Mary Sarah Brady

1893-1979

In loving memory of Mary Convery [Mrs Brady] who died Thursday 19th April 1979. A beautiful woman of indomitable spirit. Much loved and fondly remembered in the hearts of family.

About Mary Sarah

Name: Mary Sarah Brady
From: Rocktown, Derry, Ireland
Age: 86 years old

Offer Condolences

Music

Song Title:Wild Irish Rose
Music by the O'Neill Brothers www.pianobrothers.com

Candles

Sunday, April 18, 2010, 11:46:42 AM From Joseph Mcguiggan: "I often think of you. Your spirit still lingers in Rocktown."

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Life Story

Mary Sarah was born on the 11th April 1893, the 10th and last child of Michael Convery and Rose Ann McAtamney from Rocktown, Knockloughrim, County Derry. Mary had four older brothers and five older sisters.

Mary and all her siblings were all born at the family home in Rocktown, which is in the civil parish of Maghera, lies on the boundary with the civil parish of Termoneeny and is in the Roman Catholic parish of Lavey [Mayogall].

Milestones

1872: Michael Convery marries Rose Ann McAtamney Michael Convery, a famer, from the townland of Rocktown and Rose Ann McAtamney from Carick in the townland of Dreenan, County Derry were married in Mayogall Roman Catholic church on Thursday 8th Feb 1872. Michael, son of Michael Convery, was aged 21 years and Rose Ann, daughter of John McAtamney, a farmer, was aged just 17 years. John Mellon and Patrick McAtamney acted as witnesses.
1872: birth of William John William John, their first child, was born on Friday 20th December 1872. Sponsors at baptism were John Mellon and Sarah Mellon. William John, when has father died, was left the small farm at Oldtown, Rocktown. He didn’t marry but stayed at home and tended the family farm. Most of the work on the farms was done by horse in those days and William John was a skilled horseman. On Fri 16th January 1948 he was out in the adjoining fields, letting his land. He took a heart attack, died in the field, and he was carried into the house dead. He was 76 years old. It snowed that night.
1875: birth of Michael Michael, their second child, was born on the 7th April 1875. Sponsors at baptism were Robert Craig and Catherine Keenan.

