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Connecting the dots Help!

KilkennyFreshford (Kilkenny)

Hi! My name is Anne and I have been researching my family tree for some time. When I managed to get my ancestors traced back to Ireland  I went Wow because I was totally confused with all the parishes and different areas there were to research. What I do know is that James Grace and his wife Catherine(nee Hogan/Hoban)came to America between 1854-56. They had 3 sons with them, Thomas born abt.1850, Patrick born abt. 1852, James born abt 1855 and fourth son John born here  in 1857. James Sr. was born June 1813. On his death certicate it says he was from Gowran, Kilkenny. The only record of birth I have been able to find for a James Grace for 1813 was a record from Garranmana, Freshford for a June 3 baptism date born to Pat Grace and Anne (Nee Radcliff). I have found no marriage record for that latter two but found death records for a Pat and Anne in Freshford. He lived to aged 102 died in 1873 and she died in 1883 aged 90. As for Catherine, I have both names of Hogan and Hoban for her she was born around 1821.To add to the mix there was a tradition in the family that we are not sure where it started of using the middle name as the one they are normally addressed by. 

So my questions are:

Would they baptize a child  1-2 days after birth?

Would an obituary list children abroad?

Has anyone ever heard of that naming tradition?

Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Is Catherine's name Hogan or Hoban?

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Sincerely, Anne

IrelandXO member

3 replies

It would certainly be the tradition in the RC faith to christen a child 1 - 2 days after birth (to avoid it being left in limbo, should it die).

I have not encountered  using the middle name as formal naming tradition. It usually just happens when someone prefers their middle name.

Hoban and Hogan are both common names in Kilkenny so can?t say which is the correct one.

Griffiths Valuation for 1850 has just one James Grace listed in the parish of Gowran. He was living in Earlsbog Commons townland. He had plot 1c which was a house and small garden (30 perches). He owned the freehold of the property, which was unusual for the time. That could be your ancestor. Earlsbog Commons is about a mile west of Gowran village. You would need to check the revaluation records to see if he vacated the property around 1856, as a way of checking whether it might be your ancestor. The revaluation records are in the revaluation office in Dublin. (And are not on-line unfortunately).

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameS…

There were no Grace households listed in the tithe applotment records for 1826, so presumably the family moved there between that year and 1850.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Anne:

I may be hindering you rather than helping but a few comments.

I know you found an 1813 birth record for a James Grace-father Patrick. However, since the oldest son of James was Thomas, that would usually mean that James' father was named Thomas not Patrick.

Garranmanagh and Freshford are two small civil parishes bordering each other in northwest Co. Kilkenny. Gowran civil parish is a good distance to the southeast of Garranmanagh/Freshford.

The Griffiths Valuation survey was conducted in Co. Kilkenny in 1849. There was one James Grace listed in Earlsbog Commons townland in Gowran parish. Assuming your James was captured in the survey that may be him. There are also a number of Hobans and Hogans in that parish including two entries for Earlsbog Commons. (see link below).

The Mormon Church has microfilmed the Roman Catholic church records for Garranmanagh, Freshford and Gowran parishes back to the early 19th century. Garranmanagh and Freshford are on the same film. Gowran is on a different film. Links with the films numbers are below. You order the films from Salt Lake City and view the films at a Mormon Family History Center near you. www.familysearch.org

Roger McDonnell

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/kilkenny/gowran.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowran

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/110082

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/110123

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you both for your quick replies :)

Will double check everything. I will order a copy of the death record from the micro film, mine is a poor copy. I have been looking at the links that have been so generously posted and proceding from there.  

Sincerely, Anne

IrelandXO member

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