Purcell - Muckalee

[conahy calling]

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[MarilynD]

Hi Lynette
I too am excited to find a family connection.
Bridget or Blanche as our family knew her was my g.grAndmother. She married Nathaniel Ferguson in Sydney 1879. My grandfather Sidney Raymond Ferguson was their first born son.
Sadly I don't remember my grandfather well as he died when I was only 3 yrs old. My grandmother Helen (Sidney's wife) lived to 93 - but she didn't pass on anything about that part of the family. I think I may have an old photo of Blanche - passed down to me. Nathaniel died suddenly in 1892 leaving Blanche with 4 children the youngest only about 3 yrs old. Are you living here in Australia or Ireland?
Hope to hear more about the family background from you. I would love to know why they came to Australia? Perhaps searching for gold?  Perhaps you can private message me. Not sure how that works yet but will check.
Cheers. Marilyn

[Lyn44]

Hi Marilyn,
I am in Australia. Where are you.   I haven't worked out the Roots Chat system yet for private messaging.  I have passed on your last message to another descendant of Blanche.
John Purcell, Michael's father, had brothers in Victoria before John and Bridget (Nolan) came to Sydney with their family in 1853.  Another brother of Michael, Tobias, came a bit later.   
I think things were so grim in Ireland that Australia sounded a better proposition.   Assisted passages for suitable people were also advertised in the Irish papers.
I have found a lot of information also about Blanche's sisters, two of whom moved to the Northern Rivers of NSW.   
I have a photo of Ann Purcell (Nolan) but not one of Michael.
We will have to work out the private message system.
Lynette

[conahy calling]

This link explains private messages (pms)

http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php

[MarilynD]

Hi Lynette
Great to hear from you. You certainly have a lot more info about the Purcell family than I do. It would be great to speak to you or meet up and compare notes. I live in Lake Macquarie area about 2 hours north of Sydney. Where are you?
Re pm. Did you read the hint  I think we have to do 3 messages each before we can do the pm.
Talk soon
Marilyn

[MarilynD]

Hi again Lynette
I would love to know more about Blanche's sisters family too. I heard a "tale"  that Blanche was ostrasised by her family - but not sure if that is true. I have family in Taree (my fathers side) that I visit. Are any of the family living near there?
Cheers
Marilyn.

[Lyn44]

Hi Marilyn
I have sent a PM (I think) to you.  It would be good to meet.  I'm near Hornsby.  Another descendant of Blanche's is keen to make contact too.  Did you know there are a couple of "Purcell Castles" in Ireland, one in Kilkenny and one in Tipperary?
Lynette

[conahy calling]

Link about Foulksrath Castle

http://www.britainirelandcastles.com/Ireland/County-Kilkenny/Foulksrath-Castle.html

From book "Conahy" page 9 by John Meagher
Other Purcell castles - Muckalee, Knockmajor, Ballymartin, Clone, Maudlin, Esker, Kilcollan, Shangana, Lismaine, Cloghpook, Ballyfoyle  all these in north County Kilkenny area.

Added
Link about early Purcells in Co. Kilkenny.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/history/purcell.html

Numerous early references to Purcells on this link.  Just type in Purcell and click Search.
Calendar of Irish Chancery letters  c1244 - 1509
https://chancery.tcd.ie/advanced_search

[Lyn44]

Thank you for posting the information re Purcell Castles