Cooney Family Tree

Photos of Cooney Family

More Details about the Cooneys

Cemetery:  The graves of W. R. Cooney, his wife and three of his sons are located in the new Rossorry Parish Church built in the 1840s located on the outskirts of Enniskillen.

Directions: Heading west out of Enniskillen, turn left onto Rossorry Church Road before Portora school. The road twists and turns for about a mile into the countryside and the church is on a hill on the left.

Tombstone Inscription:

COONEY
In affectionate remembrance of
William McEffer Cooney died 29th May 1887 aged 22 years.
James Ernest Cooney died 11th June 1898 aged 24 years.
Alfred Carson Cooney died 29th August 1909 aged 38 years.
Emily Maria Cooney died 16th December 1917 aged 78 years.
William Rutherford Cooney died 12th September 1924 aged 88 years.
(+Scripture quote)

Great Grandparents (paternal):  John McEffer born abt 1756 (occupation farmer) and Susan McEffer born abt 1766.
Children: Ann Jane McEffer born abt 1800; James McEffer born abt 1803 (occupation surgeon), probably more children.

Grandparents (paternal): Anne Jane McEffer (abt 1803-1855 age 52) married Edward Cooney on May 25, 1824. He was born abt 1799; died abt June 1859 age 60.  Both were buried in Parish of Drumgoon, Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland.
Children: Wm. Rutherford-1838, Charles Gibson-1836, James Dundas-1834, John-1831, Elizabeth-1829, Henry-1827.

Grandparents (maternal): William & Mary (Quinton) Carson; buried in Rossory Parrish Church graveyard
William Carson 1816-1900, native of Letterbreen District,Co. Fermanagh.
Children:One child, Emily Maria Carson

Parents:
Father: William Rutherford Cooney, (born about January, 1838--died Sept. 12, 1924, age 88 years, at 15, Willoughby Place, Enniskillen)
Mother: Emily Maria Carson (bn 1842--died Dec. 16, 1917, aged 78)
Married: August, 31, 1863, in Tempo Church, by the Rev. Dr. Magee, assisted by the Rev. J. Whittaker.
Mr. W. R. Cooney, merchant, Enniskillen to Emily, only daughter of William Carson, Esq., Chairman of the Town Commissioners, Enniskillen (Sept. 3, 1863 Impartial Reporter).

William Rutherford Cooney, a native of Cootehill and his wife Emily Carson were parents of eight children (6 sons and 2 daughters), including famous preacher Edward Cooney. W. R. Cooney succeeded William Carson in the drapery business at Hibernian House, High Street, Enniskillen. Carson had moved his business there in July 1850 in succession to George Kittson and Liddle Baxter.

CHILDREN: Most, if not all, of the children of W. R. and Emily were born in Enniskillen, N. Ireland.

1) William McEffer Cooney (Dec. 13, 1864-May 28, 1887, aged 22)

2) Mary Elizabeth Cooney (February 16, 1866--March 22, 1953, aged 87, in Cambridge, England); source: March 1, 1866 Impartial Reporter Newsppr). On Sept 9, 1896, married Rev. Sydney Boyton Smith (1865-1923). (This is Helena Halpin’s mother) NOTE:  The surname of Sydney and Mary Elizabeth consisted of two names with no hyphen: "Boyton Smith."
4 Children:

a)  Captain Edward Sydney (bn around 1897-98) served in Indian Army; died in Egypt around 1920.
b)  Edith Mary Hilary ("Hila") (bn 1904 - died Feb. 7, 1981 in North Corwichan, B.C. Canada). Married Arthur Charles Baker on July 29, 1924 (Chas. bn 1894 - died 1988);
2 Children:

Helena Mary (May, 1925--April 11, 2015) married Eric David ("Rick") Halpin (deceased 2010);
2 sons: Mark and Chris Halpin (Helena Halpin provided much of the Cooney family tree information)
Richard Edward ("Dick") Baker (bn March, 1928) married Elizabeth.
3 children: Jane and twins, Martin and Tom

c)  Constance (“Con”) Emily (bn 1907) married Donald MacFaddyen
d)  Frederick Ernest ("Deric") (bn 1910) married Molly-divorced; remarried Mary.
1 Child: Richard

3) Edward ("Eddie") Cooney (Feb. 11, 1867--June 20, 1960, aged 93, in Mildura, Victoria, Australia). No known middle name. Edward lived the longest of all the Cooney children in this family. View Edward Cooney's Grave.

