Ancestor: Honora Dempsey Gafney
Descendant: Margaret P.
Honora was born June 19, 1800 in Westmeath, Ireland. She married Owen Gafney on November 5, 1822 in Westmeath. Owen died on September 9, 1839 leaving Honora with nine children under the age of 14. According to the 1847 Griffith Valuation, she had a house worth only 10 pounds and no buildings or garden.
In June 1848 Honora was charged with stealing three hens, was found guilty and sentenced to three weeks hard labor. This was during the "Great Potato Famine" and Honora was probably trying to feed her nine children. In 1849, Honora and four of her children emigrated to America, via Canada on a "coffin ship." The family then went to Detroit, Michigan where she lived with her daughter, Elizabeth. Honora died in Detroit on June 22, 1876.
Honora must have been a strong and determined woman to make it through all she did and not lose any of her children.