Old King John's Castle

Old King John's Castle
A view of King John's Castle from the River Shannon. Behind the castle turret is the end of Convent Street where Bridget and John's daughter, Mary, was born in 1865, just before Bridget left for America to join her husband John. Photo July 2011.

About John Thompson (Thomas) and Bridget Reidy

About John Thompson/Thomas and Bridget Reidy

John Thompson/Thomas was born in Ireland c 1831 and married Bridget Reidy (Riedy/Ready) c1851 in Ireland. Bridget was born in Ireland c1831. They used the Thompson and Thomas surnames interchangeably, but settled on Thomas prior to coming to America. In 1866 the family immigrated from County Limerick, Ireland, to Chicago, Illinois. They had eight known children, six born in Ireland and two born in Illinois. Bridget [Madigan/Thompson Genealogy] the oldest was born 1852 in or near Limerick City, County Limerick and died in Chicago in 1935. The other children born in Limerick include: Mary Ellen (c1855-1906); Patrick (1857-b1866); James (1860-1932); Martin (1862-1898); and Marian/Mary (1865-b1866). The two youngest children John (c1867-1879) and Lillian Marie (1869-1928) were born in Illinois, most likely, Chicago. The mother, Bridget, died of heart failure and pneumonia on May 3, 1900. Father, John, died of pneumonia three years later on May 21, 1904. They are both buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, December 12, 2015

John and Bridget Thomas Gravestone, Mt. Olivet Cemetery

In an earlier post, I noted there was no grave stone on the John/Bridget Thomas grave at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Chicago. My gift for my birthday this year from my husband was a stone that lists all the individuals buried in Lot S 112; Block/Section 41.


Buried in the same set of graves:

  • John Thomas (Thompson) born c 1831 in County Limerick, Ireland; died March 21, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois. Married Bridget Reidy in Ireland c 1851.
  • Bridget (Reidy) Thomas born c 1831 in County Limerick, Ireland; died May 3, 1900 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Martin Thomas baptized November 11, 1862 at St. Mary's Church, Limerick City, County Limerick, Ireland; died May 7, 1898 in Chicago, Illinois. Never married.
  • Ellen (Thomas) Halloran/Hallaran baptized April 29, 1855 Parteen and Meelick Church, St. Patrick Civil Parish, County Clare, Ireland; died January 10, 1906 in Chicago, Illinois. Married Charles Hallaran on December 2, 1877 at St. John's Church, Chicago, Illinois (Charles was born c April, 1855 in Canada; died December 2, 1902 in Chicago, Illinois; buried in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois)
  • John L. Valley born January 8, 1868 in Newry, County Down, Ireland; died August 7, 1941. He married Lillian Thomas on December 26, 1886 and they divorced prior to March, 1892 when he married Edyth Beder who died in the Iroquois Theatre fire of 1903.
  • Lillian Thomas (Vallely) Davis born June 11, 1869 in Chicago, Illinois; died July 22, 1928 in Chicago. Married first John L. Valley in 1886 and then George Davis on June 27, 1903. George was born c 1873 and died before 1920. 
  • William Vallely, grandson of John L. Vallely and Lillian Thomas Vallely Davis; son of William Vallely and Bernice Cunningham, was born December 28, 1918 and died on September 20, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois.


Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin inspecting the new gravestone, December 7, 2015.
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