Searching Kirwan, Cloak, Hogan, and Power families from Wexford, County Wexford
My 2X great grandfather, Martin Kirwan, was born about 1821 but various sources provide a calculated birth year ranging from 1819-1826. Martin Kirwan and Mary Cloak were married 18 August, 1848 in the Catholic parish of Wexford, diocese of Ferns, County Wexford. A son, Francis, was baptized 22 August 1848 in Wexford but likely died a short while later. A second son, also named Francis, was born and baptized in Wexford 8 June 1850. A third son, Patrick, my great grandfather, was born in Wexford 21 December 1853 and baptized the following day, 22 December 1853. Sometime between the years 1854 and 1856, the family immigrated to Canada, eventually settling in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario. Martin and Mary had the following children who were all born in Canada West/Ontario: Martin (1856), John (1854 or 1857), James (1858), Joseph (1860), Peter (1862), and Mary (1865). Martin was a gardener his entire life and died 19 July 1885 in Sarnia. He is interred in Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Cemetery in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario.
In numerous Kerwin family trees, the maiden name of Martins wife only appears as Mary Hogan.Martin's wife, Mary, however, was likely born Cloak, the daughter of Patrick Cloke and Mary Power. Patrick Cloke and Mary Power were married in Wexford 7 April 1823; daughter Marywas baptized 7 July 1824 in Wexford. From my research, it would appear that Mary Cloak Power remarried 24 July 1830 to William Hogan in Wexford.This second marriage to William Hogan in 1830 is, I believe, the Hogan connection which was to become part of myKerwin family tree: Mary Cloak became William Hogans step daughter and thus, to her descendants in Canada, came to be known as Mary Hogan. Mary died in London, Middlesex, Ontario 13 January 1904 and is buried in Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery in Sarnia, Ontario.
I have, to date, not confirmed Martin Kirwan's birth year nor the names of his parents or siblings. I know that there are Kirwans still living in the Wexford area and, as Kirwan/Kerwin is not a common family name in Wexford, I suspect that these could likely be distant family members. The earliest date I have for the Cloak/Power/Hogan is the marriage record from 1823.
I would be thrilled to collaborate with anyone who might have information relating to the Kirwan, Cloak, Power, and Hogan families. It may be of interest to note that my grandfather, Patrick Kerwin (1889-1963), the eldestson of Patrick (1853-1898) went on to become the 10th Chief Justice of Canada.
All Irish records mentioned above can be found in the National Library of Ireland, Roman Catholic parish records for Wexford, Ferns.
Thank you for any assistance that you might be able to provide.
Sincerely,
Michael Kerwin,Toronto, Ontario, Canada