John Augustine Melican

In the photo, John Augustine Melican (my great uncle Jack) is the man in uniform. He was born in Co.Cork or Waterford depending on which census (1901 or 1911) return you believe. His younger brother was James Joseph Melican (my grandfather), and sister was Bridget Melican.  She married a John Stedman.  Very few Irish records found for James or Bridget.  James (no birth certificate) appears on the 1901 Irish census at age of 16 living in Dungarvan with his widowed mother Bridget, and then on the UK 1911 census. On James' marriage cert his father is given as John Melican (Dairyman).  Family lore says his mother was Bridget Hyde (one of 21 Hyde siblings who all lived in "the big house" in Dungarvan).  I recollect my father taking me to see the big house in Dungarvan (or Abbeyside) but I can't recollect its exact location.

I cannot find any record linking a Melican to a Hyde.  Family lore concentrates on two of the other female Hydes, Mary who married a Power, and Norrie who married a Hudson (Norrie was Bridget's twin sister).  

I am very keen to find out more about John Augustine Melican b.1870 (after whom my father John Augustine Melican b. 1911 was named - and through his records more about my grandfather James Joseph Melican b.1884 who's birthplace seems shrouded in mystery.  Confusingly there were two subsequent James Joseph Melicans, an uncle b.1914 and a cousin b.1945.