We are hoping to visit Wexford and Wicklow this year and I am having a last-ditch attempt to find out any more about my 3xgt-gps as possible before I come.
My cast-iron facts about them:-
Simon Jorden (usually Jordan) married Mary Roberts 25 Nov 1839 in Wicklow, witnesses Jno Berney & Pheoby Wall (sic).
Simon was a merchant seaman working the boats in the coastal trade. I have many sightings of him in the Seaman Records 1841- 1883. He is described variously as being born in Wicklow, Wexford, River Chapel Wexford, Irishtown Wicklow, Car_n_t? Wexford. He sails with his sons Simon Jnr and James Jordan and with his sons-in-law Terence Early and Patrick "Fred" Stokes.
In 1872 he appears in The Wicklow Newsletter and County Advertiser when a James Brien is accused of and charged with, the assault and wounding of Eliza Jordan, his daughter. They are living at Summer Hill, Wicklow, and my 2xgt-gm Mary Jordan and her husband Patrick "Fred" Stokes is also there.
I have probable sightings in Griffiths Valuations and Petty Court Sessions.
In 1854, I have a very likely sighting in Griffiths Valuation, 3 Irish Street, Corporation Lands, Kilpoole, Arklow, Wicklow. A Patrick Stokes, probably his son-in-law's father (and my 3xgt-gf) is a few residences along.
1n 1868 he is mentioned in the newspaper as he joined the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society with his son-in-law Terence Early.
I believe I have found him at the end of his life in the Dublin Workhouse, which he stays in on and off 1886-1890. At one stage he is "living in boats".
I think his death could be 2 July 1899: Gorey Infirmary Simon Jordan Widower 85 years Labourer Senile Decay 1 year certified, but am worried about the date and that no mention is made of him being an ex-seaman. And why would he be in Gorey Infirmary when he has been an habitué of Dublin workhouse
The biggest question is his date and place of birth.
I quite like:-
Baptism of Simon Jorden 25 April 1817 of James & Mrs Jorden, Oylegate, Ferns, Co Wexford. This couple also had a son, James. I am a DNA match with a descendant of James's, but then we could both be wrong!
Thank you for reading. Any thoughts or guidance gratefully accepted. I do of course want to visit Summerhill and River Chapel, although I'm sure they've changed a bit since his day! I'd also like to visit the places he sailed from and Irish Street.
I think I had better write about his wife Mary Roberts in another post.
Susan Sherman