James Phelan born 1846 died New Zealand 1920

I have had great difficulty tracking my Grt Grandfathers James Phelan's (hereinafter referred to as JP) Irish Roots.  JP's Marriage certificate says he was born in Kilkenny of parents - Mary Molloy and John Phelan whose profession was stated to be LABOURER on JP's marriage certificate. He married in New Zealand in 1876.  Confusion arises because his marriage certificate says he was born Kilkenny (we assume it was town of)  in 1851 but his death cert says he was born in 1846.  No months or days for any of these two years.

We have not been able to find how he got to NZealand.  No record on Immigrant ships from UK. His oldest son John Andrew told us at his 100th birthday that his dad JP had told him of his exploits fighting in the NZ Land Wars but a search of military records had no record of his being in any British regiment in NZ

JP worked as a railwayman on the NZ system.

I have no record of his siblings names but his childrens names could provide a clue:

John Andrew Phelan                    

Mary Emmaline Phelan                

James Ernest Phelan                  

William Joseph Phelan                 

George Arthur Thomas Phelan     

Bertha May Phelan                      

Cecil Daniel David Phelan          

Alice Kathleen Annie Phelan       

Joseph Gladstone Phelan

It would be great if we could find some link but it will be hard

Michael Phelan