My name is Dennis Morton and I reside in Sydney, Australia. My grandmother was Harriet Morton (nee George) born in Roxburgh, NZ to Peter and Rebecca George (nee Kennedy).
I was hoping you could start me in researching some information on Rebecca Kennedy, my great-grandmother, who was born in County Donegal and died in Roxburgh, NZ in 1888. Rebecca Kennedy was born to John Kennedy (labourer) and Jane Beattie in 1848/1850?, Glenlee, Upper Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland and emigrated to NZ in 1867.
Rebecca was one of three orphaned (?) sisters (Anne, Eliza Jane) who emigrated to NZ at different times and married men in the Roxburgh area (Otago). Rebecca Kennedy, travelling alone, left Gravesend on the 15th February, 1867 on board the “Lincoln” arriving in Lyttleton, NZ on the 19th July, 1867. Rebecca is noted to be a “Domestic Servant, 19 years of age” and travelling with no other family members.
Rebecca died in 1888 Rebecca married Peter George in Roxburgh, 1869 (photo attached). Anne married William Mercer in 1866 and Eliza Jane married Mr Haughton in 1868.
In anticipation, thank you for any assistance you can render as I have had no luck tracking down Rebecca in Donegal.
DJMOz
Wednesday 27th Mar 2019, 02:50AMMessage Board Replies
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Dennis:
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
Can you clarify the religious denomination for Rebecca? RC records start in 1850 and when I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland, I did not find any baptismal records for children of John Kennedy and Jane Beattie. (Church of Ireland records start in 1809).
You can also add the story of Rebecca's emigration and life in NZ to our XO Chronicles site and possibly someone will see a connection https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-database
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 27th Mar 2019, 04:10PM -
Roger,
I have not been able to discover any new information on the Kennedy family. Are you able to provide some other search suggestions?
Many thanks,
Dennis.
DJMOz
Tuesday 3rd Sep 2019, 11:47PM -
Dennis:
Unfortunately, I don't have any further suggestions. I did check the 1857 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Donegal and there were 23 John Kennedy records in many different parishes but none in Killybegs parish.
The Griffiths also had 32 Beattie/Breatty records spread throughout Donegal but again no Killybegs records so no help there. I can't find a marriage record or baptismal records.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 4th Sep 2019, 07:31PM