Shanagolden

[buckolt]

Is there anyone who could help me to trace my Grandmother's birth/baptism and parentage please. She came from Shanagolden, her name was Kathleen Mary Reynolds and she was born c.1890/91.  She married in a RC church in Dublin and her father's name was William Reynolds (merchant).  She also had a brother called Joseph or John Colman Reynolds who I believe was born c.1894.
This is all I know about her and I am completely stuck and would be so grateful if anyone could help me.

Liz

[Christopher]

Hello Liz,

There were eight families by the name of Reynolds in Co. Limerick during the period of Griffiths Valuation in Ireland 1848-64. The Valuation was conducted in the county in 1853. http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm
This address shows the townlands in the county where people with the surname lived at that period. http://www.failteromhat.com/post1845.php

Best Wishes, Christopher

[buckolt]

Hello Christopher

Thank you very much for your reply and the advice.
I will get down to checking it all out tomorrow. Hopefully I will find a connection somewhere.
I must admit that I find townlands/parishes etc very confusing, this might make it clearer.

Regards
Liz

[michelleH]

Hi liz,my mums maiden name was Reynoldsand her dad came from shanagolden in Limerick and his name was Joseph Colman and I know in the 1911 census he was living in parkgate street with his sister and her husband and was about 19 i think,do you think we are connected,Michelle

[buckolt]

Hello Michelle,
Yes! I am sure we must be related, 2nd cousins at a guess.

I am so pleased if we are - I didn't think I would be able to trace any relatives on my father's side.  I had found out that Kenneth Colman Reynolds (son of Joseph) had died a few years ago and had given up hope of finding anyone.

Since my original post on Rootschat I have managed to trace my grandmother's (Joseph's sister) baptism and those of several siblings.  There were 10 children, but only 3 were living in 1911. Obviously my grandmother and your grandfather - do you have any idea who the other surviving one might have been?

I would love to hear from you again and any other information you might have.
Regards Liz

[michelleH]

Hello Liz,Kenneth colman was my uncle alovely man who was also my god father and spent alot of time with us as children as he married late in life and has one son himself also called Kenneth  .Uncle ken lived his whole life in Limerick and his wife and son live there still.My mum was Kenneths sister and the eldest child of Joseph Colman reynolds.My mums name was Thelma Reynolds and died  in 2009.They lived in Athy where they seemed to have a good life.My mums brother Joe died quite young from Tb.I can honestly say that i dont think my mum knew that she had any living relatives.I did once ask her about her dads  side of the family and the only comment she made was that her dad had gone to his mothers funeral alone by train to Limerick so they obviously never met.My grandfather died at quiet a young age fifties i think.My mum trained as a nurse in Dublin and always spoke adoringly about her father.He married a Mary Dobbyn known as Angela,She was very beautiful and well connected I would say ,I was about 2 when she died.I am the eldest of five children and I have a brother Kenneth Colman my mother seemed anxious to carry on the name.Can you give me any history from your side I look forward to hearing from you,Michelle

[buckolt]

Hello again Michelle
Thanks for your information.
My father Fintan Breen was born in Parkgate Street in 1911 and his brother Liam 1913.  Sadly Liam died in an accident age 20 in England.
My grandmother Catherine Mary (known as Kathleen) b 1887 Shanagolden lived until she was nearly 80. Joseph Colman was born 1893, I have traced the birth/baptism of six other brothers and sisters - as I said before - seven of them had died before 1911.
I found most of this information on 'Irish Family History Foundation' site and 1901 and 1911 Shanagolden censuses.
For some reason my grandmother came to England about 1916 leaving the children behind. She apparently visited them sometimes and her husband Edward Breen (chemist) and the children did come to England a few years later.
My father died in 1978 and I regret not asking him about his family.  I was always very conscious that his mother had left them and that his brother had died and I didn't want to upset him. Looking back, he would probaby have liked to tell me about his family. I had just one brother Nicholas who died in an accident age 29. He was in the United Arab Emirates and was a Civil Engeneer.
Found some info and photos re Kenneth and his amateur dramatics on (I think) Athy Nationalist - Eye on the Past - by Frank Taffe. I'm afraid I can't remember the actual website, but I think I was 'googling' J C Reynolds dentist Athy!
Liz

[michelleH]

Hello again Liz,My grandfather was a dentist  in Athy.My mum married and lived in a place called ballymount which when we were children was in the middle of the country alas no longer .My dad died in 1995 and my mum moved to live in kill,Co.kildare,living near my sister.Our family name is Hetherington.I am the eldest of five and am in my fifties ,having one sister Angela and three brothers Eamon,Kenneth and Liam.My grand father  Joseph Colman married Mary Dobbyn called Angela in what year ,icouldnt say.So sorry to hear about your brother that must have been a very difficult time for you.I am married with two children aged 19yrs and 15 yrs.I am going to send you a photo of Joseph Colman and his wife Angela ,my mum Thelma in her younger days ,Looking forward to hearing from you again.

[buckolt]

Hi Michelle
I would love to see a photo of Joseph as that is the nearest I will get to looking at one of his sister - my grandmother!  Although my father and his mother kept in touch, there was always a bit of a mystery there and I have never seen a photo of her.
My maiden name was Breen, my grandfather Edward being the chemist in whose home in Parkgate Street that Joseph Colman was living at the time of 1911 census.
 
I am 60+, live in Essex have three sons in their 30's and five lovely grandchildren.  2 x four yrs, 2 x 2yrs and one 8 months.

Somewhere I have the details of Joseph Colman's baptism and marriage - I'll try to find them for you.  Looking forward to hearing from you. Liz