I am trying to identify the family of Bridget Ahern. She died in Australia in 1894 as Bridget Fitzpatrick wife of Hugh. Her death certificate shows she was born in Waterford father John and mother Bridget. I believe she came to Australia wih her sisters Ellen and Mary or Marg in 1842 aboard the Thesis likely born in 1825. Could anybody assist?
Regards Robert
Robert,
If you can access the passenger list for the ship Bridget Ahern sailed on, you will see that it says she and her two sisters were natives of Tipperary, not Waterford. (I saw it on Ancestry.)
I found on RootsIreland a Bridget Ahern baptized in Tipp in 1831 with parents John Ahern and Bridget Kiley (or Kelly). I do not know if this is your Bridget. This one had sisters Catherine and Honora. I did not find baptisms for the sisters you mentioned.
It is possible that John and Bridget were NOT her parents’ names. Death cert information is provided by a third party and they may not have had the correct information.
Bridget Aherin
Baptism: 24-Nov-1831
Address: Shawer
RC Parish: NEWPORT
Co. Tipperary
Father: John Aherin
Mother: Bridget Kiley
Sponsor: Mary Mack
Thanks Patricia,
Her details were provided by her son in law and may not be correct but she was living with him and her daughter at the time. Myself and several others have worked on the premise that our Bridget was aboard the Thesis but that is disputed. Her age is shown as 68 thus putting her born in1825 or 1826, as it was in February likely 1825. There is conjecture as to Waterford and Tipperary depending on which document you refer to. I will look at John and Bridget Keily as her first born daughter was named Catherine.
Again thanks for your assistance
Robert
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:66HN-YPM3 ; Record of Bridget Ahearn's birth on family search 24/11/1831, seems to confirm details provided by Patricia above.
I feel this is unlikely as my Bridget Ahern married a Hugh Fitzpatrick in July 1845 in Geelong Australia. That would put her at only 13 years and 8 months My research puts her as born in 1825 which matches with her death certificate.
Robert.
Hi Robert,
Perhaps consider that Bridget herself obviously did not provide the age listed on her death record. Someone else did, someone who may have been wrong, grieving, etc. Or the person writing down the info may have made an error.
In genealogy, we often find great discrepancies in ages shown in records. At the time your Bridget lived, people were not as aware of their age or birthday as we are today. Birthdays were not celebrated in Ireland in those days. People were not asked for ID like we are; age just wasn't on their radar.
I hope this is helpful.