Power/O'Dwyer from Waterford or Cashel b1882-6

[linjarvis]

I am faced with a major brickwall and was wondering if anyone can give me a clue as to how to move forward. G/Father is John Power b1882-6 (dates vary acording to various sources) in Waterford according to census in 1901 and 1911 and 1911 marriage certificate. On marriage certificate father is listed as Michael Power. However family lore has it that he changed his name from O'Dwyer when he moved. Same family lore also has it that he was from Cashel not Waterford. There are also tales of John's sisters - Katherine, Mary and Ann O'Dwyer - who went to America and a brother Michael or Patrick O'Dwyer who died whilst poaching - story has it he jumped in a pond to hide and drowned. That is the extent of the early history and I stumped as to where to go now.

Only other thing I know from early was that John left Ireland for Wales (unsure of date) where he married Bessie Sheldon in 1911 in Neath, Glamorganshire. He was a coal miner and lost his leg in (I think) South Rhondda Colliery in 1911.

Any help or hints would be very gratefully recieved. Thank you.

Any

[Elwyn Soutter]

I'd start by trying to find John Power's birth certificate. That'll give you a further take on his parents names; then look for the parents marriage cert, which will give you their father's names. (Statutory records of Protestant marriages started in 1845, 1864 for other religions.) That should give a hint as to whether there has been a change from O'Dwyer. You'll probably have to switch to parish register records to take the line back further.


Elwyn

[linjarvis]

Thank you for this. The problem is that there a hundreds of John Power's from Waterford and even then he may have been born as John O'Dwyer in Cashel. I suspect I may have no way of going forward at present. My best hope is that someone in the future may recognise the names???

Thanks again

Lin

[ambyrne1]

This is what i have come up with so far.. Some may match

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Carrick_On_Suir/Cook_Lane/1694105/


I know its not Cashel... But in Tipp no one else matches.. as for Waterford thats another issue

[justindpower]

I have information on a Michael Power from Cashel.  The O'Dwyer connection does not ring a bell though.   

Michael Power married an Ellen Desmond who was from Cashel.  I have not come across any other Michael Powers in Cashel.

You can contact me on (*)

Justin Power

(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.

New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page:  http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php

[linjarvis]

Hi Justin

Thank you for getting in contact. I've found out lots since my last posting largely from some American relatives I tracked down and it seems that it was definitely Michael O'Dwyer or Dwyer and he married Johanna Cleen. They were from Dundrum although some of them do put Cashel on their immigration forms when they arrive in America. Are they close towns? What is still really intriguing is why the name change from Dwyer to Power by this G/father. All those who went to America kept the Dwyer surname but John, who went to Wales, suddenly becomes a Power. Some family lore suggests he may have been sponsored by a family called Power who went to Wales. Does this ring any bells for you?

Best wishes

Lin