Assistance with tracing Ancestors from Kell, County Meath: GURREN Family

I am trying to find Birth/Baptism/Marriage/Death/Burial details of my ancestors who once lived in Kells.

I have already found many details of some family ancestors through research her in Australia, however the events that occurred in Ireland I find are very difficult to ascertain.

The Family Name is spelt three (3) different ways in the Australian branches of this family.

All the information that I currently possess is:-

Edward GURREN

Born about 1798-1809, Ireland.

Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with his wife and children per ‘David MacIver’ 22 Feb 1856.

Died 10 Jan 1875, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.

Buried 11 Jan 1875, Old St. Luke’s CofE Cemetery, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.

Married about 1830, (Kells ?) Ireland.

Spouse: Mary SMITH (1811-1872).

Born Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her husband and children per ‘David MacIver’ 22 Feb 1856.

Died 2 Nov 1872, Menangle, New South Wales, Australia.

Buried 2 Nov 1872, St. John’s Catholic Church Graveyard, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.

Children:-

Anne (1832-1910), Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Died 3 Nov 1910, Granville, New South Wales, Australia. Buried: 4 Nov 1910, Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia. Have Baptism date/place for Anne, February 1830, Kells, Meath.

Bridget (1834-1909), Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Died 7 Jan 1909, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. Buried: 9 Jan 1909, Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia.

Julia (1836-1891), Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Returned to Ireland at some later date, reason and date unknown. Died Kells, County Meath, Oct Qtr. 1891.

Eliza (1839-1898), Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Died 15 Feb 1898, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. Buried Old CofE Cemetery, Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia.

Catherine (1842-1859), Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with her parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Died 15 Dec 1859, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Burial unknown.

Edward (1844- abt. 1911) Born (Kells), Ireland. Arrived in the colony of New South Wales with his parents and siblings 22 Feb 1856. Married Agnes Ann Clark (nee KELLY) in 1871. Absconded from his wife, Agnes, sometime after 1874. Death/Burial unknown.

Edward’s parents were:-

Richard GURREN (1780-bef.1856). Occupation in 1796 Flax Grower, Killallon, Meath, Ireland. Source: http://www.failteromhat.com/post1796.php

His spouse was Ann (1780-1835) Born and Died in Meath, County Meath, Ireland.

Mary’s parents were:-

John SMITH, died before 1856

His Spouse was Bridget, died before 1856

Upon their arrival in New South Wales on 22 Feb 1856 Edward (snr.) states his Religion as CofE. His wife Mary and the children are recorded as RC.

If Edward was indeed CofE then it would have been very difficult to marry Mary SMITH in a Catholic Marriage as the proposed marriage would have an impediment of “mixed religion” and would require Mary to obtain a dispensation from the Catholic Church before the Marriage could take place.

Edward’s Death Certificate, issued in New South Wales, Australia, states his Religion as “Church of Rome.” He may have converted to Catholicism after his Marriage to Mary but it is interesting that all of the children have their Religion recorded as RC. It is always a requirement for a Dispensation to permit a mixed marriage that both parties clearly agree that any children of the marriage would be baptised and brought up as Catholics.

Paul S

LAWSON

NSW

Australia