1877: birth of Anne Anne [Nancy], their third child and first daughter, was born on the 7th March 1877. Sponsors at baptism were Patrick Scullion and Brigid Mellon. Anne taught in Rocktown school as a monitor and then, aged about 25, entered the convent to become a nun. She changed her name to Mary Ludovina at novitiate. She spent time in the North of England, was in Oxford, and Scotland (Aberdeen). Sister Ludovina, in 1952, aged 75, got home to Rocktown for the first time. She finally returned to Ireland, to the Nazareth House, Ormeau Road, Belfast, in Sep 1961. On the 6th of June 1964, Sister Ludovina died, aged 87, in the Nazareth House, and is buried at the Nazareth Lodge, Ravenhill Road, Belfast.
1879: birth of Brigid Jane [Brigid] Jane, their fourth child, was born on the 27th April 1879. Sponsors at baptism were Bernard Convery and Elizabeth Scullion. Jane didn’t marry but worked at home on the farm as a housekeeper and helping out on the farm. Jane was accomplished on the Jews/Jaws harp. She died on the morning of the 7th April 1961, aged 81.
1881: birth of Patrick Joseph Patrick Joseph, their fifth child, was born on the 3rd November 1881. As a young man Patrick worked in McGlades of Knockloughrim, Cabra. Patrick McGlade was a general merchant and although Knockloughrim was just a small hamlet it had a train station and the McGlades were a significant enterprise in the area. Patrick Joseph began worked for McGlades as a grocer's assistant. Even though McGlades' merchant's was only a short distance from the family home in Rocktown Patrick boarded with the large McGlade family along with drapers' assistants, governesses, domestic servants and a nurse! He worked for McGlades for at least 12 years, going on to manage the grocery, hardware and spirit stores. In 1912 Patrick, along with his friend Mathew Devlin, who also worked as a grocer's assistant in McGlades, decided to emigrate to New Zealand. A social and dance was held in Rocktown school for the purpose of giving them a pleasant night before their departure. Dancing was kept up with great vigour until the early hours of the morning, with Patrick and Mathew supplying the refreshments! Patrick and Mathew then set sail for the land of the Southern Cross. Patrick first worked on farms in the Heriot district. He then married Veronica Louisa Kearney, who was born in New Zealand, but whose parents, John Kearney and Mary McErlane, were also believed to be from South Derry. Patrick then moved to Waimate where he owned a confectionary shop and later a tobaccconist business. Patrick and Vera had 3 children, Kevin Barry, Colleen Rosemary and Laurette Anne. Patrick Joseph Convery passed away on Saturday 23rd March, 1963, aged 81 years
1884: birth of Ellen Ellen, their sixth child, was born on the 29th February 1884.
1886: birth of Catherine Catherine, their seventh child, was born on the 18th February 1886
1888: birth of James Henry James Henry, their eighth child, was born on the 19th May 1888
1890: birth of Rose Rose, their ninth child, was born on the 27th November 1890
1893: birth of Mary Sarah Mary [Sarah], their tenth and last child, was born on the 11th April 1893
1904: James Henry emigrates to America James Henry, a clerk, on 29 October 1904, aged 16 years and 5 months, unknown to his family, pays his own passage and with $140 US dollars in his pocket sails from Derry port aboard the steam ship SS Columbia. After a 9 day sailing he arrives at the Port of New York on 07 November 1904, never to return to Ireland. He travels on to Philadelphia to stay with his good friend John Mullen at 2643 Agate St.
1910: James Henry marries Florence Mary Dunn On the 30th September 1910 James Henry, having resided in the United States for more than 5 years becomes a naturalised citizen. On the 11th October, 1910, aged 22, he marries a Philadelphia girl, Florence Mary Dunn, aged 24, a daughter of Charles James Dunn and Emma Tyler, in Philadelphia.
1912: Patrick emigrates to New Zealand. In 1912 Patrick, along with his friend Mathew Devlin, emigrates to New Zealand.
1912: birth of Florence Loretto Convery\ Florence Loretto Convery the first child of James Henry and Florence Mary Dunn was born in Philadelphia, USA. Loretto, as she came to be known, was also the first grandchild of Michael Convery and Rose Ann McAtamney.
1914: Catherine Convery marries Joseph McGuiggan On the 17 February, 1914 Catherine Convery married Joseph McGuiggan, a cattle dealer, of Hammond Street, Moneymore Co. Derry in the RC chapel of St John and St Trea, Moneymore, in the of parish Ardtrea, Co. Derry. Samuel James McNally and Catherine's sister Rose were witnesses to the marriage.
1914: Michael Convery marries Sarah McKeagney On Tuesday 30th June, 1914, Michael Convery, aged 39, marries Sarah McKeagney, aged 34, in Mayogall Roman Catholic church. Felix McMullan and Lucy McMullan act as witnesses.
1915: birth of Michael James McGuiggan Michael James, named after his two grandfathers, was the first child of Joseph McGuiggan and Catherine Convery and was born in Moneymore, Co. Derry on the 13th Jan 1915. James, as he came to be known, was the second grandchild of Michael Convery and Rose Ann McAtamney. When his father died in Nov 1918 James was just 3 yrs old. After primary school in Moneymore he boarded at the Marist school, St. Mary's Dundalk. He then studied at the Marist House of Studies, Milltown, Dublin; University College, Dublin; Paignton, Devon, England and at Debirt in Belguim. Father James as he became known was ordained to the priesthood for the Marist Order at Paignton, Devon, on Sunday 22nd Sep 1940, and celebrated his first Mass the following day. He taught for 36 years approximately. He taught French and History in the Catholic University school in Dublin from 1944 to 1954; taught in St. Mary's College, Dundalk, Co. Louth from 1954-1960, and was principal there; Fr. James had a wide interest in sport, coaching school rugby and gaelic football teams etc. He himself was capped for Leinster schools rugby team; taught in Chanel College, Dublin, 1960-1979, and retired from there. He was then curate in Clonoe, Co. Tyrone from 1981-1996 arriving on a temporary basis to fill a vacancy and remaining for 16 years until his death! He died on Thu 19th Dec, 1996 and is buried in the McGuiggan grave, RC graveyard of St John and St Trea, Moneymore.

