Bridget Kennedy of Tipperary

Mike:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I was able to locate Bridget's baptismal record on the subscription site FindMyPast.ie   She was baptized in the Newport RC parish which is in the area where Limerick, Clare and Tipperary meet. I looked for siblings but did not find any but I only looked at about 20 possible records. Suggest you scan the parish register  https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0246   I also did not find the marriage record.

Bridget likely left for America for a better opportunity and probably had a relative in Burlington who sponsored her.

Roger McDonnell

First name(s)BridgetLast nameKennedyBirth year-Baptism year1823Baptism date14 Feb 1823ParishNewportAlternative parish namesBirdhill, Drumkeen, Killoscully, Killoughscully, Newport and Birdhill, Newport and Killoscully, Newport and KilloughscullyDioceseCashel and EmlyCountyTipperaryCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)PattFather's last nameKennedyMother's first name(s)CathMother's last nameHogartyRepositoryNational Library of IrelandNational Library of Ireland linkhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000632655#page/1/mode/1upRegisterBaptism

https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0246

Hello Mike,

To add to the information about the Kennedy family that Roger McDonnell kindly submitted, the following may pertain to Bridget’s father, Patrick Kennedy:

The Catholic Parish of Newport was located in the Civil Parish of Kilvellane, North Tipperary. Bridget was born during a time when the Irish government had taxed farmers under an enumeration now called the Tithe Applotment Books. The tax was collected with the proceeds going to the Established Church of Ireland.

For more information about the Tithe Applotment Books, please go to the following links from the National Archives of Ireland:

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/about.jsp

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/aboutmore.jsp

At the National Archives of Ireland link for the Tithe Applotment Books, I wanted to see if a Patrick Kennedy was enumerated in the Tithe Applotment Books. Specifically I wanted to see if a Patrick Kennedy had farmed land in any of the townlands located within the Civil Parish of Kilvellane. Newport was situated in the Civil parish of Kilvellane, but even though Bridget was baptized in the Newport Catholic Parish, she and her family did not necessarily live in Newport itself.

I found both the index and a copy of the original Tithe Applotment Books entry for a Patrick Kennedy. This Patrick may pertain to Bridget’s father. The Tithe index shows that Patrick Kennedy was recorded in the townland of Lackamore, Civil Parish of “Kilvolane,” in the year 1827. Kilvolane is an alternate spelling for Kilvellane.

To see the Tithe index for Patrick Kennedy and four other occupiers in Lackamore, Tipperary go to: https://is.gd/AtxGy8

You can also access a copy of the original Tithe Applotment record for Patrick and other occupiers at the following National Archives of Ireland Link:
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625896/00…

You’re going to have to enlarge the Tithe Applotment page as the record is very faded. The entry for Patrick is located in the third column from the left, 4th entry down from the top of the “Occupiers Names” column.

The Tithe Applotment Book record for Patrick kennedy is circumstantial evidence that he, his wife Catherine Hogarty Kennedy, and their daughter Bridget, had lived in the townland of Lackamore.

A Google Map shows the distance between Newport and Lackamore Tipperary is only 5 miles. See the map at: https://is.gd/TXBxkd

You can view an Ordnance Survey Map of Lackamore produced between 1829 and 1841 at the following Ordnance Survey Ireland link: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,578489,660957,10,7

For a color map of Newport, Tipperary from the 1829–1841 time period, go to: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,572515,662362,11,7

On the map you’ll see the River Newport flowing through the center of town. To the left of the river, just below of the town centre, you’ll see the location of the “R.C. Chapel.” This is likely the chapel where your Bridget Kennedy was baptized.

On the modern Google Map of Newport this chapel is called “Old Church of St. John’s, just off Chapel Lane. See: https://is.gd/3p8GOs

According to an Irish organization called the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, the Old Church of St. John’s in Chapel Lane was built circa 1796 and is now roofless. To read a further description of the architecture of the church and also for a photo of the church, go to: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=TN&…

The newer church in Newport, built circa 1933, is called the Church of the Holy Redeemer off Church Road. Church Road is just to the west of Chapel Lane where the Old St. John’s Church is located. To read more about the Church of the Holy Redeemer and to view a photo of the church, go to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage link at: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=TN&…

PATRICK KENNEDY AND CATHERINE HOGARTY

In his reply to you Roger had stated that he found Bridget Kennedy’s baptism in the Newport Catholic Parish at the Find My Past website. I now wanted to see if perhaps the baptisms of Patrick Kennedy and Catherine Hogarty may have also been baptized in the Newport Catholic Church.

According to information found at the National Library of Ireland, Newport Catholic Church baptisms begin on 18 October 1795. The end date for the Newport baptism records is 1 April 1881. There are some gaps in the registers between 1795 and 1881 however. See: https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0246

I figured that if Bridget was baptized in 1823, her parents would have been at least 16 years old or older, and may have been baptized anywhere from 1795 to 1807. The Newport baptism records are complete between 18 October 1795 and 30 September 1809.

I first looked for Patrick Kennedy’s baptism transcription at the Find My Past (FMP) website. Roger had found Bridget’s 1823 baptism transcription at the FMP website. I managed to find a baptism transcription for a Patrick Kennedy at the FMP site, showing he was baptized on 11 January 1802. This means he would have been old enough to have married in the 1820s and have a child by 1823. Keep in mind however, that I can’t be 100 percent sure that this Patrick Kennedy is your ancestor, though he may be.

Attached to the baptism transcription for Patrick is a link to the National Library of Ireland and the Newport Catholic Parish registers, where a copy of Patrick’s original baptism record may be accessed for free.

To view the Newport register where Patrick’s baptism is recorded go to: https://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000632653#page/57/mode/1up

You can enlarge the baptism register page by means of round icons in the upper center/ right of the screen. The icons are white with green backgrounds. You can also access the full-screen function by clicking on the last icon on the right with the two arrows pointing northeast and southwest.

You’ll see that the baptisms in the register are all squeezed together, making it somewhat of a challenge to find Patrick’s baptism. To find Patrick’s baptism, go down the left margin of the baptism entries until you come to the entry that reads, “Die 11.” Die is the Latin for the word “Day.” The name of Patrick’s father in the baptism record is very hard to read, but may be Brian or perhaps Bernardus, though I can’t be sure what his first name really is. The name of Patrick’s mother is Honorae (Honor) Meehan. The sponsors, that is the godparents, are Gulielmus (William) Ryan and Julianna Kennedy. Julianna may have been Patrick’s sister.

Once again Mike I have to stress that I can’t be sure this baptism record for Patrick Kennedy is the Patrick Kennedy in your line, though he may be.

Next I went back to the FMP website to see if I could uncover a baptism transcription for a Catherine Hogarty in the Newport Catholic baptism registers, but was not successful in the search.

BRIDGET KENNEDY

Earlier, when I was at the National Library of Ireland site, I found a copy of the original baptism record for your Bridget Kennedy, which shows that her godparents were “Patt and Biddy Hogarty.” You can view the baptism record at: https://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000632655#page/53/mode/1up

You’ll see two facing pages of the baptism register. Bridget’s baptism is on the right-hand page, 3rd entry up from the bottom of the baptism register.

Kind Regards Mike,

Dave Boylan

Roger and Dave- thank you so much for all this helpful information! Mike.

Your'e welcome Mike.

Kind Regards,

Dave