Do you need help in Athy, Co Kildare

[Celtic Damsel]

Hi Chris as requested I have sent you the photos of the Crawley grave again , hope you get them this time, regards Damsel

[gig]

 :-[hi celtic damsel
i was just scrolling and saw you had asked me a few querys
all the way back in march i think im really sorry i never had any email alerts , please dont think i was bieing rude, i will reread the thread and get back to you asap have you got any further since then.
warmest regards gig

[gig]

  hi celtic damsel john james hill was 39 according to free bmd hope this is correct and fits with what you have
regards gig

[Celtic Damsel]

no problem GIG thanks fr the info, Damsel

[HarryC]

I don't know if you recall me, but several months ago we had a discussion concerning my ancestor, Matthew Dwen, who came from Athy in County Kildare. I have some new information which I hope will help. One thing I don't have is a birth year. I have several documents, including court records of his naturalization and church (Catholic) records of his marriage, but nothing lists an age. He was married in 1824 so a birth year of 1800 plus or minus is reasonable. He was naturalized in 1828 and the court record merely states that he immigrated as a minor.

The big breakthrough is a possible sibling, Patrick Joseph Dwen. He was a Catholic priest and there's quite a lot known about him. He was born "at Shrowlon, Parish Athy, County Kildare, Ireland, in 1795." Patrick's naturalization court records suggest a 1797 birth year. There are several points of correlation between Patrick and Matthew but, of course, no direct evidence that they were brothers. Patrick had a sister named Anastasia. Also, I've found a reference to a Peter Dwen who may have been Matthew's brother (they appear to have been in business together). "Dwen" seems pretty well established as the correct surname although "Duane--pronounced Dwen" is still a possiblity. All other variations are clerical errors. This has been an issue in the past.

Is it possible, given the above, to find records of Patrick's birth? Are there siblings, particularly a Matthew?

Harry Connors

[Celtic Damsel]

Hi Harry, the area you are referring to is spelled Srowland it is about 2 miles west of Athy Town and would come under the parish of St Michaels.

Therefore probably the best course of action would be to write to the parish office and give the family names and some approx dates and say that you are looking for any information on the Dwen family here in Athy in particular the clerygman.

I also put the name Dwen in on Irish Ancestors, (link below for you) and it says there is information on at least 7 families with the name available along with other information so if you go on there you will be able to purchase that information directly from them. The address  for the church office are St Michaels Parish Office, Stanhope St. Athy, Co Kildare and Elaine there will do a search for a €10 fee and also send certs for an additional fee this may send up a few results for you.

If you get anything specific and you want grave photos etc let me know,  but if I was to go search now for you in Dublin with the information you have it would be very time consuming and I would have to charge for my services and time which I am reluctant to do as the registrar here in the church will not allow me to search her records so it would require a trip to the national Library in Dublin and a long day or two scrolling through the records there etc so do try Irish ancestors and the church and I will ask some of the locals in the meantime and if I come up with anything will let you know.
Good luck with the hunt and let me know if you get anymore I feel you should with what you have already, regards Damsel

http://www.ireland.com/ancestor/genie/

[Celtic Damsel]

I don't know if you recall me, but several months ago we had a discussion concerning my ancestor, Matthew Dwen, who came from Athy in County Kildare. I have some new information which I hope will help. One thing I don't have is a birth year. I have several documents, including court records of his naturalization and church (Catholic) records of his marriage, but nothing lists an age. He was married in 1824 so a birth year of 1800 plus or minus is reasonable. He was naturalized in 1828 and the court record merely states that he immigrated as a minor. just wondering if you read my reply to your message harry ?

The big breakthrough is a possible sibling, Patrick Joseph Dwen. He was a Catholic priest and there's quite a lot known about him. He was born "at Shrowlon, Parish Athy, County Kildare, Ireland, in 1795." Patrick's naturalization court records suggest a 1797 birth year. There are several points of correlation between Patrick and Matthew but, of course, no direct evidence that they were brothers. Patrick had a sister named Anastasia. Also, I've found a reference to a Peter Dwen who may have been Matthew's brother (they appear to have been in business together). "Dwen" seems pretty well established as the correct surname although "Duane--pronounced Dwen" is still a possiblity. All other variations are clerical errors. This has been an issue in the past.

Is it possible, given the above, to find records of Patrick's birth? Are there siblings, particularly a Matthew?

Harry Connors

Hi harry Just wondering if you read my reply to the message you sent me ?

[HarryC]

Sorry, I was out of town for several days last week. Yes, I read the reply (I have the board set to notify me by email when there is a reply). I meant to send you a thankyou, but was pressed for time when I read the response and later thought I had sent it.  Oh well. I have been following up on your suggestions.

One thing that is clearer, now, is the year of birth of Patrick Dwen. He was born in 1795. The other date, 1797, was from an abstract from court records on file at a courthouse a few hundred miles from here. I sent for photocopies of the actual records and found an error in the abstract.  Also, the court records contain what appear to be two of Patrick's signatures. He spelled his name Dwen. That isn't a clerical error. As a priest, one assumes he was educated.

I've done some Internet searching for St. Michael's in Athy. It looks like St. Michael's is a very old church and the online descriptions makes it sound like a ruin. Is this the same St. Michael's that you refer to? Or, am I just confusing things.

[Celtic Damsel]

Hi Harry thats grand just wanted to make sure the page informed you.
No, looking for the Old St Michaels will just confuse the issue you need to contact the present St Michales Church for any information especially as you know the spelling for certain now, I would be interested to hear if you get anything from them, regards and happy hunting, Damsel