One Last Word On The Pierces - Annie Pierce of Kinsale

Before we move onto the Patrick Keohanes, I just wanted to mention Annie Pierce whom I met in Kinsale the year I went with Aunt Nellie Keohane.

Aunt Nellie Keohane and her cousin Annie Pierce at Annie's house on Cork Street in Knisale.

Annie Pierce lived near Desmond’s Castle on Cork Street. She was related to the Keohanes, but Aunt Nellie did not remember how. 

Annie's house on Cork Street - you can see Desmond Castle right beside Annie's house in the picture below.

Desmond Castle was built in 1500 as a custom house. It was later used as a prison, and still later it was used as a workhouse during the Irish Hunger. It was restored in the 1990s.

So what happened to Annie's house? 

Annie told us that she had not been into town in seven years. When she was in the hospital, the nuns were after her to sell her Kinsale cloak and give the money to charity. Annie said the cloak was an antique and was just hanging in her house. She had a friend bring it to the hospital and gave it to the nuns. Annie said that the nuns sold it, and the money went a long way to do good.

Above is a photo from 1900 of a woman in County Waterford wearing a Kinsale cloak. Below is a postcard of Kinsale cloaks.

The Thimbles and Acorn website has this article:

"The Irish Kinsale Cloak is a traditional garment dating as far back as the 1300’s.  More commonly worn by women, this long cloak had a hood which hung down the back that could be turned up to cover the head at any given moment.  The

Irish Kinsale Cloak, Thimbles and Acorns Pattern #1700-01

cloaks required a great deal of fabric to make, sometimes up to 20 or 30 yards. Being such a dear article of clothing, it became a tradition for a mother to make one for her daughter as a wedding present.  This cloak would last her for many years as her only piece of outerwear and her covering at night. Kinsale Cloaks became popular throughout all of Europe and North America from the 1600’s until the 1800’s.  Originally made out of the brown and black wools native to Ireland, the cloaks began to take on a more elegant appearance with the use of dyed wools, broadcloth, velvets, linens, silks, and furs.  The extreme poverty caused by the Potato famine of 1846, however, saw these beautiful cloaks replaced by the simple shawls so often associated with the Irish immigrants during this period in history. Still, its timeless design never died out, and this beautiful cloak continues to be worn by many people even today."

I remember thinking that those nuns took advantage of an old woman by asking for that cloak.

Con Butler had told my father that he only had one living relative left in Kinsale – my father thought it was Annie Pierce. When I visited her with Aunt Nellie Keohane, she and Aunt Nellie said that they remembered Mary Ellen Butler. Aunt Nellie said that all the Butlers were dead. Annie said no - Batt Butler, Con's brother, was still living over in the village - he'd had a slight stroke - and had a family. (Maybe Con was referring to Batt when he was talking to my father.)  Aunt Nellie and Annie said he was a very good looking fellow; but he was different from Con. I think they said he changed like the family he joined – the Crowleys? - he thought he was better than the Pierces. Annie said that the Pierces were quiet people – honest – happy. They didn’t have much – they took everything as it came. Annie said she was Pierce and was proud of it – “I’m very proud of our name.” She said “I’m very clannish.” I had recorded most of the conversation while we were there.

Annie Pierce told us she had 6 brothers and one sister – “they’re all gone – none of them lived to be any age.” They were tall men. She said that she reared her niece. Annie said that her mother’s father was Buckley - he lived to be 96.  Aunt Nellie and I visited Annie on Saturday, July 11, 1981. She said the coming Thursday she would be 87. Annie and Aunt Nellie said they did not know how they were related. 

I found a Pierce family living in house 43 on Barracks Street in Kinsale in the 1901 Irish Census. The head of the family is 36 year old Bartholomew Pierce who is a general laborer. He was born in County Cork; he is unable to read.

His wife Margaret is 34; she was also born in County Cork, but she is able to read and write.

The Pierces have 4 children who attend school - 14 year old Mary, 12 year old John, 10 year old Michael, and Annie who is 6. Patrick Pierce is the baby - he is 4. The children were all born in Co. Cork.

From this census, I found a Patrick Pierce born on 6 February 1864 in Ballythomas to John Pierce and Mary Cooney. Sponsors are Patrick Cooney and Ellen Pierce. 

Do you remember that Ellen Pierce was Charles Pierce and Mary Leary's daughter who was born in 1843? 

Ellen's first husband was Patrick Cooney.  This makes me think that John Pierce is Ellen's brother, and Mary Cooney might be Patrick Cooney's sister - this would be why they were sponsors. 

Annie Pierce had said that her mother's father was Buckley. I found a Margaret Buckly born in Camp Hill on 21 February 1866 to Michael Buckly and Johanah Sheehan. Sponsors were John Collins and Ellen Murphy. I wonder if this would be Annie's mother? I could find no marriage record for her and Bartholomew Pierce.

The 1911 Irish Census lists a Pierce family in house #50 on Barracks Street. This is Batt Pierce and his family. Batt is 50 years old now and still laboring. The census lists him as married but Margaret is not listed. There are 6 children. John is now 22 - Michael is 20 - both are laborers. Annie is 17 - looks like she no longer goes to school - she must be helping keep house. Patrick is 14, William is 10, and Bat is 5 - they all go to school.

I wonder where Mary Pierce is - she must be 24 now - but I couldn't find her in the census. 

And I wonder where Margaret is? I couldn't find her in the census either.

That is it for the Pierces although I would love to learn more about them - especially the Con Butler connection!