Patrick Joseph Pollard : Short Biography

Patrick Pollard was born around 1844 in Tipperary and most likely near Ballingarry and possible a farmland called Tinnock.

Patrick Pollard is my Great Grandfather and is my namesake. My earliest records of Patrick appear in the US in Lexington, Kentucky. He was listed as a clerk for occupation on his US Army 4th Infantry, Company A enlistment for 5 years on Dec. 3rd 1872. He was stationed at Forts in the Wyoming territories. He was at Ft Fred Steele and Ft. Fetterman. In 1877 he re-enlisted for another 5 years while stationed at Ft. Fred Steele. His company would regular patrol and have skirmishes with hostile indians according to the monthly reports that were submitted to the commander. 

   Anecdotal oral history passed along to my father was that Patrick had met and was an acquainted with Buffalo Bill and Patrick was known to be a horseman.  These stories I felt could be just tall tales told by a father to his children. After discovering his military record I was able to place him in the Wyoming Territories at the same time and at the same Forts where Buffalo Bill would have stayed so perhaps these were more truth than a tall tale. 

Patrick during the last year of his second enlistment term was able to transfer back east to New York. It was always difficult to figure out how Patrick made his way back to NY area but seeing his transfer orders to report to David's Island in NY Harbor in 1881 I was able to be confident that these records did belong to Patrick. 

I had hoped that Patrick's naturalization papers would reveal parents names but when I finally located his papers from 1883 it was because of hi military record that streamlined the naturalization process and the form used did not require former military to provide those details. 

Patrick first started to show up in the business directories in Brooklyn in 1884 along with his brother William. I have little information on William except business directory listings and a mention of him in Patrick's obit. 

Patrick and William went into to Liquor sales and eventually ended up owning a few saloons and a small Hotel at one point. This can be seen in the business directory listings in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. There are also property purchases and sales that are noted in the newspaper.

Patrick married Annie McNamara said to be from County Claire. They married in Brooklyn as best I can tell. They had 3 children. 

Anastasia Pollard bn. 1888  , Robert Emmett Pollard  bn. 1890 , Hilda Pollard bn. 1897

1892 Census has them in Brooklyn 6th Ward in or around Union St Near Sackett and Hicks Sts. 

Also living with the family at the time was a child named Josephine McNamara who I assume could be a relative of Annie.

Patrick's brother predeceased Patrick at some point. Patrick died in Nov 1899. Annie McNamara Pollard died shortly after Patrick in Feb 1900. 

Patrick had drawn up papers where the children were to board at the Catholic Academies in Queens and in Sag Harbor until they were of adult age.  The sale of Patrick's assets funded the boarding of the 2 girls at the convent in Sag Harbor.  My Grandfather Robert was sent to the  Sacred Heart academy in Bayside Queens. 

I would love any help in finding Patrick Pollard's origins and siblings or family line from Tipperary.