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John Jordon or variants, born c. 1807

WaterfordRossmire (Waterford)

My great-great grandfather John Jordon could have been born in the civil parish of Rossmire, County Waterford, around 1807. He may have had a sister Ann.

John immigrated to Canada (maybe via the US) and first appeared in the Census of Canada in 1851. He and his wife Catherine Kenny and son Patrick settled in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Catherine died in 1855 and John remarried Mary Leary in 1855. John died in 1882.
 

John’s father-in-law may have been Thomas Kenny, born c. 1781 in County Waterford. Thomas was in Prince Edward County, Ontario, in 1851. His wife was an Ann Jordan, born c. 1802. 
 

I have not found baptismal records or marriage records for any of the people mentioned. The marriage record of Margaret Kenny, a daughter of Thomas and Ann, states that her parents were from County Waterford. 
 

I would like to trace John Jordon back into Ireland, in particular County Waterford. There was a John Jordan in Shanakill townland but I have no proof that he is my great-great grandfather. 
 

I would appreciate any help sorting this out. Thank you. 
 

Jan J.

janyjo@shaw.ca

5 replies

Dear Jan,

Thank you for your message.

Do you know what religion the Jordans were?

The baptismal register for the Catholic parish of Rossmire (more commonly known as Newtown & Kill) can be consulted here: https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632211#page/39/mode/1up Shanakill townland is in this parish. You can also search for baptismal and marriages records on the subscription website rootsireland.ie (on Roots Ireland the parish is simply named Kill). Searching Roots Ireland would also help you to find other potential matches elsewhere in the county.

The registers for the Church of Ireland (Anglican) parish of Rossmire were destroyed in the Four Courts fire in 1922. 

If I can be of further help feel free to email me: cianflaherty96@gmail.com

Wishing you all the best with your research,

Cian

cflaher@tcd.ieIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Cian,

Thanks for your reply. 
 

I have tried all of the sites you suggested. The Jordon family was Roman Catholic. The record I found was for a John Jourdan in Shanakill, but the stated religion was Church of Ireland. Could that have been an error? I have a lawyer’s letter dated 1878 that uses that spelling.

I know that John Jordon was a weaver and tanner. Is there any way to use that information to further my research?

Thanks. 
 

Jan

janyjo@shaw.ca

Dear Jan,

Apologies for the tardy reply. 

Surname spellings almost inevitably vary, depending on who wrote them down - especially in the 19th century and earlier, when illiteracy was common.

Re Shanakill, I'd be interested to see the record. What sort of record is it, and when does it date from? It's quite possible one of the family converted - and, depending on the place and time, there could be a record of it.

The information about John's occupation could be useful, but first you'd probably need to pin down the parish or district John was from.

Sorry not to be of more help!

Cian

cflaher@tcd.ieIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Cian,

I didn’t realize you had replied. Thank you. 
 

I saw the transcription for the baptism of John Jourdan in Shanakill on Roots Ireland. I no longer have a subscription. If the Anglican records were destroyed, would it be possible that John’s family was in fact Catholic?

When the family emigrated to Canada, they were Catholic  

 

 

janyjo@shaw.ca

Hello Jan,

Apologies for not responding sooner, I completely forgot. Based on your message above, I'd say it's most likely the family were Catholic.

Best wishes with your research and apologies again,

 

cflaher@tcd.ieIrelandXO Volunteer

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