William (Billy) Farrell married Ellen Blake in the 1830's in County Meath, Ireland. William was born somewhere near Syddan, County Meath probably circa 1810. Ellen was born near Kilmainhamwood, County Meath circa 1810. She died on 16th October 1904 aged 94 years. After their marriage William and Ellen lived on their 90 acre farm which was located in the townland of Upper Summerhill, parish of Drumcondra (in Irish, Drumconrath), County Meath where they raised their family. William died on 8th May 1861.

Twelve children were born to the marriage. Their fourth child was named Mary. She was baptised on 12th February 1842. Subsequently she emigrated to the United States. In April 1869 she married Thomas Cleary in Shelby County, Illinois. They established a home in Shelbyville and had seven children. Mary died on 16th May 1926 at the home of her daughter Rose Walker in Rogers, Benton County, Arkansas, USA.

The following photographs have survived in a family album in Ireland. If you think that you might be related to the Farrell family please contact Niall Foley in Ireland at: ntf@utvinternet.ie

This is the only known photo of Ellen Blake Farrell. She was born circa 1810 and died in Ireland in 1904.

This photo of Mary Farrell Cleary was taken in the studio of Sitler & Launey, Shelbyville, Illinois and sent back to her mother in Ireland.

This photo of Rose Taaffe and Owen Bannon was probably taken in the 1890's in Ireland or the USA. Their relationship to the Farrell family is unknown.

This photo is of Richard Farrell and his second wife Mary Brouder. They married in Ireland in 1927. A son William was born in 1930 but he died in infancy.

Richard was born in 1855, the tenth child of William and Ellen. His first marriage was to Kate Cahill of Drumcondra in 1885. Their daughter Mary Farrell was born in 1886 married Thomas Albert McGlynn of Dublin in 1913 and died in 1918. Richard died in Carlanstown, County Meath in April 1943 and is buried in Syddan cemetery, County Meath.

Surnames of interest because of familial connections to the Farrell family are: Blake, Cahill, Callan, Cleary, Saul, McGrath, McGlynn, Foley, Bannon and Taaffe.

VISIT THE NEIGHBOURS: The Shalvoy Family of the USA are busy tracing their roots in Summerhill, Drumconrath. Their ancestors were neighbours of the Farrells. Now, if only we knew what they knew! Their website is well worth a visit and is at: Shalvoy Research

This website is under heavy construction. If you have any information about the extended Farrell family, in particular the 1870's Farrell-Cleary branch in Shelbyville, Illinois, USA please contact Niall Foley at the above e-mail address.

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