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No, Mary Pentland, my grandmother,  never emigrated she lived most of her life in Dublin and died there c1958. A cousin of mine researched the family history and as a result made a visit to USA where she said she met the descendants of Mary's parents whoever they may be. Unfortunately my cousin doesn't wish to share this information with me and I am unsure whether these parents were Henry and Julia Pentland and indeed if they were Mary's biological parents.

Mary's age is recorded as 23 and 33 in the 1901 & 1911 Irish censuses which would mean she was born in 1887/8 but despite extensive searches the closest matches I can get is 1881. Anyway I beginning to doubt that I'l ever find her.

Kind regards

Jimmie

Bridget Dougherty  should never have been in the picture and now it's obvious to me that the real mother of Mary Pentland, possibly Julia, is the American connection.

My thanks to everyone who helped but I've reached the conclusion that my Mary Pentland was the daughter of Bridget Dougherty and Mathew Pentland and the wife of John Lynch. A senior family member informed me that Mary died in 1959 aged 77 and the Glasnevin cemetery records would seem to support this. Therefore her age recorded in the 1901/1911 Irish census are incorrect. Looking at the original form it's apparent that her husband John wrote them and for whatever reason thought she was older. Also I was unable to find a birth record for a Mary Pentland for years 1878/9.

I also believe that Bridget Dougherty was the first wife of Mathew Pentland and that the marriage failed soon after Mary was born in 1881. Mathew then married Charlotte Carr or Kerr in 1883 and they went on to have five children. Although Mathew married Bridget in a Roman catholic church, I note that the marriage to Charlotte was CoI. I also note that the five children from the marriage to Charlotte were baptised in the Roman catholic fate. I therefore assumed that because Mathew was either separated or divorced from Bridget he was barred from remarrying in a catholic church.

I believe the reason why Henry and Julia Pentland are recorded as Mary's parents in her marriage record is because they were really the only parents she ever knew as she must have been a very young baby when she was sent to Athboy to live with them. Her biological mother emigrated to USA where she remarried and had a family. Mary and Bridget were never reunited,

Hi AirtHame

Thank you for your interest in my request but I am still no further forward and rather confused. This is what I know; Mary and Mary Bridget Pentland are the same person. Her biological parents were Bridget M Dougherty and Mathew Pentland who married on 7 November 1880 at St Andrews church, Dublin. Mary was born in Dublin  on 5 February 1881. Soon after the birth, her mother Bridget Dougherty emigrated to USA and I am unsure if her husband, Mathew accompanied her. Meanwhile  Baby Mary was sent to Athboy, Co Meath to be raised by her fathers family who I presume were Henry and Julia Pentland. Mary returned to Dublin possibly when she was sixteen to work as a Nanny for a family who resided on the South side of the City and from where she married John Lynch on 24 September 1899. Bridget Dougherty had more children in the USA and of this I am certain as a cousin of mine visited her descendant's and also her grave. Without a doubt my cousin could resolve the mystery but she is unwilling to communicate with me. Anyway this proves that the Pentland children enumerated at the Glasnevin orphanage are of a different family as they are also the wrong religion.

The detail regarding the death of  John Lynch(1934) was word of mouth from a family member so it's accuracy is not guaranteed.

I am unable to explain as to why Mary Pentland Lynch's age is recorded as 23 & 33 in the 1901 & 1911 Censuses but can confirm it's incorrect.

Once again AirtinHame I thank you for your interest and would love to hear from you should you have further comment.

Kind regards

Jimmie