John Dynan/Dinan : Short Biography

1John Dynan/Dinan was born in Ireland (County unknown, but maybe Cork!) between 1803 -1812 depending on various documentation listed during his lifetime. He travels at some point from Ireland, he appears on records in Lancashire in 1829 and he marrys a Welsh born woman  from Holyhead, Anglesey callled Ann (Griffith) Parry in Manchester. He is listed as a Tailor. Only witness names are the regular Cathedral witnesses! 

1829 They have a son John Dynan, who was Baptised in Holyhead, Anglesey (Records found) and this John 'Junior' never appears with his family and siblings as he is either visiting his Welsh Grandfather and Step Grandmother in Holyhead on the 1841 Census, or lives with them permanently. 

1835 they have a son Charles Dynan Baptised R/C in Rochdale. 

1838 they have a son Jacobus Griffith Dynan Baptised R/C in Liverpool.

1841 Census the family are living in Liverpool, name is John Dinan and he is a journeyman Tailor from Ireland. (Same people just different spelling). 

1842 they have a daughter Ann Dynan christened in Liverpool. All R/C Baptisms. 

In 1850 John gets on a Ship the 'Lady Franklin' in Liverpool and sails to New York. Arriving safely in New York. We presume he was going ahead to scout out the location before maybe moving the family there after him. Sadly nothing more is heard of him, no death can be found etc. 

On the 1851 Census his wife Ann (with children Charles, Griffith and Ann) lists herself as Widow! We do not know if John her husband died, disappeared or set up a new life for himself etc. Maybe she put Widow on the census as it was more respectable than deserted or such! 

John 'junior' joins the Merchant Navy as a Teenager and later desserts The Empress at Pernambuco. It looks like he works his way back to England over the next year or so,  later rejoining the service with a slightly varied DOB (but only by Days) and still being born in Holyhead, Anglesey, the only Dynan baptised that year there!  

This Dynan/Dinan line has been a really tough one to try and break regarding John Dynan/Dinan b1803-1812 a Tailor. Nothing leads anywhere. A family verbal tales says that someone in the family was "the Harbourmaster of Cork" but I havent been able to corroborate this, as he may not even have the same surname but be a family member!

Also theres a verbal tale of two Dynan men, cousins maybe, suddenly jumping on a Ship and leaving the family behind...this originally was attached to John Dynan/Dinan 1803-1812 but having seen his entry in 1850 and likely death in 1850/51, I now believe its his son by the same name born in Holyhead in 1829 and on a Ships Manifesst with another Dynan called Mick Dynan (if my memory is correct!). 

The biggest family tale is about John Dynan fighting in the American Civil war and dying at The Battle of Bull Run/Manassas. His Bottle Green uniform with Silver Buttons being sent home to the family in Liverpool after his death, the pockets being stuffed with 'useless money' which the family burnt in a time of need. They later discovered that the money would have been honoured as currency after the War was over! The Silver Buttons they also had to sell at a time of need. I now believe the buttons would have been Silver Coloured and a Curiosity Value, rather than Solid Silver, as a normal man would not have had solid silver buttons I presume! The Unifrom had a Hat, but I dont know what that looked like, but a big surprise to the family was that "the uniform was from the wrong side" to that which they believed he fought on! However, Ive since read that Uniforms were 'whatever you could get your hands on' and often there were cases of 'friendly fire' deaths as the Uniform situation was so confusing! 

Theres verbal tales of someone being a Crack Shot...so maybe the Green Uniform was from being a sniper! 

There is more information, but I think thats the best outline! Thank you.