References
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Genealogy of Eight Families Who Came to America | USA | VIEW SOURCE |
William Roche was born c. 1810 in Camphire, Lismore and Mocollop, Co. Waterford. The baptism records of the Catholic parish of Cappoquin exist beginning in 1810, but an entry for William has not been found.
His parents were Michael Roche (sometimes spelled Roach) and Mary Whelan (alternately, Phelan). The family lived on lands of Christopher Ussher, recorded in the Tithe Appointment Book of 1825 for Camphire Townlands.
Around 1833, William Roche migrated to America, first settling in Philadelphia, Pennsyvania, where an uncle, William Whelan, had established a grocery business. Joining William Roche there (they may have traveled with him) were his siblings, Bridget, John and Ellen. The baptism records for Bridget and John have been found in the Cappoquin church parish records. The four of them then removed to St. Louis, Missouri, in December 1835. William also established a grocery and dry goods business in St. Louis, and received the assistance of his uncle in Philadelphia in obtaining merchandise for the store.
He wrote to his family in Ireland urging them to remain there as life in America was difficult. Nevertheless, William's sister, Mary, eventually migrated to St. Louis with her husband, Patrick Knight (married at Cappoquin on 19 February 1829). A sister, Janet, also married at Cappoquin, in 1832 to James Knight. They probably remained in Ireland. Their sister Margaret also probably remained, marrying in 1840 at Cappoquin John Heffron. The youngest sibling, Thomas, was only about 12 years old when William came to St. Louis, but a man of the same name and age appears in William Roche's household in the 1850 United States census.
While there are a number of Whelan families recorded in the Griffith's Valuation of 1853 in Camphire, no Roche or Roach has been found, though there are several elswhere in Lismore and Mocollop.
In his correspondence, William Roche mentions a number of acquaintances from Ireland: Thomas Melligan, Michael Keefe, Edward Ryan, Patrick and James Knight, Mrs. Ussher, Mr. Frederick, Mr. Keily, Mr. Shea., Michael Brown and Patrick Mulcahy.
| Additional Information | ||
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| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1810 (circa) | VIEW SOURCE |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1868 (circa) | VIEW SOURCE |
