John RONAN & Bridget Mary BOWEN

[Laurie Ronan Davis]

My 3rd great grandparents were John Ronan, b. 1827 and Bridget Mary Bowen, 1829.  Both were born in Ireland.  John and Bridget were married on 24 November 1857 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA.  Their witnesses were Felix Toole and Julia (Maher) Toole.  Felix was born in County Louth and Julia, County Tipperary.  I don't know if they new each other before the came to America, but Felix and Julia were also the sponsors for their 4 children.  Don't know if they would have came from either of those counties.

I'm trying to find the origin of John and Bridget.  I don't know their parents names.  In America, John was a coal miner and held several offices in the local government.  He was the enumerator for the 1880 census in Huntingdon County, PA.  After 1889, I've no information on them.  I don't know if they possibly moved back to Ireland because I find nothing here in America.  No death record and no tombstones.

Anyone that could help with this, I would be very grateful.  I am very desperate to find out more about them!

Laurie Ronan Davis

[Nettie]

Hi Laurie and welcome to RootsChat,
What are their 4 children's names?

Where did you get John and Bridget's birth years?

[Laurie Ronan Davis]

Their children's names were:  Alicia, John C., Bridget, & Margaret.  They were all born in the U.S.  I got John's and Bridget's birth dates from census records.  John was the enumerator for the 1880 census, so I assumed the dates to be correct.

Thanks.
Laurie

[Nettie]

There are a number of trees for this family on Ancestry but most seem to stop where yours does. There is one that has Bridget returning to Ireland and living in Galway but that is with a son called Michael which you don't mention.

I am unfamiliar with US marriage certificates. Do they not name the father/parents of the bride and groom? 

Looking through lots of records 'Bridget Ronan' rarely appears though 'Mary Ronan' is slightly more common. Is it possible she may have died / been buried under the name Mary?

[Laurie Ronan Davis]

Well, John & Bridget's marriage dates were taken from a church record.  I've never seen a marriage application or license for them.  On the marriage applications for their children, their names are listed as John & Bridget Ronan and does not list Bridget's maiden name.  Same with the childrens' obituaries, their names are simply listed John & Bridget Ronan.

I went back to my tree (on ancestry) and looked at some records I forgot I had in my shoebox.  I found two interesting records.  One record shows Irish Immigrants in Port of New York.
Name:    Bowen, Bridget
Age:    20
Gender:    Female
Embarkation:    Liverpool
Ship:    Aberdeen
Occupation:    servant
Passengers:    258
Native Country:    Ireland
Destination:    USA
Arrival Date:    29 Jun 1850

Another census record I found shows a Bowen family living close to John & Bridget in Pennsylvania, 1860.
Name:    Rody Bowen
Age in 1860:    30
Birth Year:    abt 1830
Birthplace:    Ireland
Home in 1860:    Carbon, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Gender:    Male
Post Office:    Huntingdon
Value of real estate:    .
Household Members:    
Name    Age
Rody Bowen    30
Joanna Bowen    21
Richard Bowen    5
James Bowen    3
John Bowen    3/12

I don't know for sure I that is my Bridget and her relations.  I makes sense, but don't have definite proof.

Lastly, I have this record also:  Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index
Name:    Bridget Ronan
Estimated birth year:    abt 1829
Date of Registration:    Jan-Feb-Mar 1908
Death Age:    79
Registration district:    Clonmel
Volume:    4
Page:    395
FHL Film Number:    0101604

So, as you can see, I'm at a bit of a loss trying to put the pieces together.  I really appreciate your help.

Laurie

[dathai]

1901 Census of 17 Kilcash Co Tipperary
Michael Dillon age 49 R I C Constable born Limerick
Hannah Dillon age 29 wife born Waterford City
James 6 and Michael 4 sons born Wexford
Bridget Ronan age 70 Mother in Law, Widow born Waterford City

1911 census Hannah is referred to as Johanna age 38 married 20 yrs with two further children born in Tipperary.

now this is where it starts to get dodgy as when i looked for their marriage this is what i got
Marriage April June 1889
Michael Dillon
Waterford vol 4 page 382 match with Johanna Ronayne
 though Bridget is on the census as Ronan and dies as Ronan i would be more inclined to believe that her name is Ronan as her daughter would probably have registered her death.

[Laurie Ronan Davis]

Dathai,

Thank you for your post, but Bridget & John Ronan did not have a son named Michael.  So I don't think it fits into my tree. 

Thank you though.

Laurie

[dathai]

His name is Michael Dillon married to the daughter of Bridget Ronan .

[shellyesq]

For death records in Pennsylvania before 1906, I believe you would have to check with the county where the death occurred.  Have you checked there for John & Bridget's death?

Also, have you obtained the death certificates for their children?  I would expect later ones to include parents' names, if known.  Ancestry.com will be adding Pennsylvania death certificates from 1906 forward this year, so they may be available soon if you haven't ordered them.