Judith (Julia) Purcell 1829 : Short Biography

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Judith (Julia) Purcell 1829

Castlecomer (Kilkenny)

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Judith (Julia) Purcell emigrated to Tremont, Schulykill County, Pennsylvania, USA with her husband Alexander (Allick) McDonald and daughter Mary McDonald who was born 15 Mar 1851.Red hair is present in the DNA of this family.

After their arrival the couple had three more daughters, Catherine, Ellen and Julia. Mary, Catherine and Ellen moved to Philadelphia to find work as domestics and then married (Brown, Brett, Murphy, respectively).

Julia remained in Tremont and married Edward Holland. Judith's parents are believed to be Martin Purcell and Mary Murphy of Kilkenny. Any Corroboration would be appreciated. Bob Brett

Additional Information
Date of Birth	1st Apr 1829
Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname)	Alexander (Allick) McDonald

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Bob your Purcells and mine are the same groupe. I to have a Julia my greatgrandmother From Cloneen Clogh.

Flatbrad@gmail.com

Jim

Thursday 25th April 2019 06:23PM

Hi Jim: Thank you for responding to Ireland Reaching Out XO. Are you related to the Purcell or the McDonald family? Many of the miners from the Castlecomer area of Kilkenny emigrated to Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania in the 19th century and were coal miners. Although the mother of Mary, Catherine, Ellen and Julia was listed in the baptismal record as "Judith", the Irish often conferred the name Julia upon those named Judith. I have sent further enquiries to you via e-mail. Thank you. Regards, Bob Brett.

Dublinwoods

Friday 26th April 2019 01:52PM

Hello,

I'm searching for an Ann Purcell.... born c 1833, I've no parents names so does anyone have an Ann they can't follow up or find a death for in their tree??? This Ann came to Australia pre 1857.

kayew

Tuesday 3rd November 2020 11:17PM

Hello kayew: sorry this reply comes so late. The name "Purcell" is relatively common in various regions of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. We discovered our Purcells because of there connection to coal mining in Castlecomer, Kilkenny. They continued that work in that field when they moved to Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. They may very well have originated in Wales before arriving in Ireland (although my DNA sample does not reflect that). Unfortunately, without more information about Ann Purcell and her family, it would be difficult to comment further. Regards, Bob Brett.

Dublinwoods

Wednesday 10th February 2021 01:50AM

Hello Bob,

Our ancestor Margaret Fleming may be a cousin of Judith. She was baptised to James Fleming and Mary Purcell at Castlecomer in 1829, although from her death record, she was probably born in about 1823. A possible sister to Margaret was Anne Fleming baptised at Mayhora in 1816. Unfortunately we don't have much information about the Purcells, but we do have plenty of information about Margaret's family

Margaret Fleming married Joseph Gardiner in Castlecomer in 1843, and they had daughter Isabella who emigrated to Australia in about 1874, and Tom later in the century.

Another daughter, Kate travelled to Australia, married William Preston and then supposedly travelled to America, where their brother Obadiah Gardiner supposedly emigrated.

I wonder if they may have moved to Schuylkill as well.

Gary in Australia