McGRATH

Catherine "Auld Kit" Casey left Carrick on Suir a young widow in early years of the first decade of 1800. The story told is that Kitty was tall and leaving to start over after loosing her young husband Wm. Casey (her maiden names perhaps Crowe). When on the quay she used her cape to conceal a young Irishman who was attempting to escape the pressgang. They fell in love on the Atlantic crossing from Ireland  to Newfoundland. Richard McGrath and Catherine Casey (a cousin of Bishop Fleming) born Carrick on Suir, Tipperary area on the border area of Waterford, circa 1800. The settled in Oderin near Placentia Bay, Newfoundland close to Pond Head Argentia where the Connors had already been working in the fishery alongside the Dunphy and Power families; the Kelly and the Fitzpatrick's, Whelan, O'Reilly as well. They were all involved with the Waterford firm of Sweetman and Saunders. The earliest Connors ancestor we know of was a Joachim oConnor, [a teacher from Dublin? or who had been sent to Dublin to study and came to NL as a teacher?] who married a Margaret McGrath. He died and was buried in Marquise, near Argentia. The Connors had a house in Pond Head near Pt. Latine and it was floated over to Dunville on the mainland. It was said to be the oldest house in Dunville and lastly occupied by the Kerrivans. I checked with the historical society and was told it was no longer standing. Joachim oConnor was either father or brother to Thomas Connors who in 1835 wed Ann Casey, dau. of Catherine Casey 'Auld Kitty' step dau of Richard McGrath.

1940s James McGrath Letter to "The Barrelman" Joey Smallwood (before he was Prime Minister of Newfoundland) details on the Casey, Connors, Houlihan, McGrath families of Newfoundland and their connection to Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming; the woman in the letter Catherine Casey McGrath "Auld Kitty" is my ggggm (Catherine Casey 1, Ann Casey Connors 2, Michael Connors 3, Louis J. Connors 4, John Kennedy Connnors 5, Joanne 6)

James Francis McGrath (1859-1902) born Placentia Bay, Newfoundland son of Richard McGrath (b. abt 1790) who died 1868 Argentia Placentia, emigrated to Newfoundland 1812 from Carrick on Suir; acted as a supplier in Argentia for Waterford merchants. "Auld Kitty McGrath" died after 1868. Granny Cove, Argentia