Hi
I am looking into this family at the moment.
http://www.familiestories.co.za/04%20Webwerf/10%20John%20en%20Susannah%20Montgomery.htmlThis gives some background gleaned from the Memoirs of John Montgomery the settler.
I have found that there is a John Montgomery still living in Winetavern Road, Baltinglass between1823- 1837, not sure of the date, who appears in the Tithe Applotment Books - see links below.
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=montgomer*&firstname=&county=&townland=&parish=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=&pager.offset=40
and
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587407/004587407_00502.pdf "The Tithe Applotment Books are a vital source for genealogical research for the pre-Famine period, given the loss of the 1821-51 Census records. They were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland (the main Protestant church and the church established by the State until its dis-establishment in 1871).
There is a manuscript book for almost every civil (Church of Ireland) parish in the country giving the names of occupiers of each townland, the amount of land held and the sums to be paid in tithes. Because the tithes were levied on agricultural land, urban areas are not included. Unfortunately, the books provide only the names of heads of family, not other family members."
It looks like there are also at least three Park families in Baltinglass at the same time:
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=park&firstname=&county=&townland=&parish=&search=Search&sort=county_sort&pageSize=10&pager.offset=0 I found a reference to the family on the website at
http://www.kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/naas-plant-shut-after-200-years-of-milling/ "The Leinster Mills were set up in 1790 by Oldstown landlord James Montgomery just a year after the opening of the Naas branch of the Grand canal. Montgomery negotiated a deal for the perpetual water rights to turn his millwheel. There is evidence of a mill in the area prior to this which also turned water wheels at Corban’s mill in Millbrook and Fryar’s mill in Oldtown. "
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91250472@N06/12636968874/ Old flour mill at Naas which became Odlums, started out as Montgomery’s.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14159-11979-1?cc=1804886 Mrs Montgomery recorded in Tithe Applotment books for Naas
As records are few and far between one has to rely on hints and references and try to fill out the little we know from the Memoirs, of the early history of this family.
As more Irish records become available online, we may find other references.
Regards
Mary
