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John Kelly & Catherine Cavanagh/Kavanagh

WexfordEnniscorthy (Wexford)

Hello all,

I am seeking clarification of my Irish ancestry.  John and Catherine Kelly arrived in New Zelaland on the "Carrick Castle" in 1874.  John was listed as being 28 and Catherine as 24.  They travelled with their two daughters Anne 3 and Bridget an infant.

John was the son of John Kelly and Ann Walsh/Welsh of and Catherine was the daughter of John Cavanagh/Kavanagh and Mary Doyle of Co Carlow.

New Zealand John is said to have been born in Clonleigh/Clonalee, Enniscorthy about 1846.  He is said to have been married on 2 August 1860 at Poullpaisty?, Co Wexford.  Catherine was said to have bee 1851 in Care, Co Wexford.

John and Catherine had more children after arriving in New Zealand, however, their children's birth certificates show a range of marriage dates from 1860, 1870 and 1880?

I found a record on Ancestry for an Anne Kelly, born 9 May 1871 at Newtownbarry, Wex, Ireland and one for Bridget Kelly baptised on 10 Jan 1873 in the Parish of Old Ross, Carnagh and Ballyanne, both have parents as John Kelly and Catherine Cavanagh/Kavangh.

I would be ever so grateful if there is someone who can help me to tie down their marriage.

John was a "remittance man".

Many thanks in advance.

vmack1968@gmail.com

8 replies

Many thanks for your efforts Roger, I really appreciate your help.

Vanessa

vmack1968@gmail.com

Many thanks for your efforts Roger, I really appreciate your help.

Vanessa

vmack1968@gmail.com

Hi this may seem a strange question but for many years generations of my New Zealand Kelly family have been told that John Kelly was the son of John Kelly and Ann Walsh/Welsh of "Kelly's Lorn/Lawn, Wexford.  Could this have been the name of a farm as I can not find it on a map.  John Kelly snr was born circa 1800 and Ann Walsh circa 1802 and she was alway referred to as "Lady Ann Walsh/Welsh" family trees.  They were thought to have married about 1830?

John their son was sent to New Zealand - rumour has it that he got a servant pregnant?  Would this have been recorded in any Church Records or Petty Sessions?

These tricky ancestors - I wish Ireland was not so far away.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also as they were RC am I better to search for Johannes or Johannis in Church Records?

Thanks in advance.

Vanessa

 

vmack1968@gmail.com

Vanessa:

I've seen Joannes and Johannes is also correct.

Kelly's Lorn/Lawn might be a local place name.

The child of the servant was likely baptized but there would be no Petty Sessions record.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello 

My husband and I have made the decision to come to the UK in late May and June next year.  We are coming to Ireland as part of the holiday and I would like to see some of the places that my ancestors lived.

So where is the best place to start as far as Wexford is concerned and are there any people that can point me in the right direction.  Is it better to be based in Enniscorthy?  Do I have to book in advance to go to the places where the records are held?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Vanessa 

vmack1968@gmail.com

Vanessa:

I was not able to find baptismal records for John Kelly and Catherine Kavana/Kavanagh.

The 1870 marriage record shows that both John Kelly and Catherine Kavana/Kavanagh were living in Clonleigh in Clonleigh civil parish. When Bridget was born in 1873, the family were living in the townland of Palace in Old Ross civil parish. Both Clonleigh and Oldross parishes are in western Co. Wexford. Clonleigh is just to the north of Oldross.

The largest town near those to parishes is New Ross. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Ross

I'm not sure what records you are looking for since the available records are listed above.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Many thanks for the reply Roger

I apologise if the last message was no detailed enough for you.

When I come to Ireland, I would like to see if I can take my ancestors story further back.  So I was wanting to know if there are any "land records" that could show where the families of John Kelly and Catherine Cavanagh were living.  

So John Kelly Jnr was born in Enniscorthy in 1833 and his parents were John Kelly a labourer and his mother was Ann Welsh (off his birth certificate).  So John as a boy would be living with his father John and mother Ann.

A son of John and Catherine's, Richard who was born in New Zealand birth certificate states that his mother was born in Care, County Wexford in 1851.  So Catherine as a girl would be living with her father John and mother Mary.

I guess I just want to find out as much as I can while I am there.

Thanks very much,

Vanessa

vmack1968@gmail.com

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