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Patrick Powers and Bridget Kane Powers- 1868?

WaterfordDungarvan (Waterford)

Hello! My g-g-grandfather was Patrick Powers. His wife was Bridget Kane. Their son, John, was born 10 June 1872 according to USA death records.Patrick and Bridget stayed in Ireland- we were told they lived in Dungarvan area. John said he met his wife, Norah Leahy, at a dance in Clonmel. Have recently seen her place of birth/residence in Rossmore, Tipperary. Her church was in Newcastle, Tipperary.

John's siblings included: Anastasia (b. 1876)
Richard (b. 1867)

James (b. 1870)

There might have been other siblings who did not come to New York. The above four children of Patrick and Bridget's did come to NYC.

Looking for advice on navigating the waters of POWERS records from someone with "boots on the ground" in Ireland.

Thank you!

Ann Marie

Ann Marie

2 replies

Ann Marie,

I found Anastasia Power’s birth on 13.3.1872, registered in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford. (Note that the surname had no S. That was perhaps acquired in America). The townland was given as Ballykirogue. You can view the birth certificate on this link:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1872/03258/2194021.pdf

Griffiths Valuation for 1851 lists an Anastasia Power farming in Ballykerogue Little. She had a house, outbuildings and a garden on plot 2, plus 20 acres on plot 1. She was probably a widow.

There was still a Power family farming there in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Waterford/Mountkennedy/Ballykeroge_Little/1756348/

And in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Waterford/Mountkennedy/Ballykeroge__Little/666086/

I couldn’t see the other 3 births you gave but the name Power is so common that there are dozens of entries to go through. I didn’t have time to look at them all. However you can search them yourself and perhaps you will get lucky. Expect most of the ages to be out by a year or two, like Anastasia’s. People generally didn’t celebrate birthdays in Ireland in the 1800s and usually just guessed their date of birth.

I noticed a marriage for Thomas Power of Ballykerogue to Mary Ellen Navin, on 3.7.1898. See:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1898/10429/5797610.pdf

Ballykerogue Little is just off the Dungarvan to Waterford road, a few miles east of Dungarvan. You are probably unlikely to get it on a satnav and may need to ask locally to find it precisely.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello, Elwyn, and THANK YOU for the information!  Hope you are enjoying the festivities of the Christmas-New Year season!

Just opened your email, and first glance might be a match for Anastasia's birth!  She did not stay in Ireland, though.  Not sure when she left for America, but she moved to New Jersey.  She married Patrick Coffey (spellings there are different) who was from Ireland (not sure where).  Not sure if they met in Ireland or in USA.  They were married in Manhattan in 1902.

I will trudge through records to see if I can find information about her siblings (Richard, John Joseph, and Joseph all born in Waterford to the same parents - per their death certificates)......I do know that John Joseph married a girl from Rossmore, Newcastle, Tipperary (Norah Leahy).  Was fortunate to walk around their home and church area in September with my mother and another wonderful member of your organization.

Thank you for the explanation of their ages!  It is so hard for us to imagine how someone might not know how old they are at any given time!!  Guess there were very few calendars hanging on the walls of their homes back then!

Will look at my maps to find the best Ordnance Survey for the area of Ballykerogue. 

Thank you for adding to my winter projects as I continue the search!  Might have reason for a return trip next year!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday!

Ann Marie

Ann Marie

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