Show Posts
1
Waterford / Johanna Revels of Waterford
« on: Monday 02 April 18 23:28 BST (UK) »
Hi all,
I am trying to figure out what seems like some conflicting information regarding the birth of Johanna Revels in Waterford (city). She died in Chicago on 22 Nov 1930, and this death certificate details Richard Revells as her father and Johanna Powers as her moth, both of Waterford, Ireland. The age given on this certificate suggests she was born abt. 1870, as do a few other records (US census, immigration), though a few suggest earlier.
Now, the interesting thing is that there is no Johanna Revels born in Waterford, or indeed anywhere in Ireland, in that timeframe or to those parents. (I have used Ancestry.com to search the Irish baptismal records.) On the other hand, there is a Johanna Reville (Reville and Revels are well-known variants of the same surname), born Oct 1863 in Ballybricken, to a Thomas Reville and Maria McConnel – illegitimate. Now here's what curious: there's a Thomas Reville born Apr 1844 to Richard Reville & his wife Johanna in Ballybricken, Waterford. There's also a Margaret Reville born Oct 1853 to Richard Reville and Johanna Power (surname given this time!), and a Maria Anna Revelle born May 1859 to Richard Reville and Johanna Power (surname again given). All in the parish of Ballybricken.
So, I am very tempted to conclude from the above that in fact Johanna Revels was in fact born in 1863, not to Richard and Johanna Powers, but in fact to Thomas and Maria McConnel, where Richard and Johanna Powers were her *grandparents*. Perhaps because the birth was illegitimate, and not exceedingly long after Maria Anna's birth, she was raised as Richard and Johanna's child? Indeed, Thomas would only have been 19 at the time, and unmarried, so not exactly in a good position to raise a child. Perhaps Johanna (Revels) knew that Thomas was her father, but chose to list her grandparents anyway?
I'd be interested in people's thoughts on the above.
I am trying to figure out what seems like some conflicting information regarding the birth of Johanna Revels in Waterford (city). She died in Chicago on 22 Nov 1930, and this death certificate details Richard Revells as her father and Johanna Powers as her moth, both of Waterford, Ireland. The age given on this certificate suggests she was born abt. 1870, as do a few other records (US census, immigration), though a few suggest earlier.
Now, the interesting thing is that there is no Johanna Revels born in Waterford, or indeed anywhere in Ireland, in that timeframe or to those parents. (I have used Ancestry.com to search the Irish baptismal records.) On the other hand, there is a Johanna Reville (Reville and Revels are well-known variants of the same surname), born Oct 1863 in Ballybricken, to a Thomas Reville and Maria McConnel – illegitimate. Now here's what curious: there's a Thomas Reville born Apr 1844 to Richard Reville & his wife Johanna in Ballybricken, Waterford. There's also a Margaret Reville born Oct 1853 to Richard Reville and Johanna Power (surname given this time!), and a Maria Anna Revelle born May 1859 to Richard Reville and Johanna Power (surname again given). All in the parish of Ballybricken.
So, I am very tempted to conclude from the above that in fact Johanna Revels was in fact born in 1863, not to Richard and Johanna Powers, but in fact to Thomas and Maria McConnel, where Richard and Johanna Powers were her *grandparents*. Perhaps because the birth was illegitimate, and not exceedingly long after Maria Anna's birth, she was raised as Richard and Johanna's child? Indeed, Thomas would only have been 19 at the time, and unmarried, so not exactly in a good position to raise a child. Perhaps Johanna (Revels) knew that Thomas was her father, but chose to list her grandparents anyway?
I'd be interested in people's thoughts on the above.