Waterworks Timekeeper -- Scant Info..

[dragonlady403]

Good day, I wonder if someone could plse assist with providing a resource/info to learn more about a job/position title in Kerry around 1850?

My gr grandmother's father Patrick O'Connor (wife Ellen Fenton/Fegneighty) was listed as a Waterworks Timekeeper on her death certificate.

I haven't nailed down exactly where they lived in Kerry, other than the fact her obit states "she was born 7 miles from killarney".  So I assume her father worked somewhere in that location.

Does anyone know where he is likely to have worked with that job title?

Thanks as always and regards,
Carol

[aghadowey]

Did Patrick's daughter die in 1850? Unfortunately, civil registration of deaths didn't start until 1864 in Ireland.

This Hansard report mentions Waterworks in Killarney being constructed but it's 1884-
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1884/jul/18/public-health-ireland-killarney

[aghadowey]

Luckily some records are easily found 

Johanna O'Connor born 1852- parents Patrick Connor & Ellen Finaghty- see here
Patrick born 1855- see here
Anne born 1849- see here
Timothy born 1842- see here
Ellen born 1839- see here

[aghadowey]

Mary born 1845- see here
Daniel born 1841- see here

[dragonlady403]

Sorry I should clarify:

She was born Johanna Ellen O'Connor abt 1856 (7 miles from Killarney in County Kerry).

I believe I have most of her siblings (some of whom also ended up in NZ).

She died in Wellington NZ in 1938.

I'm trying to track more info for her parents.

[aghadowey]

I think the townland was Kilnanare (Killarney Poor Law Union/civil registration district-
https://www.townlands.ie/kerry/magunihy/kilnanare/kilnanare/kilnanare/

According to Google Maps it's about 10 miles from Killarney.

[aghadowey]

I realise you are looking for details of her parents but your initial post only mentioned the date 1850 and we do need to do various searches to locate records on the family.

It's possible the baptism I posted for Johanna born 1852 is her. That record, and the baptisms of siblings, give us a townland name to work with which is one of the key bits of information needed for tracing families in Ireland.

[dragonlady403]

Yes I agree Aghadowey.. sorry I wasn't specific enough in my first post.  Thanks for your patience!

I have thought about Kilnanare (and possibly Firies?) as options... but I haven't been able to figure out what a waterworks timekeeper would be doing in the area.  I note there is a large lake called Lough Leane in the area.. I wonder if Patrick may have been employed working there.

I am making my first trip to Ireland in a few weeks (to Castleisland which is where her husband is from) and had hoped to do a bit more work on her family whilst, there so nailing down their location would be most helpful:)
Regards, Carol

[aghadowey]

Here's a Patrick Connor died 1898 age 82 from Kealnanare- registrered by grandson Michael-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1898/05835/4652489.pdf

Looks like grandson Michael in Kilnanare in 1901- father Timothy-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Kerry/Kilnanare/Kilnanare/1417783

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Kerry/Kilnanare/Kilnanare/290316

More to come...