The O'Dea Families

     Mary Apjohn was born in 1767 in Old Pallas, County Limerick. The stone erected by Mary's husband indicates that she was 66 years old in 1833 when she died. She married John O'Dea, son of Line One (John the Elder), in 1785 in Kilteely Church, Kilteely, County Limerick. Although it is likely that John O'Dea and Mary Apjohn were married in the church at Kilteely, Mary never converted to the Catholic faith and continued to worship each Sunday, while John took the chilcren to Mass in Kilteely, at the church at Drumkeen. Family lore has it that she would hitch a horse to a cart and make the trip religiously every week. The children, of course, were raised Catholic. Mary Apjohn died on September 20, 1833 in Milltown in the Parish of Aglishcormick, County Limerick.¹ She was buried in Kilteely Churchyard, Kilteely, County Limerick.¹
     Mary Apjohn came from an Anglo-Norman family, was protestant and married John O'Dea, a Catholic. She was possibly disowned by her family for doing so. For more information about Mary and the Apjohn family, visit this link.