Info on Garretts, Breens(Briens) and William O'Dwyer requested.

I would be extremely grateful for any help on the Garrett family etc who lived around New Pallas in the mid to late 1800's.My great grandfather was Bill Dwyer and his mother was Hanora Garrett. I have a lot of research done, so here is a synopsis.

On 23/Sep/1826, Michael Garrett was baptised in Pallasgreen church. He was born out of wedlock to Patrick Garrett and Mary Crowe. I haven't been able to find anything further on Patrick and Mary as yet. Back to Michael, he joined the army on 2/Dec/1846 and served for almost 20 years and was discharged on health grounds with a pension on 3/July/1857. He had served abroad for over 9 years in Gibraltar and the West Indies. He was 5 feet 7 and 3/4 inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

On 14/Nov/1858 he married Margaret Breen (or possibly Brien), their address was New Pallas and the witnesses were Matt and Brigid Dwyer. They had seven children, Mary 31/Sep/1860, *Hanora* 1/Jan/1862, Michael 18/June/1865, James 6/July/1868, he died shortly after birth, Kate 12/Sep/1869 and Bridget 23/June/1872. There was another James who died after a day on 29/Dec/1874.

Margaret Garrett (the mother) died 6/Jan/1875 aged 43, the cause given was Phthisis 12 months and Michael (the father) died 2/Aug/ 1876 aged 62, the cause given was bronchitis 3 months which would have left the remaining 5 children as orphans which must have been horrendous for them. Bar Hanora, i haven't been able to find out what happened to the rest of them. 

On 4/May/1880, Hanora gave birth to a boy William in Tipperary workhouse. His official birth registration has his name as William Garrett as the fathers name section was left blank, but Williams baptism entry names the father as William Dwyer.

On 28/Sep/1881 Hanora was sent to jail for two days for deserting her child, William Dwyer. She got no fine. Her height was 5ft 4, with brown hair and eyes and a fresh complexion. 

On 4/June/1883 there was a girl Mary born to Hanora Garrett in Tipperary workhouse, again there was no father named but i reckon it is Hanoras daughter. I have more research to do on this but in the 1901 census there is a Mary Garrett in Ballinlough, Kilteely working at O'Briens, it would all seem to add up, as Hanora who was married to Bill Devitt at this stage were in Ballinlough as well.

On 18/Feb/1888 Hanora married William Devitt in Kilteely church, the witnesses were James Cahill and Anne Walsh. For one reason or another there is no record that the marriage was ever civil registered which is unusual as from 1864 all births, marriages and deaths were civil registered. They had at least 11 children that i'm sure of. John 1888, James 1892, Michael 1891 (he died in 1892 of broncho pneumonia), Thomas 1890, Michael 1894, Philip 1896, Bridget 1898, Denis 1901, Martin 1902, Patrick 1904, Margaret 1907 (she died in 1912 of pneumonia). I think there was a daughter Hanora as well.

An interesting thing about Michael Deviitts death registration is that it states that the informant was his step-father, Michael Dwyer. This doesn't tie in to anything that I know and I wonder is it an error.

Hanora died in 1924 of chronic bronchitis.

Bill Dwyer married Bridget O'Dea on 8/Nov/1903. Bill said his father was a labourer. The witnesses were John Donovan and Ellie O'Dea.

I would dearly love to track down who the William Dwyer, (who was Bills father) was, but I know it is an extremely long shot. I wonder are there any of the records of the old court house still available?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I live in hope.

Mise le meas

Sean.