Mary Hefferon and Stephen Green

From RootsIreland….      Children of Mary Heffernan and Stephen Greene baptized in Waterford, and one civil birth registration in Tipperary.

Name:   Margaret Greene            

Baptism:              01-Jan-1854

Parish/District:   ST MARY'S CLONMEL

Co. Waterford

Denomination:   Roman Catholic

Father:  Stephen Greene              

Mother:               Mary Heffernan              

Sponsor 1 /Frederick Greene

Sponsor 2:           Ann McCarthy

www.rootsireland.ie

Name:   John Greene     

Date of Baptism:              24-Dec-1856      

Parish/District:   ST PETER & PAUL'S          

County  Co. Waterford

Denomination:   Roman Catholic

Father:  Stephen Greene

Mother:               Mary Heffernan

Occupation:                                     

Sponsor 1 /

               Michael Greene

Sponsor 2 /

               Catherine Mason

Name:   Mary Greene     :             

Date of Baptism:              22-May-1861

Parish/District:   ST PETER & PAUL'S

County  Co. Waterford

Denomination:   Roman Catholic

Father:  Stephen Greene              

Mother:               Mary Heffernan

Sponsor 1 /Informant 1: James McGrath

Sponsor 2 /Informant 2: Honor Cantwell

Name:   Margaret Green              

Date of Birth:     26-Mar-1864

Registration Date:            08-Apr-1864

Address:              Duckett St. Clonmel       

Parish/District:   CLONMEL

Gender: Female 

County  Co. Tipperary

Denomination:   Civil Parish

Father:  Stephen Green  

Mother:               Mary Heffernan

Occupation:       Servant               

Sponsor 1 /Informant 1: Mary Green

Name:   Margaret Greene            

Date of Baptism:              27-Mar-1864

Parish/District:   ST PETER & PAUL'S

County  Co. Waterford

Denomination:   Roman Catholic

Father:  Stephen Greene              

Mother:               Mary Heffernan                                            

Sponsor 1 /Informant 1: Patrick Heffernan

Sponsor 2 /nformant 2:   Mary Murphy

Notes:

Hi,

I see you have Stephen's death year as 1872, but his wife remarrying a year earlier, in 1871. Is this correct?

Hi Patricia,

Firstly, many thanks for your interest, it's much appreciated.

The record I have for Stephen's death is only a possible match. Stephen and Mary had a daughter (Catherine - my Great Grandmother) in 1868, born in Gosport, Hampshire. I know that Stephen was a soldier and have found a death record for a Stephen Green who died in the Haslar Military hospital, Gosport in 1872, described as a Marine.

In 1871, Mary and Catherine were living near Preston, Lancashire and the census describes Mary as a widow. I've read that it wasn't unheard of for an unlawful second marriage to take place if circumstances dictated that something needed to be done to secure a future in difficult circumstances, and that the second marriage might take place some way away from where the woman would be known.

So, I've an open mind on Stephen's death record as I've not found anything more definite as yet, but it is a reasonable coincidence.

Thank you also for the birth / baptism records you've found. I didn't know about Margaret and Mary, but the year does fit for John, so definitely something to add to the mix!

Regards,

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm,

I'm guessing that the Stephen you found was not the correct one. Any chance of finding one who died perhaps 1868-1872? Or 1867, if he was not alive at the time his daughter was born?

I'm thinking that bigamy laws would have prevented Mary from remarrying while her husband was living? Just a thought.

Hi Patricia,

Many thanks for your advice. The problem is that the only clue I have regarding Stephen is that he was a military man, and he was possibly based in Gosport around 1868. I don't know where he was born and haven't been able to find a record for his marriage to Mary, so although there are records to look at, I have nothing to pin them against with any confidence.

Interestingly, I have this evening found a record of a Stephen Green (a Marine) being sentenced in 1870 to 18 months imprisonment following crimes committed in Alverstoke, Gosport. So although illegal, did Mary run away and re-marry whilst Stephen was doing time. The plot thickens!!