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My great grandmother emigrated from Ireland to South Australia, probably in 1854. She was illiterate, so there is some confusion what her actual surname was. Sometimes she was Bridget Dowling, sometimes Bridget Doolan. On her marriage certificate, her place of birth is recorded as "near Castlecomer". Of course, it was always another person that wrote her name down. Her accent may have distorted her name, to the writer's ears, anyway. I don't even know if her husband (she married John Glover from Middlesex, England, in Adelaide, South Australia in 1855) knew her actual surname. A child was given "Dowling" as a Christian name. Bridget's father is recorded on her death certificate as Thomas Doolan. In Australia, John advertised for Bridget's brother to get in touch (assuming he too had emigrated). He was called Nicholas Dowling.

Without knowing her surname makes researching impossible. Any suggestions?

Thanks

John

Johnboy

Wednesday 11th Sep 2024, 03:04AM

Message Board Replies

  • Any idea when Bridget was born? Her brother?

    Names of her children?

    Thanks.

    Patricia

    Wednesday 11th Sep 2024, 10:01PM

  • John:

    I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and found a family in the RC parish of Danesfort which would be a lead. There are two big caveats. First no Bridget in the family and second Danesfort is a good deal south of Castlecomer. 

    Parents Thomas Dowling/Dooling/Doolin and wife Ellen Butler married in Danesfort on February 26 1833

    children

    Edmund Dooling 1833

    Nicholas Doolin  1836

    John Dooling 1838

    Ellen Dowling 1843

    Margaret Dowling 1845

    Mathew Dooling 1848

    Here is the parish register for Danesfort   https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0983?locale=en  in case you want to search for a record for Bridget.

    Roger McDonnell

     

     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 11th Sep 2024, 10:11PM

  • Thanks to those that replied to my post. Bridget and John's children were named Ellen Mary (died young), Henry William Phillip, John Henry, Mary Jane, Richard, James, Florence Susan, Ellen Mary, Susan, Grace, Fanthorpe, Frank, Thomas Dowling, William Philip Jago. Of interest is that the advertisement for brother Nicholas, placed in the Adelaide Observer in 1858, states "Clare Park, County of Kilkenny". Since there is no Clare Park (that I am aware of) we wonder if that was a mis-heard Clough Pook. Here is Bridget's Wikitree page.

    https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dowling-2935

     

     

    Johnboy

    Thursday 12th Sep 2024, 08:16PM

  • I should add that we believe Bridget was born in 1835 or 1836. We have found the odd baptism record that matches the father (Thomas) and baby (Bridget) but not a corresponding brother (Nicholas) or mother, matching Bridget's daughters' names. We do not have any idea when Nicholas was born.

    Johnboy

    Friday 13th Sep 2024, 04:25AM

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