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Mathews family

OffalyBirr (Offaly)

My great-grandfather, James Mathews, emigrated from Ireland to New Zealand in the 1860s/1870s. There are various accounts as to his date of birth, but I believe it to be around 1836. He was known to be a Roman Catholic. He married Christina Henrietta Hansen (of Denmark) in NZ in 1877, and on one of his (NZ born) children's birth certficates, he recorded that he was from King's County. HIs children were named James, Edward Henry, Elizabeth Christina, Katherine, Barbara Ellen and William.

Very recently I found James had a brother, Timothy Mathews, who was living in VIctoria, Australia in 1898. At that time Timothy was aged approsimately 61 years, giving a birthdate of c. 1837, and had lived there "for a number of years". The correspondence shows that Timothy was a "native of Birr King's County". On www.rootsireland.ie have managed to find a baptism record for a TImothy Mathews, 30 May 1839, father John Mathews, mother Mary Herman, demonination Roman Catholic, which may be James' brother.

James spend his latter years living in Pahiatua, New Zealand, and the electoral rolls show George and Florence Mathews also lived in that (very small) town. I have not been able to determine if they are related in any way.

While I have been able to find the attached baptism record for Timothy, I cannot find anything referring to Birr for James. I have also not been able to track any shipping records that show when James and/or Timothy emmigrated.

Any suggestions as to where to search for information on the Mathews family would be gratefully received.

Kind regards

Joy Ottaway

IrelandXO member

7 replies

Joy:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The Birr RC records start in May 1838 so if James was born prior to that date, a record of his baptism will not be available. Here is the link to the parish register. http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0763  I would also look at the 1853 Griffiths Valuation head of household listings for Co. Offally and Birr parish specifically for Mathews/Matthews records.. The data is available on Roots Ireland and www.askaboutireland.ie

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger

At least I now know to stop looking for the record of James Mathews' baptism, as it will not be available. I have looked at the 1853 Griffiths Valuation records and found some useful information.

Any further suggestions on where to look for further information would be much appreicated.

 

Kind regards

 

Joy Ottaway

IrelandXO member

Further update - some months/years later.  I have since discovered that James and Timothy had a sister (or possibly half-sister) Eliza Mathews, who was one of the Earl Grey Orphans living in the BIrr Workhouse.

She came to Australia on the Tippoo Saib, arriving on 29 July 1850. She married Warren Timanus on 23 February 1854 in Sydney, NSW. She died in 1884 in Back Creek, Victoria.

I understand the Birr Workhouse records are held at the Tullamore Library, and I will be visiting Birr early next month for further research.

Any suggestions on where else to look would be most appreciated as we only have three days there.

 

Kind regards

 

Joy Ottaway

 

IrelandXO member

Dear Joy

There are a few Mathews entries in the 1821 Census who were living in and around the Birr area at that time.  Elizabeth a servant aged 25. Elizabeth aged 59 with a son John aged 24 in Clonoghill. Joseph a soldier in Crinkle Baracks aged 22. Tim a servant aged 21 in Cree and a family in Dromoyle , father and mother, Landon and Anne, aged 35 and 32 with their children, George, 8, Margaret, 6, Ruth 4, Hesther, 2 and Frances a baby.  Elizabeth and Tim could be siblings. Some of the christian names are featuring in your family.so there may be a connection.  There are records in Tullamore library from Birr Workhouse - mainly minutes of meetings held by the guardians.

I am a volunteer in a neighbouring parish and would be pleased to meet you when in Birr if I happen to be free when you are visiting.  

Regards

Margaret

email   kilcolmanoffaly@irelandxo.com

 

mgthenseyIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Margaret

 

Thanks for this - there may well be a connection gvien the christian names used.

 

We will be in Birr from 7th-10th May so will contact you closer to those dates. As we have such a short amount of time there, you may be able to save us a lot of time in our searching.

 

Many thanks and kind regards

 

Joy

Email joy.ottaway@internet.co.nz

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Dear Joy

I have sent you an email re meeting in Birr this week. I am checking to see if you have received it?

 

Regards

Margaret

mgthenseyIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Margaret

Sorry for the delay - we have been in transit but made it to the UK now. We fly to Dublin this afternoon and then drive to Birr tomorrow afternoon. We are staying at the County Arms Hotel in Birr. My phone number is +64 211921155. 

Hope to meet up with you while we are there.  

Many thanks

 

Joy

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

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