The Callaghans of
Effin, Limerick
(and beyond)
In an 1843 letter to his landlord Lady Gertrude Fitgerald objecting to his impending eviction, John Callaghan claimed that the plot of land in Kilbreedy Minor, Mountblakeney, where he was born, had been rented by the Callaghans for at least four generations and over 100 years. Seven of his eight children were also born there and baptized in the nearby Effin Church. They were:
William (1836-1924)
Mary Ann (1837-1901)
Michael (1838-1920)
Ellen (1840-?)
Patrick (1840-1907)
John (1842-1901)
James (1844-1938)
Kate (1850-?)
John's pleas were of no avail and the family was expelled. After his wife died and his two oldest children had already left Ireland to seek their fortunes, John brought the rest of the family to Adelaide, South Australia, where he would live out the rest of his life. Despite John having 24 grandchildren, the Callaghan name only lived into the sixth and seventh generations as a middle name. Like the ghost town that is Collinsville, California, near where my grandfather grew up, the Callaghans have become something of a “ghost family.” The Callaghans went from rags to riches to a fading memory.
As one of John's descendants who still benefits from the hard work and sacrifice of his son Michael, I have attempted here to chronicle the lives of John and his children, as well as their descendants. (The Australian branch is currently under construction.) I have tried to be as accurate and thorough as possible. Where information came from family stories or personal conversations, I have noted it and attributed it to the people who told the stories. I have verified the stories where I could and noted when I could not. For the places where I have fallen short (and I am sure there are many), I apologize.
My hope is that this work will help future generations appreciate those who came before them and begin to know and understand the people on whose shoulders they stand. I would like to especially thank Ruth Sutterquist and Judy Epps Gates at the Solano County Historical Society, Phil Pezzaglia and Beverly Bellows at the Rio Vista Museum, Janet at St. Joseph’s Church, and Leslie Batson at the Solano County Archives, as well as the librarians at the Rio Vista Public Library for all the help they gave me recreating the stories of the lives of the California Callaghans.
In New Zealand, thank you to Dave Walker of the Akaroa Museum, Nigel Intemann of the Okains Bay Museum, and Fr Geoff Gray of St Patrick's Church, Akaroa. A special thanks to Wendy Riley of the Okains Bay Museum for going above and beyond, answering my constant email queries and driving around the countryside taking photos.
In Minnesota, thank you to Rebecca Snyder at the Dakota County Historical Society for knowing all things MidWest and for taking extra time to help pull back the curtain over the lives of William Callaghan and his family.
To all my rediscovered cousins around the world, thank you for sharing the stories of your branches of the family. Welcome back to the greater whole.
Finally, I dedicate this work to my mother, the late Dolores Callaghan Quattrin, the last descendant born a Callaghan and a woman extremely proud of her heritage.
NOTE: Some pages of this website are password protected. For access email Kevin Quattrin
William (1836-1924)
Mary Ann (1837-1901)
Michael (1838-1920)
Ellen (1840-?)
Patrick (1840-1907)
John (1842-1901)
James (1844-1938)
Kate (1850-?)
John's pleas were of no avail and the family was expelled. After his wife died and his two oldest children had already left Ireland to seek their fortunes, John brought the rest of the family to Adelaide, South Australia, where he would live out the rest of his life. Despite John having 24 grandchildren, the Callaghan name only lived into the sixth and seventh generations as a middle name. Like the ghost town that is Collinsville, California, near where my grandfather grew up, the Callaghans have become something of a “ghost family.” The Callaghans went from rags to riches to a fading memory.
As one of John's descendants who still benefits from the hard work and sacrifice of his son Michael, I have attempted here to chronicle the lives of John and his children, as well as their descendants. (The Australian branch is currently under construction.) I have tried to be as accurate and thorough as possible. Where information came from family stories or personal conversations, I have noted it and attributed it to the people who told the stories. I have verified the stories where I could and noted when I could not. For the places where I have fallen short (and I am sure there are many), I apologize.
My hope is that this work will help future generations appreciate those who came before them and begin to know and understand the people on whose shoulders they stand. I would like to especially thank Ruth Sutterquist and Judy Epps Gates at the Solano County Historical Society, Phil Pezzaglia and Beverly Bellows at the Rio Vista Museum, Janet at St. Joseph’s Church, and Leslie Batson at the Solano County Archives, as well as the librarians at the Rio Vista Public Library for all the help they gave me recreating the stories of the lives of the California Callaghans.
In New Zealand, thank you to Dave Walker of the Akaroa Museum, Nigel Intemann of the Okains Bay Museum, and Fr Geoff Gray of St Patrick's Church, Akaroa. A special thanks to Wendy Riley of the Okains Bay Museum for going above and beyond, answering my constant email queries and driving around the countryside taking photos.
In Minnesota, thank you to Rebecca Snyder at the Dakota County Historical Society for knowing all things MidWest and for taking extra time to help pull back the curtain over the lives of William Callaghan and his family.
To all my rediscovered cousins around the world, thank you for sharing the stories of your branches of the family. Welcome back to the greater whole.
Finally, I dedicate this work to my mother, the late Dolores Callaghan Quattrin, the last descendant born a Callaghan and a woman extremely proud of her heritage.
NOTE: Some pages of this website are password protected. For access email Kevin Quattrin