Hello all, many thanks for all the fascinating detail, lore and history across multiple threads. While I have endeavored to "digest" it, I made the mistake of working backward, and have mired myself somewhat in confusion. If anyone else is starting down this road, I would advise commencing reading with the first thread so that the gradual unraveling of the story can be understood and the journey can be followed. Working backward, it is very hard, for me at least, to keep everything in order.
I say the above partly to excuse the questions I have, which may have been answered already.
My current queries are specifically about George Halpin engineer, Capt Robert Halpin and Robert Wellington Halpin (1815-1883), who is my Great-Great-Great Grandfather. I am trying to establish if I am related to the aforementioned George Halpin and Capt Halpin and to get it straight in my head what claims on these threads are "factually proven" or otherwise. To this end, I will make a number of statements, and give my understanding (please recall my mea culpa above!) of the status of the claim. If someone more informed (perhaps BillW or Seanchai, if they are still active?) could chime in with corrections and a point in the direction of evidence/reasoning.
It seems that there were two sets of Halpins from Wicklow, the "Bridge Inn" Halpins and the "Main Street" Halpins.
1. Capt Halpin is of the Bridge Inn Halpins (Status: Proven).
2. Capt Halpin's father was a James Halpin (Status: Proven).
3. James Halpin's brother was George Halpin, engineer. Thus George Halpin was the uncle of Capt Halpin. (Status: Claimed. I would love to know the reasoning for this claim, and if there is documentary evidence).
4. James (and George's, if point 3 is true) parents are John and Elizabeth Halfpenny. (Status: Factually Proven via Baptism records in Wicklow?)
5. Robert Wellington Halpin (Main Street Halpins) is related to the Bridge Inn Halpins, despite a contemporary letter, claiming otherwise (is the text available?), published in a Wicklow newspaper by the Bridge Inn Halpins. (Status: Claimed. This is really the key claim here, linking the two. I have read the many contributions of Sheanchai in particular, and I find the reasoning for this hard to follow. A John is mentioned as being RW Halpins father, is this the same John Halpenny referenced above, making RW a brother of James and George? The dates don't seem to add up, half brothers perhaps? But I see it also written that Capt Halpin was a 1st cousin of RW, so is there another John in the mix somewhere, a brother to George? I'm very confused here. Who was RW Halpins father?)
That is enough queries for now, I do wish to give as well as take, so please see below photographs of the Halpin and Turnbull gravestones in St Peter's COI Church graveyard Drogheda (where I currently live). I also reproduce the text of what is written, which has been shared here previously. Samuel Halpin was the eldest brother of my Great Great Grandfather Edwin. I am keen to find out if there are any of the family left in the Louth/Meath area. The graves are a little untidy, I would be keen to give them some attention but, obviously, given the fact of such a distant relation (and indeed differing religious beliefs), this could be inappropriate if there are closer relations in charge.
Samuel, eldest son of Robert Wellington and Frances Mabella Halpin. Born in Wicklow 4th June 1846. Died at Drogheda 7th Jan.1918. Madeline M. his wife, eldest daughter of James and Margaret Turnbull. Born in Edinburgh, 18th Oct.1847. Died in Drogheda 6th Nov.1925. Samuel son of the above. Born 1st May 1880. Died 25th Jan.1885. Maria Rose, (Ciss) their second daughter. Born 26th Sep.1876. Died 27th July 1948. Anne Christine their youngest. Born 11 Dec.1883. Died 7th June 1964. "Peace Perfect Peace".
James Turnbull, third son of James Turnbull of Roxburgh, Scotland. Born at Hollmount, 21st August 1814. Died at Drogheda, 15th April 1888. Also his grandson, Walter James Turnbull. Born at Arklow 16th April 1878. Died at Drogheda 12 Sept 1880. Also his grand-daughter Margaret Frances (Fanny) Halpin, died at Drogheda 6th June 1925. "She hath done what she could" Mark, XIV.8. Also his youngest daughter Margaret. Born at Wicklow 24th April 1860. Died at Kinnitty, Kings County 3 Feby. 1928. "Blessed are the pure in heart". His daughter Maria, widow of Edmund Rundle, late of Plymouth. Born Dublin 22nd Feb. 1856. Died at Kinnitty, 11 Jan.1941 and interred here. "Thy Will Be Done".Images here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWgJtf2 or hopefully, below.
Halpin and Turnbull Gravestones by
The Irish Antiquarian, on Flickr
Halpin and Turnbull Gravestones by
The Irish Antiquarian, on Flickr
Halpin and Turnbull Gravestones by
The Irish Antiquarian, on Flickr