Catherine Coll de Valera Wheelwright was born in 1858 in Bruree, Co. Limerick, Ireland. She emigrated to New York City in 1879, where she met and married Vivion de Valera. She became a domestic there. In 1882 she gave birth in New York City to Eamonn de Valera, who was to become the first President of the Irish Republic, Prime Minister of the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland, and President of the Republic of Ireland. Vivion de Valera died in 1885, and Catherine then sent her young son, Eamonn, to Limerick to be raised by his grandmother and uncle. She then remarried to an English born coachman, Charles Wheelwright, and they moved to Rochester, NY. She later gave birth to a daughter, Ann, and another son, Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Wheelwright were staunch supporters of Eamonn de Valera and his cause for the establishment of the Irish Republic and, in 1916, Mrs. Wheelwright campaigned successfully for the suspension of the death sentence placed on her son, an American citizen, by the the British government. Charles Wheelwright died in 1929, and Catherine Wheelwright died in 1932. Both are buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
Catherine Coll de Valera Wheelwright was born in 1858 in Bruree, Co. Limerick, Ireland. She emigrated to New York City in 1879, where she met and married Vivion de Valera. She became a domestic there. In 1882 she gave birth in New York City to Eamonn de Valera, who was to become the first President of the Irish Republic, Prime Minister of the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland, and President of the Republic of Ireland. Vivion de Valera died in 1885, and Catherine then sent her young son, Eamonn, to Limerick to be raised by his grandmother and uncle. She then remarried to an English born coachman, Charles Wheelwright, and they moved to Rochester, NY. She later gave birth to a daughter, Ann, and another son, Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Wheelwright were staunch supporters of Eamonn de Valera and his cause for the establishment of the Irish Republic and, in 1916, Mrs. Wheelwright campaigned successfully for the suspension of the death sentence placed on her son, an American citizen, by the the British government. Charles Wheelwright died in 1929, and Catherine Wheelwright died in 1932. Both are buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
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See more Wheelwright or Coll memorials in:
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Wheelwright or Coll
- Rochester Wheelwright or Coll
- Monroe County Wheelwright or Coll
- New York Wheelwright or Coll
- USA Wheelwright or Coll
- Find a Grave Wheelwright or Coll
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