Bridget Kirby

Bridget was born in Kill Parish, Knockmahon, Waterford, Ireland on 09 March,1856 according to the Waterford Heritage Survey and baptised on 11 March.  The priest was Mooney, Sponsors: William Pope & Mary Brien (William Pope was also the witness at her parents wedding).  Her parents were Edmund Kirby and Margaret Blake.

I received a letter from Sean Murphy who had written a book called “The Comeraghs Fact and Famine” which he had information on the Kirby’s journey to America.  Edward comes to America in 1866 or 1867, leaving Margaret and the 3 children in the Workhouse in Kilmacthomas, Ireland.  Edward sends money for passage for Margaret and Michael in Oct of 1868 and they leave Queenstown for New York.   Bridget (12) and David (10) are left in the Workhouse for another year until Edward and Margaret, who were living in Mt. Hope, New Jersey were able to get enough money to send for a passage certificate for Bridget and David.  In November of 1869, on the ship “England” Bridget and David start their journey to America. They are living in Rockaway Township, Morris County, New Jersey in 1870 where Edward is mining.  It is there that family lore says that James Earls came back from the gold rush in 1872 and was visiting some cousins when he met Bridget.

On 10 July, 1872 Bridget marries James Earls by eloping to New York.  We have not found official documentation, only family lore and a bible record.  They begin life in Austin, Nevada where James is a miner.  They evenutally have 10 children, 8 whom live to adulthood.  They live in many towns depending on where James is working, which were in Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho.  He became superintendent of many successful mines and after several years in Butte, where the wash turned grey because of the soot, Bridget decides to set down roots in one city and James moves the family to Salt Lake City, Utah where she finishes raising the children. Bridgt died on February 5, 1925 of Pneumonia and was buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Salt Lake.