Some things I should have mentioned.
Catherine's family came from South Wicklow, a beautiful place south of Aughrim town. Catherine was their eldest surviving child born in 1856 or 7. Her mother was Ellen Rorke. Catherine's siblings born in Wicklow were Margaret born 1859, William born 1861 who does not appear to have survived, Mary, born 1864, Thomas (my ancestor) born 1866 and James born 1869.
After James' birth the family moved to 17 Braithwaite Street in Dublin. This area was known as the Golden triangle as there were three large whiskey distilleries here. The dad got a job in a distillery as a fire warden. Another child Hannah, who disappears from records subsequently, was born in 1871. Then disaster strikes. William contracts Scarlet Fever and dies. His youngest son James dies soon after.
The family then moved to Earl Street south - just around the corner.
There is evidence of hardship visited on the family as Thomas, who was enrolled in the local school in 1871 was withdrawn immediately after his dad's death even though the family remain in the catchment. I'm speculating that he had to do something to earn money, even at the age of 6.
Catherine married James in a civil ceremony as i mentioned already, in 1877. I have that record in the house, but can't find it just now. From memory James' Dad is actually named John, not Thomas in that record. His occupation was engineer. It may be an army title.
So why the different name? Perhaps he went by both names - John Thomas or Thomas john. Perhaps the clerk or the priest made an error. None of the participants could read so they wouldn't know. Perhaps James didn't know his father and gave a name to look more respectable - though he is given the specific occupation of engineer which suggests otherwise.
And why the two weddings? They were obviously both Catholics as the note on the church record says so - and I've read that his regiment was known as a Catholic regiment. Maybe they were just not into religion - or they eloped. It must be significant that they marry in church just before the birth of their first child. And they seem to have moved in with Catherine's mother. So it may have been a case of "not under my roof" and/or pressure to be married in church so the child could be baptised.
Catherine's sister Margaret became pregnant out of wedlock with a man named Thomas Lucas, also in 1878. Thomas Lucas disappears after that, and their child Thomas dies in 1880 of Bronchitus. The death record names the infant as Thomas Dorman.
The family appears to be in turmoil in the 1870s and 80s. They move across the city around 1882 to Irvane terrace east wall in the docklands where my ancestor Thomas can find work. However, he is imprisoned aged 16 for assaulting a policeman. The incident took place back in Earl Street South, though Thomas has moved across town - and was a case of "Joint Enterprise". He was in a group one of which threw a rock at a policeman. one boy is plucked from the crowd and Thomas remonstrates and gets himself arrested. In court thomas' brief argues that he didn't throw the missile, but the judge says that "if one of the gang did, they all did!"
Catherine has some minor brushes with the law including -
On 16th September 1896 while resident at Commons street she is imprisoned for three months for neglecting her children
In October 1897 she is fined for being drunk while living in Gloucester street
in august 1899 she is fined for obscene and profane language while living in Fitzwilliam Lane
Catherine's mother dies of cardiac dropsey aged 56 in 1888.
The family settles down somewhat though, with Catherine's sister Margaret marrying William Cooper from Wexford and Thomas marrying Henrietta Bennett.
