Martin Brennan - advice please

[chrisrose]

According to the censuses, my great grandfather Martin Brennan was born in Ireland (no details) in the 1840’s.
He has been a brick wall now for a number of years but I would appreciate some advice and thoughts on my recent findings.
In 1871 he is a 26 year old, coal mining lodger in Park Lane Ashton in Makerfield, born Ireland. RG10; Piece: 3898; Folio: 74; Page: 23
In Mar 1872 he marries Esther Sudworth at Wigan Register Office, giving his age as 27, father Daniel Brennan (deceased) a joiner.
In 1881, aged 37, Rose Hill, Ashton, born Ireland with wife and family RG11; Piece: 3784; Folio: 82; Page: 31
1891, aged 50, Brynn Road, Ashton, born Ireland with wife and family RG12; Piece: 3067; Folio 98; Page 13;
July 1898, dies aged 56.
Following Dickiesam’s excellent pointer to the Irish Family History Foundation website in another post,
http://www.brsgenealogy.com/
I found a baptism for a Martin Brennan (address Bonnetsrath), father Daniel in Kilnenny (St John’s) in November 1842 (mother Bridget Watters) and a corresponding marriage for Daniel and Bridget (Waters this time) in Feb 1842 at the same church.
No other Martin’s, father Daniel around the 1840’s came up on the IFHF site.
I also found an entry on the Griffiths Index for a Bridget Brennan in 1849 in Bonnetsrath. Obviously, I don’t know how complete the IFHF records are.
I’d be interested on any thoughts on whether the crew think I have made too many assumptions and on whether there is anything else I could do to help prove that this Martin in Kilkenny is my Martin who first turns up in Ashton in 1871.
Thanks crew
Chris

[MaryA]

I'm not surprised you've had about 20 views at this but nobody has been brave enough to respond. It's such a big jump from England to Ireland, especially when there are no clues given as to birthplace in any of the censuses.

One thing to look at are neighbours - you may not find any with the same surnames living nearby, but are any of them Irish, and give clues as to where they came from? I think families often settled near to others who came from the same area, must have made them feel less alone in a strange country.

Often they followed a pattern when naming their children, could this give any clues?
1st born son named after fathers father
2nd " " " " mothers father
3rd " " " " father
4th " " " " fathers oldest brother
5th " " " " mothers oldest brother

1st born daughter named after mothers mother
2nd " " " " fathers mother
3rd " " " " mother
4th " " " " mothers eldest sister
5th " " " " fathers eldest sister

Another suggestion is to check for Wills. It's often surprising when you didn't think they would leave one, but they sometimes do. If there's a chance you can get to the Lancashire RO in Preston you can often read them for free, check as many as you can of your surname, don't limit yourself to just those in your direct line, and get a photocopy for only a couple of pounds and you never know who might be mentioned in them, somebody might have left their old cat to "my brother the coal miner in Ashton" - invaluable.

Graves also might give clues, my own great grandmother was in a grave with people unknown to me, but upon investigation it turned out to be her sister and family. (They couldn't have liked great granddad since he was pushed into a general grave )

All in all, accept what you have found and even add to the details, while keeping an open mind and hopefully one day something will turn up to confirm or otherwise.

[chrisrose]

Thanks Mary for being brave
I have looked at other Brennan's in the area on the censuses but to no avail. I did find one lady (can't remember what year) who gave her birth place as Kilkenny living in Ashton (can't remember off hand which year). I followed her back and found her marriage and maiden name and there was no obvious connection.
If what i presented is correct re marriages and births in Ireland and the possibility that Daniel died before 1949 (Bridget in Griffiths) then there would not have been scope for lots of children, although I think there may have been a couple. Neither Daniel nor Bridget recorded details of parents or ages on their marriage (v disappointing that ).
Haven't looked at wills or graveyards - it's these pesky Catholics again with limited on line resources. A trip to Preston isn't really on the cards at the moment, but I'll keep looking!
Thanks again
Chris