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Thanks for some great information and a lot of good ideas.

I know he entered service at age 16 as a ship's carpenter, so I'm guessing he received training before then.  I will follow the link you gave for apprentice information.

I've been intrigued by the St. Johns, New Brunswick connection.  Until I saw that, had no idea how many Irish emigrated through Canada.  He ended up in NYC - I'm guessing the Brooklyn Navy Yard - but have yet to find any of their records.

New Brunswick becomes even more important as I have tried to find out who his wife was.  They had three children while living in NYC.  After his wife died, he placed a daughter in a convent, sent his sons to live with a family in Dudley, MA, and seems to have gone back to sea as he listed his occupation as 'sailor' on 1870 census.  The family he placed his sons with has no discernible connection to him - until I found that the wife was from New Brunswick.  I'm theorizing she was the sister of his wife.

Will also check out the Maritime History archives.  I have no record of him after the 1870 census.  Not with his sons on 1880 census and apparently was not at his son's wedding in 1887.  I've searched records for America, Ireland, England.  No idea what happened to him.

Thanks for all the great ideas - much appreciated.

Ann

Working on research for Nahor Staples, born ~1804 in Mendon, MA.  Definitely the same man we have family records for as born in Herkimer, NY.

Sure they are same man - same DOB, same wife and children, with their dates of birth a perfect match.

Same situation with his middle three children.  They are listed as born in "Uxbridge, MA" and also have records for "Brunswick, NY" another is "Holliston, MA" and "Norway, NY".  And my gr-gr grandfather is just listed as Brunswick, NY.

The Staples family was one of the founding families of the town of Mendon and had good size parcels of land.  I have absolutely no idea why Nahor and his wife would be traveling between upstate NY and an area outside of Boston, MA.

I looked into industry in Herkimer, but there didn't seem to be much.  Nahor's family seemed to be weavers and farmers. 

Only other thought was religion.  Herkimer, NY was voting at one point to determine what churches they wanted in their town.  But I think there'd be some documentation if he were some sort of preacher.

Anyone have any theory at all why this well-established family from Mendon/Uxbridge area in Massachusetts would be back and forth between Herkimer/Brunswick New York?  Thanks.

Hi - 

I'm researching Edward Cooney, born 1819, St. Mary's, Clonmel, County Waterford.  Seemed like a major breakthrough until I was told Clonmel is in both Waterford and Tipperary and I should probably search both.

Looks like your Judith Cooney had a son in 1880.  So she may have been born 1850-1860, oldest daughter of John Cooney.  Which means John might have been born 1820-1830.  My Edward was born in 1819 - parents Thomas Cooney and Joanna Connor.  Colman, Tipperary seems to be a good distance from Clonmel - solidly in Tipperary - but figured I'd at least check in to see if any chance of a connection. 

Well, now that I have found Edward's Merchant Seamen's record, I was able to find a birth certificate.     Showed parents Thomas Cooney & Joanna Connors.

Next  I searched Thomas Cooney & Joanna Connor for other children. William & Thomas came up in 1828 and 1833 - and a marriage certificate for 1825 for Thomas & Joanne.  (Edward was born in 1819). 

When I did a search using Thomas Cooney & Joanna (no last name) - four more children came up who would have been older than Edward, but born much closer to him than the younger two.

1)  Were they two different families?

2)  There was a family note 'orphaned age 9' that seemed to refer to his son, but considering it for Edward as well

3)  How did a young boy from Clonmel get trained to become a ship's carpenter by age 16?

And as a beginner - should I be posting this somewhere else?  Clonmel brings up the whole Waterford or Tipperary issue as well so not even sure which county to post in.  Still learning. 

Thanks for any help and direction.  ~  Ann