Many thanks for your reply, I have been on this trail for many years. I have been to see the baptism records for John, Mary,James , Nicholas and Edward but as he died young I didn't mention him. I thought there would have been others such as a first born son named after the father Michael, so you finding another is just great .
It's just great you found my g g grandfather Michaels birth records and his marriage to Catherine.
Where ever did you find all this ?
As for John - well there's more to the story. The father Michael was a local fisherman, and John went to sea a young lad sailing with local sailors, a Fleming from Poulfur and Patrick Stafford also from Poulfur area.
John was shot from the rigging - Patrick Stafford was supposed to have said " come down yee wee rat " and as John wouldn't come down he shot and killed him. When John's mother heard all this - she said " call my boy a rat " and cursed Patrick Stafford - saying may the rats follow you to your grave. And from what I heard he always had a big rat problem where ever he lived. As I said he died in 1913 , only getting his ticket in 1894 . I found that information at The National Archives here in London. A local sailor also involved this Flemming chap was on John's ship. But alas I cannot find any log books etc.
According to my dad - who still lives in the Hook / and Charlie
( rip) it happened local but no records.
John was born in 1860 and we have no idea what year this all happened .
While googling I discovered a local lady from Poulfur area who lives in Australia - she was looking for information on Patrick Stafford, and she new the story of John - but she heard it was mutiny of some sort .
My dad has always been interested in John's story since he was a chap, dads now late 70's and I've been on John's trail .
Many thanks for your findings I'm very greatful for any information.
Gilly