Counties Carlow, Cork and Kerry, Ireland and emigrated to the United States (some of them through Canada). They moved from New York and Vermont to Missouri and later settled in Nebraska (Murphys and their affiliated families settled in the counties of Holt, Johnson, and Nemaha). My great-grandparents and their children moved from Nebraska to the Pacific Northwest. Our Murphys and affiliated families can be found in Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington, as well as British Columbia, Canada.
