My 3x great Grandmother Kathleen Mary Cole was adopted by Mary Bowler (born 1767, Gosport) and Henry Massey (born circa 1756, 1st husband, married 1800, Cork). I do not know the exact year when Mary was born but according to her death certificate (Auckland, New Zealand, 1906) she was born circa 1819. I would like to find her birth record if possible to figure out who her parents were. I have also never been able to uncover how she was actually related to Mary Bowler Massey Rice (will use BMR to distinguish between the two Mary's) but an ancestor said Mary BMR was her great aunt. I have posted about this family previously in this forum
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=634709.msg4824097#msg4824097. Here is what I know. She (Mary Cole) and Mary BMR seemed to live in Gosport (England), Dublin and Kinsale, Ireland. On Mary Cole's marriage certificate to James Oldham (1842, Gosport) under parents it state that her parents were unknown and that Mary BMR and her first husband Henry Massey (Gentleman and Land Waiter in Kinsale) were her adoptive parents. Henry had a sister Susannah Massey who died in Cork, 1830. Henry died in 1832, Cork. Mary BMR married John Rice (born circa 1777), school master, in 1834, Cork. John Rice died in Gosport, 1840. In 1841 I found both Marys living in Gosport. I think Henry was married before (Mary Terry, Cork, 1795??) and is from Cork. I know John was married to Eliza Rice because I have a bible given to Mary Cole and it is inscribed (this is also how I know Mary Cole's full name). John Rice's wife, Eliza died in Cork, 1832. I am not sure where John Rice came from originally. Is anyone familiar with Henry Massey, Susannah Massey or John Rice or descendants of these families? Any information would be great (maybe children of Henry or John etc). Thanks very much!
