Margaret Mary Fitzsimons, born 8 Sept 1896, married my mother’s father, Francis (Frank) Healy in 1931 and they lived in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, all their lives. She died 26 November 1953.

Margaret Mary had seven siblings, of which I have little information:
• Patrick (b. 16 March 1882; died 26.11.1957 in Manor Kilbride; no info on any spouse or family);
• Martha (b. 16.9.1883; died 21.10.1954; married to John Browne; lived in Manor Kilbride; no info on any offspring);
• Anna Marie (b. 11.2.1886; became Dominican nun, Sr. Mary Laurence);
• John James (b. 4.11.1887; d. 4.4.1960; believed to have remained unmarried; lived in Manor Kilbride);
• Edward (Ned) James; b. 28.4.1890; d. age 29 during flu epidemic; may have had a son, Owen Fitzsimons; I have no info on any spouse or other offspring);
• Christopher (Christy) Thomas (b. 5.5.1892; d. 23.1.1976, Manor Kilbride; unmarried);
• Brigid Catherine (b. 16.4.1894; died approx age 15)

The father of these eight children was Eugene or possibly Owen/Eoghain Fitzsimons and was married to Anna/Ann/Annie Murphy.

Eugene/Owen’s father was, I’m told, either John or Robert Fitzsimons of Ballylow, Wicklow, who may have originally come from Scotland. Brothers John and Robert Fitzsimons are shown as living on same land in separate houses in 1853, as per ‘Primary Valuation of Ireland’ document. John appears to have died around 1868.

I have contact with the descendents of Eugene/Owen’s brother, Edward, who married an O’Neill, so I have some limited info on those descendents, but they have little info and even less interest in genealogy, that I have discovered thus far. I am not aware of any other siblings Edward and Eugene/Owen may have had.

As per my mother, her mother, Margaret Mary died of a stroke in 1953 while talking with the local priest. Her husband, who died in 1937 of cancer of the throat, was the local rate collector (or whatever they called it; he collected the taxes door to door) and his wife, Margaret, took over for him in that job after he died. Frank Healy liked to play the fiddle.

I would very much like to learn more about my antecedents and to make contacts with any relatives in Ireland or elsewhere. Although I am American, I plan to be in Ireland throughout 2008 and hope to make many contacts and increase my data. If you can help, I would love to hear from you.

Also, the Fitzsimons of Wicklow crisscross the Healy family there in numerous ways and I have info on that side as well if anyone seeks anything specific.

Thanks!

Siobhan Gallagher