This is my first posting to the Roscommon board and I know nothing about Roscommon. I will post this to the Sligo board too.
I am a descendant of Bridget Gildea (Bidy Gilday) and John Patterson, most of whose children were baptised in Ardcarn and Tuamna between 1841 and 1855. Their details are on familysearch.
She was married to John Patterson and their children were Patrick Patterson (1841), Rose (1843), Catherine (1846) Bridget (1850) and Peter (1855). Sometime between 1855 (baptism of Peter) and 1859 (death of Bridget) the family moved to Sunderland, England. Another baby, Owen, was born in 1859; he and Bridget died a few days later.
Her death certificate said she was 45 when she died, so must have been born around 1814. John Patterson was born around 1818.
Does anyone have any information on them? Is there anywhere I could look further? Would I need to go to Dublin?
The Griffith valuation shows lots of Pattersons in Roscommon in 1855, but no John Patterson. The nearest John Patterson appears to be in Calry near Sligo town or Carrigallen in Leitrim - both some 30 miles away, although Sligo is at least on the same road.
Do either of these seem likely to anyone who knows anything about this to be my ancestor or am I clutching at straws?
There are loads of Pattersons living in the same street (or even the same tenement building) when they get to Sunderland, but I have no idea whether were related - it would be great to find out if John had brothers.
Also, can anyone suggest why they would have stayed in Ireland throughout the famine, having their children, and then leave after 1855? Did anything happen to make them leave, or would it be likely to be just the usual reasons related to poverty and deprivation? If I can't find out about them specifically I'd like to have a look at some local history, social history, etc.
Best wishes and thanks in advance,
clarrie
