My query is regarding the possibility that my 3xsGreatgrandparents Denis Nowlan and Jane Dowd come from Co. Cork. Several years ago when visiting the Townland of Drombeg near Listowel in County Kerry where my GGrandfather William Nowlan (son of William Nowlan and Mary Walsh and grandson to Denis) was born in 1862 and grew up I was surprised to hear from a local Drombeg resident that "it was said the Nowlans came from Cork". Returning to NZ I heard back from some Australian family who remembered that yes this had been rumoured in their family!
I have searched in vain for a marriage for Denis Nowlan and Jane Dowd. The first record I find for them is the birth of Mary Nowlan to Denis and Jane in 1824 in the Listowel Parish, Kerry. In chronological order the next info I have is from their grandson Denis Nolan a well known Priest in Northern NY, USA who records in his 1910 census that his father (William my 2xsGGrandfather)) was born in India. Then in 1834 I find the birth of Maurice Nowlan born in the 89th Regiment Barracks in Fermoy , Cork. One of his sponsors was a Mary Nowlan. On Find My Past I have found an 1830 birth in Madras for a William Nowlan and these 3 births align for when the 89th Regiment was in Ireland and India then Ireland again.
I have not been able to find an Army Pension for Denis Nowlan so perhaps he left the army before the Regiment headed offshore from Ireland after 1834 and before he had been in the Army for at least 12 years. Perhaps he stayed in Cork and raised his family there, and for this reason son William Nowlan did come from Cork but is this where his father Denis came from originally?
I have found a Dennis Nowlan and partners recorded in the Tithe Applotment Books for Knockduff, Cullen Parish, Co.cork 1825-1834 but this is the period when Denis was in the Army so perhaps unlikely this is him. I have searched the Valuation Office Books but can not find him there.
I have found a Jane Dowd the sponsor in a 1856 Listowel baptism for a William Fitzpatrick from Limerick with mother Jane Nowlan (Jane is mentioned by her nephew Rev Denis in another place) so have searched for birth and deaths for Jane Dowd in Listowel with no success. But the fact that this baby was baptised in Listowel Parish when parents are recorded as living in Limerick, makes me think that perhaps Jane returned to her mother for her sons birth. Which could mean that by then Jane Dowd was living in the Parish of Listowel. And perhaps Jane originates from the Listowel area???
I wonder if some one might have some other ideas of what more I can do to find out more about Denis Nowlan and Jane Dowd and their children.
I have one puzzling piece of information about Denis's son William Nowlan (my 2xs Greatgrandfather) who married Mary Walsh and settled in the Townland of Drombeg. Williams son Rev Denis was included in a book called Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York, published 1910. Denis has recorded his father William as "well educated, a skilled accountant and merchant" (he also records that his father William was born in 1834 in the East Indies , when the family were already back in Ireland and it was Maurice born in 1834 and he mentions a daughter Jane but not the daughter Mary). I am wondering how a son of an Army private would be given an education in Ireland enabling him to attain the position of Accountant and become a Merchant? What I know is that they raised their family on a small farm in Drombeg from which they were evicted in 1889 (yes furniture thrown out on the road) after living there for 30 years. Thankfully the 1901 census records them back living there so somehow things were resolved. If William was an Accountant and/or merchant are there some records in Ireland that have these kind of records?
Many thanks for reading this til the end and in anticipation for any thoughts on how I can go forward.
kiwibird56
Sunday 23rd Jul 2023, 05:31AMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Kiwibird56,
My name is James Cussen, I live in Montreal, Canada.
I have just two things to tell/ask you.
My wife and I have had birds in our home for the last 20 years and the last died last year.
He was a Diamond Dove and we called him Kiwi since that type of bird is from Australia.I just wanted to tell you that when I saw Kiwi.
When Ireland opened up as many records as possible on June 30, 2022 I discovered that my 'Cussen' name came from Listowel, Kerry, Ireland. Not the original place but a start - I'm thinking Limerick is where the relatives came from and moved to Listowel.
That is where William Cussen met Honora O'Connor, I know she was born in 1807.in Listowel but William I am having problems finding out about him.
The Cussen name was in the start of just being used in our family tree.
There were several names that it might have been - Cousin, Cushen, Cushing for example before changing to Cussen.
During the time that I was picking up notes for the Cussen's I learned about names like Walsh, Enright, Magee, Flaherty, Morris, Healy, Dowde and Costello - names at Sponsors for baptism's for example.
William and Honora had six kids and one of them was Mary born in 1829. She married Eugene Dowde.
I was given a Dowde (sometimes Dowd) history starting in Listowel, with Eugene and Mary, then the Dowde history to when they went to New York. I also found out there are Cussen's in Australia but Eugene and Mary are buried in Listowel.
I can try and find the name of the person who sent that to me, maybe you know him. The dates for Mary are not accurate for her birth year but that is okay, The two died a week apart.
If that interest's you let me know...
James
James Cussen
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Hi James, many thanks for your reply and my apologies for not replying sooner but I have only just seen it as I didn't receive a notification that I had replies to my post.
Many of those surnames you mention as sponsors are also woven into my Walsh and Nolan family. My Jenni /Jane Dowd married to Denis Nowlan was born c. 1800 so it's possible she may have been Eugene Dowdes Aunty or perhaps his older sister depending on when he was born. I wonder if the person who gave you the Dowde history also has info about Eugenes parents. I would be interested in making contact with him if that was possible and will email you.
Kind Regards
Chris in NZ
kiwibird56