Looking for Information

Deirdre:

I looked on Roots Ireland www.rootsireland.ie. The Nenagh baptismal records go back to the late 1790s.but there are gaps.

There is an 1840 baptism for a Thomas Gleeson in the nenagh parish records , however, I was able to determine that the father of this Thomas was not Patrick so if you are confident that the father's name was Patrick then this may not be the right record. Based on a review of the 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing, Gleeson was a very common name in Nenagh at that time.

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/cork/kilmocomoge.htm

By the way, Roots is a pay site to see the transcription of the church record.

Roger McDonnell

Thanks so much for the speedy reply.     I have been looking for records of this man (my great grandfather) for about 30 odd years - without any real success.   I even visited the Nenagh Heritage Centre about 25 years ago.    I keep trying as more records are made available.

The details I have are from two documents.

The first is Thomas Gleeson's death certificate - died in Auckland, New Zealand 24 Sept 1916.   According to that certificate he was then aged 82 yrs (ie born C1834) born in Nenagh and his father was named as Patrick Gleeson - mother Catherine Gleeson, maiden surname O'Neill.

The second lot of information comes from his enlistment in the British Army - enlisted at Dublin aged 20 yrs on 7 August 1860 (ie born C1840).   He joined the 40th Regiment of Foot and came to New Zealand.

I had taken the birth year of 1840 as being more likely to be accurate - but maybe that was a mistake?

I have lots of information about his marriage and family and activities etc in New Zeland after he was "discharged by purchase" from the army 19 May 1866..

There are some other possible clues about Irish connection - clutching at straws!

Anecdotally, my aunt told me that her father (Thomas's son) spoke of a "cousin", one Daniel Gleeson who lived at Waiuku, South Auckland (which is where Thomas was married) and I have had contact with a researcher in that family.    They have linked their family back to Gleesons from Silvermines.

Recently, my brother's Y-DNA analysis showed a strong connection with a group of others also from Silvermines area.

Thomas named his eldest son Patrick, and second son James (after his wife's father) Thomas, and James then named his eldest son (my father) also Patrick (and, incidentally, his second son John [after his wife's father] Thomas).      The naming pattern has faltered in more recent generations.

At the Nenagh Heritage Centre I talked with Norah Gleeson who believed that we were more than likely related but she could find no record to connect us.     She knew of her connection to the Daniel Gleeson family.

Fingers crossed that some of this might make some sense for you.

Many thanks

Deirdre Dale

Deirdre:

The only thing I can add is that Silvermines and Nenagh are only 11 kilometers apart which  gives credence to the Silvermines connection.

Roger