Mary was probably born in 1800 in Cork, Ireland. Her parents are not known. She is Ian's 3x great grandmother.

She met Daniel Dineen (1806–1861)★ before 1838 . They had eight children.

• Johanna born on 7 Dec, 1838 in Caerleon, Monmouthshire^a1. Married Daniel Ford on 28 Jun, 1857^a2. Died in the Oct-Dec quarter of 1928 in Newport Registration District at the age of ninety.
• Margaret born on 25 Apr, 1840 in Caerleon^a3.
• Bridget★ born on 22 May, 1842 in Caerleon^a4. Married Patrick Bryan in 1864^b1,a5, Daniel Palmer in 1867^b2,a6, Joseph Ximenes★ in 1872^c1,b3,a7 and John Jones in 1889^b4. Died on 1 Oct, 1898 at St. John's Infirmary, Cardiff^b5 at the age of fifty-six.
• Dennis born on 15 Feb, 1844 in Caerleon^a8. Married Martha Frances Priscilla Watkins on 17 Sep, 1873^a9,b6. Died in the Oct-Dec quarter of 1916 in Newport Registration District at the age of seventy-two.
• John born on 30 Mar, 1849 in Caerleon^a10. Died on 6 Apr, 1849 in Caerleon^b7 aged 7 days.
• Jeremiah born on 2 Nov, 1851 in Risca, Monmouthshire^a11. Married Sarah Ann Fisher on 2 Dec, 1872^b8. Died in the Apr-Jun quarter of 1936 in Newport Registration District at the age of eighty-five.
• Mary Agnes born on 15 Dec, 1853 in Risca^a12. Married Edward Williams Mansell on 19 Oct, 1872^b9,d1.
• John born on 25 Dec, 1857 in Risca^a13,a14. Married Catherine Connors on 12 Feb, 1880^b10. Died before 1947.

By the time of the 1851 census she was living at Shoemaker's Row, Risca^e1 with her husband Daniel, a labourer and three children Bridget Dineen, Johanna Dineen and Dennis Dineen.

In the 1861 census she was living at Ty Dan y Wal, Aberystruth^f1 with her husband Daniel and four children Dennis, a coal miner, Jeremiah Dineen, Mary Agnes Dineen and John Dineen.

Mary was recorded in the 1871 census at Nailers Lane, Risca^g1 with her two children Jeremiah, a collier and John, a worker in tin works.

By the time of the 1881 census she was living at Railway Tavern, Lower Machen^h1 with her son Jeremiah, now a haulier.

In the 1891 census she was living at 3 Buck Farm, Lower Machen^k1 with her daughter Johanna.

Mary died at the age of ninety-six on 12 Oct, 1896 in Pontymister, Risca^b11

Timeline

1800

Probably born around this time in Cork, Ireland.

1838

7 Dec

Daughter, Johanna Dineen, born in Caerleon, Monmouthshire^a1.
Recorded as residing in Caerleon^a1.

1840

25 Apr

Daughter, Margaret, born in Caerleon^a3.

1842

22 May

Daughter, Bridget Dineen★, born in Caerleon^a4.

4 Jun

Recorded as living in Caerleon^a4.

1844

15 Feb

Son, Dennis, born in Caerleon^a8.

1849

30 Mar

Son, John, born in Caerleon^a10.

6 Apr

Son, John, died as an infant in Caerleon^b7.

1851

30 Mar

Recorded in the 1851 census residing at Shoemaker's Row, Risca^e1.

2 Nov

Son, Jeremiah, born in Risca, Monmouthshire^a11.

1853

15 Dec

Daughter, Mary Agnes, born in Risca^a12.

1857

25 Dec

Son, John, born in Risca^a13,a14.

1861

7 Apr

Recorded in the 1861 census at Ty Dan y Wal, Aberystruth^f1.

17 Sep

Husband, Daniel Dineen★, died at the age of fifty-five in Newport, Monmouthshire^b12.

1871

2 Apr

Recorded in the 1871 census residing at Nailers Lane, Risca^g1.
Economic status recorded as Supported by Parish Relief^g1.

1881

3 Apr

Recorded in the 1881 census living at Railway Tavern, Lower Machen^h1.

1891

5 Apr

Recorded in the 1891 census residing at 3 Buck Farm, Lower Machen^k1.
Economic status recorded as Living on Means^k1.

1896

12 Oct

Died at the age of ninety-six in Pontymister, Risca^b11.

Other Information

Other names and variations

• Mary Nighan
• Mary Nihan^{a1,a3,a8,a12,a13}
• Mary Deneen^a14,a13
• Mary Lyons^a4
• Mary Dennen^b11
• Mary Denen^a1
• Mary Dinahen^a3
• Mary Denny^a8
• Mary Dennane^a11
• Mary Dening^a13
• Mary Dineen^e1,k1
• Mary Deenne^f1
• Mary Dneen^g1
• Mary Danni^h1

Research Notes

It’s not clear whether Mary’s name was Nighan/Nihan or Lyons. On balance, though, I believe it was Nighan, pronounced “ny-an”.

Given that she was an Irish immigrant living in South Wales, it’s probably that the local administrative recorders had some trouble understanding her and her husband’s accents. With this pronunciation, it’s possible to imagine it being misheard as the more familiar Lyon if pronounced “lie-on”,

The same can be said for the name Dineen which is variously recorded as Denihan, Duneal, Deneen, Denene, Denny, Dinihan etc.

Some documentary evidence:

• Baptism of Joanna Denen on 7 Dec 1838 (born 7 Dec 1838), father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Nihan. Godparents were Jeremiah Maddin and Elen Coleman. They were from Caerleon (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of Margaret Dinahen on 3 May 1840 (born 25 April 1840), father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Nihan. Godparents were Timothy Madden and Margaret Madden. They were from Caerleon. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of Bridget Dinihan on 4 June 1842 (born 22 May 1842), father Daniel, mother Mary Lyons. Godfather was Charles McCarthy. They were from Caerleon. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of Dennis Denny on 24 Feb 1844 (born 15 Feb 1844), father Daniel, mother Mary formerly Nihan. Godparents were Daniel Nihan and Catherine Leary. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Birth certificate of Dennis Denihan, born 29 March 1844, in Caerleon, parents Daniel Denihan and Mary Lyon (modern transcription by GRO. Note registration date was 29 April 1844 which, if he was born on 15 Feb, is outside the allowed 42 days to register a birth. It seems likely that Mary, the informant, gave a different birth date to keep within the law)

• Baptism of Catherine Deneen on 31 Mar 1849 (born 30 Mar 1849), father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Naghan. Godparents were Timothy Collins and Anna Collins. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of Jeremiah Dennane on 16 Nov 1851 (born 2 Nov 1851), father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Nihan. Godparents were John Murray and Mary Sullivan. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of Mary Dian on 18 Dec 1853 (born 15 Dec 1853), father Daniel, mother Mary Nihan. Godparents were Mathew Cochlan and Catherine Sullivan. (St. Mary’s RC Church Newport - modern transcription)

• Baptism of John Deneen on 7 Jan 1858 (born 25 Dec 1857), father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Nihan. Godparents were William Desmond and Mary Deneen.

• Birth certificate of John Deneen, 20 Mar 1849 in Caerleon. Father Daniel, mother Mary, formerly Nighan. Informant was Timothy Collins, Occupier. (Copy of original writing)

• In the 1841 census Mary is living in Caerleon with her family and also with Daniel and Johanah Niohen. Daniel is a similar age to Mary, perhaps her brother.