Shared Memories

Days of merriment! from Joe McGuiggan

How a song can evoke memories!

Gone but not forgotten from Joseph McGuiggan

Thinking of you today. Your spirit lives on in Rocktown!

Memories of the Converys of Rocktown from Nan

I was sent to Rocktown when I was seven years of age and stayed with my Convery aunts and uncles for seven years. My younger brother Joseph had gone earlier when he was a toddler. We both attended Rocktown School. My mother Catherine Convery had lost her husband to the great flu of 1918, and with 3 small children and a town store to look after, she was very glad of the extra support. We came home during the school holidays.

My memory of Rocktown is of a farming community where neighbours helped each other out, morrowing it was called. Likewise with the Convery family. Everyone had their job to do. William John, and Jane spent their lives on the farm tending to the cows, pigs, hens, and crops. Jane did all the housework, milked the cows and planted the spuds. She was known as the silent worker and was an angel really. She never once chastised us.

William John was the main farmer and looked after the horses, Dan and Dolly. I remember him walking with the horse and cart filled with cabbages, or plants as they were called from Rocktown to the market in Cookstown.

Nell trained as a nurse in London. She spent her holidays back in Rocktown footing turf but would never tell that to her nurse friends when she returned. She came back to live in Rocktown and was happy with her own company.

Anne was very clever. She went on to be a nun and was only allowed home once in later years to Rocktown. I don't remember what the occasion was but I recall her visiting us in Moneymore on her way to the family home where Nell had baked a big cake. She wrote lovely letters and missed home a lot.

Rose had a name as a matchmaker She was very good but had a hot temper!

Mary the youngest loved her fashion and enjoyed nothing better than getting dressed up and going shopping in Maghera or Derry, where she would visit my brother Joseph who was boarding in St. Columb's College. She was very good to him. She was also good at baking and making butter and handy with a sewing machine. She once made me a lovely embroidered velvet dress.

Michael married before he went to Australia, came back and bought a farm in Killard. He was a nice quiet man and my nephew James reminds me of him.

I don't remember James or Patrick. They had emigrated before my time in Rocktown. James didn't write home much but Patrick did though his writing was hard to make out as it was all joined up!

Lastly my mother was a hard worker. She always said that hard work and prayer got her through life's trials and she was thankful for everything.

a smile and a wave from your great niece

My most vivid recall of my great Aunt Mary (Auntie Brady) was her telling me when I was a very young teenager that I had the most loveliest white teeth when I smiled and then in the next breath she asked me if they were my own! Like Joseph I remember that great wave of hers which she has now passed down to me! xxx

My great aunt Mary from Joe

I remember 'Auntie Brady,' as someone who was very good to my father as a boy, who was very glamorous and who loved the style. She enjoyed nothing better than a day out sporting herself in Magherafelt or Maghera. She loved 'merriment' as she called it and she had a special wave for us as children when we departed Rocktown in our father's car. I am privileged to have her old gramophone on which she often played her favourite song 'The stone outside Dan Murphy's door'

Photo Gallery

Anne Convery [Sr. Ludovinia] 1877 - 1964

James Henry marries Florence Mary Dunn 1910

Rose Ann McAtamney 1855 - 1923William John Convery 1872 - 1948Michael Convery 1875 - 1966Brigid Jane Convery 1879 - 1961Patrick Joseph Convery 1881 - 1963Ellen Convery 1884 - 1969Catherine Convery 1886 - 1975James Henry Convery 1888 - 1977Rose Convery 1890 - 1974Mary Sarah Convery 1893 - 1979Florence Loretto Convery 1912 - 1954Joseph McGuiggan 1884 - 1918