Denis Brennan & Catherine (Kitty) Talt

Denis Brennan & Catherine (Kitty) Talt married 22 May 1835, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. They had at least four children baptised Rochfortbridge Co. Westmeath:

• Anne 1836 -1902 (died Newdown, Westmeath)
• Bridget 1842 - 1916 (died Manhattan, New York)
• Catherine 1844 -1908 (died Lockhart, NSW, Australia)
• Denis 1846 - ? (date and place of death unknown)

Denis and his wife were both listed as dead on daughter Bridget's civil marriage registration 7 Aug 1881 at St Michaels Chapel, Kingstown, Dublin. Denis' occupation was listed as "labourer".

Daughter Anne married Michael Gaffney 29 Jun 1859, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. Michael Gaffney was baptised 14 Oct 1834, Kilbride, Westmeath (son of Patrick Gaffney & Catherine Briody).

Denis Brennan's wife, Kitty Talt baptised 1814 Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was the daughter of Laurence Talt bapt. Jun 1783 Mullingar (son of Mathew Talt & Catherine Colgan bapt. Jan 1764 Mullingar) and Ann Colgan.

In 1826 a Denis Brennan was listed as schoolmaster at Kilbride (see attached record). 

When Denis & Kitty’s daughter, Catherine Brennan, married in 1876 at Millchester, QLD, Australia, her father was listed on her marriage registration as "Denis Brennan" and his occupation "schoolmaster", although Catherine signed the registry with her "X" mark. This suggests that Catherine’s father, Dennis Brennan, might have died when she was quite young or in fact her father was not a schoolmaster but a "labourer" as listed on sister Bridget’s marriage registration.

Is it possible that the Denis Brennan listed as schoolmaster at Kilbride in 1826 was Catherine’s grandfather? 

Catherine Brennan also listed her mother as Catherine "Newman" on her marriage registration but it is now believed that this was an error. Catherine’s husband (William Turner) also listed his mother’s maiden name incorrectly.

I have been unable to locate baptism and death registrations for Catherine’s father nor a death registration for her mother Catherine (née Talt). Likewise, I do not have a date of death for her brother Denis.

Please can you advise.

Regards,

Shirley Turner

Melbourne, Australia