Peter, Michael & Philip Blake

Trying to discover the parents and siblings of my great great grandfather Peter Blake who married to Bridget Clark.

According to his grave stone, Peter was born in Meath in 1816.  He immigrated to Clinton, Oneida county, NY, USA sometime between 1840 and 1850. 

There were at least three brothers Peter, Michail (1814), and Philip, as well a probable sister, Rosa (Listed in later census as sister, not sister-in-law to Peter). 

Micheal also came over and lived, worked and raised a family in Clinton, NY. 

With the exception of Philip and his wife Ellen Halpin Blake, all have been found in the same area of NY state. However according to a 1899 passage records Philip’s son Frank (b.1839) did come over. Frank along with two other teen aged children had passage paid for by his daughter who was already living with a family of her own in Clinton NY.  According to a descendant of Philip Blake, the family was from or near Kingscourt County Cavan.

I have found DNA connections to both of Peter’s brothers which validates some kind of relationship between the three men.

Peter is first found in the 1850 census living with the family of Terrence O’Brien & his wife Mary Smith O’Brien. Terrence probably came over sometime between 1840 & 1843 as 1843 is the year listed as birth for his first child born in NY state.

In the household is also Mary O’Brien.  Members of Terrence’s family say she Terry’s mother. Her age is listed as 75 (b. abt. 1775) Below her is listed a Rose O’Brien aged 16 (b. abt.1834). Her placement outside of the other children seems to imply she is not a child of Terry & Mary.

Terrence’s family has listed his birthplaces as Moynalty, Meath, Ireland in 1805.  They also left 2 children Philip & Edward in Ireland with Mary Smith’s brother. They were brought over later.

Also in the 1850 census, a few pages away from Terrence is Patrick O’Brien and his extended family.  Living with him is Michael Blake and an Ann Riley with young son John and an Edward Murphy.

By the 1860 Census Terrence O’Brien has moved out west and Peter has taken over his job at the local Kirkland College. Peter has married Bridget Clark, with two young children Rosa & Franklin.   Also in the household are Rosa Clark her son James and Mary O’Brien (Terry’s mother) now listed aged 90. Her birthdate is off by 5 years from the 1850 census.

All this seems to imply some kind of close relationship with the O’Brien family.

The shared Christian names and naming pattern of the Blake brother’s children, Frank, Philip, Peter Anna, Catherine/Katherine and variants of Rose seem to imply reusing ancestors names.

Thank you for your time,

Debbie