4) Henry ("Harry") Cooney (April 18, 1868--May 31, 1945, London, aged 77). Married August 3, 1895, to Ada Beatrice Maria Gardiner bn in Liverpool, Eng. 1867 - died 1965; only daughter of Joseph Gardiner of Barkfield, Freshfield, Liverpool. Henry and Ada travelled to Auckland, New Zealand in 1930 on SS Rangitiki. Henry obtained Certificates for First Mate (Feb. 23, 1888), Second Mate (Feb. 5 1891) and Master of a foreign-going ship (June 8, 1895).
3 Children: 
a) Ralph Carson (1898-1976)
b) Noreen (Sims) (1899-1991, aged 91) married Charles James Stanley Sims in 1929
c) Harry Gardiner "Punch" (1901-1932, in Auckland, NZ)

5) Frederick ("Fred") George Cooney (Sept. 3, 1869--April 12, 1940, aged 70 in Rotura Bay of Plenty, NZ). Married Mildred ("Milly") Tatlow Aug 28,1908 (bn July 1880-Glasgow-d. 1947 Tauranga Bay of Plenty, NZ); immigrated to New Zealand; sailed on SS Remuera Sept. 25, 1924, from Southampton, England to Wellington, New Zealand with their 4 children. View Fred Cooney's Grave.   
4 Children:

a) Violet ("Vi") (bn June 8, 1908 in Dublin Ireland) married Fred Ogden; adopted two children (Mary & John-who is deceased)
b) William Rutherford (April 15, 1912-1999) married Joyce Adeline Limozin; had five children (Denis, Judith, Jennifer, Frederick & Christine)
c) Robert ("Bob") Carson (June 16, 1915-2000) married Peggy Lila Limbrick on July 29, 1946; had 3 children (Christopher, Peter & David)
d) Arthur McEffer (Sept. 29, 1918-2008) married Betsy May Sim on Feb 10, 1945; had 4 children (Russell, Robin, Andrew and Stuart)

6) Alfred Carson Cooney (May 10, 1871--Aug. 29, 1909, aged 38; buried in Rossory Graveyard. Read Newspaper accounts about Alfred Cooney’s mysterious death.

7) James Ernest Cooney (April 23, 1873--June 11, 1898, aged 24). Died aboard "The City of Rome" on his way home from Colorado where he had gone for his health.  His body was returned to Enniskillen for burial.

8) Edith Emily Cooney (Aug 21, 1875--Aug. 3, 1929, aged 46, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Ireland); married James McConnell July 1905.
2 Children:

a) Sheila Mary (1907 in Co. Kilkenney)
b) Edith Leslie (June 15, 1909 in Co. Kilkenny--March 26, 1962)

Excerpt from W. R. Cooney's will: "In the event of my son Edward Cooney stating in writing to my said executers and trustees that he the said Edward Cooney has ceased preaching and also that he has returned to allegiance to the Church of Ireland thereby abandoning his means of living I leave devise and bequeath to my said son Edward Cooney an annuity of one hundred pounds per annum payable quarterly as a first charge out of said trust fund so long as the said Edward Cooney adheres faithfully to his decision."

Source: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland aka PRONI

William Rutherford Cooney
Date of Death: 12 September 1924
Date of Grant: 31 October 1925
Effects:  £4969 7s 10d
Registry:  Londonderry

Full Abstract:  Cooney, William Rutherford of 15 Willoughby Place Enniskillen county Fermanagh justice of the peace died 12 September 1924 Probate Londonderry 31 October to the reverend Hubert MacManaway clerk the reverend canon Isaac H. Pratt clerk and James McConnell bank manager.  Effects £4969 7s 10d