Hi Jane,
I had "saved" the chat room log so I could go back to it to refer to the Rice dialog.
Later on, it was totally blank! Therefore, took me awhile to find you. Thanks for responding.
Do you have the information of a Peter Rice from Carrickedmond Louth? I've no clue if this is near Monaghan or not. This Peter Rice was born in 1832 so seems perhaps a birth year for a father of your Patrick. I'm assuming it is his birth year and not death year. I found him at FHL # 593657; M3807, page 52; item one of seven. His ancestral information and files had been re-submitted to some office in Dublin after a fire there - the fire in early 20th Century, I think.
There also was a Peter Rice who worked in the flax business however in year 1796, Sligo. He may be too old to have been Patrick's father.
I've information of other Peter Rices in Monaghan and Down but they look like they come after your Patrick Rice was born. The oldest of the three P. Rices was born in County Down. He was 20 years old when he joined up, in the year 1869 in some type of army or police work - a type of guard (?). There are then, the two other Peter Rices from Monaghan who seem to be involved with this same type of police work or military duty. One joined up in year 1873 at the age of 22 yrs. old. The other is from the early 20th Century so don't think he'd apply.
I don't know the genealogy of Ireland or Northern Ireland, very well, frankly speaking. I do know with my maternal ancestry in the western Perthshire highlands of Scotland, the names of Peter and Patrick were used interchangeably as were Daniel and Donald. I wonder if the same is true in Ireland?
This is all I have for now but more may be forthcoming as I search through my various files. Will let you know. Have you figured out an approx. birth year for Patrick's father? Patrick's mother - her name and when/where she may have been born?
Kate
