John William Clark. Meath Ireland

[Karen Strange]

I am trying to trace my mother's family in Ireland.  The only information we have is her grandfather came from County Meath and was born in 1872/73.  He was married in Aughton Ormskirk on the 22 September 1900 to Margaret Ann Aindow. His father's name was Patrick Clark. He died on the 17 December 1938 in Chorley but his death certificate gives his name has Patrick. 

[Sinann]

Using this site for the registration districts in Meath
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Ireland-civil-registration.html
And this one for births 1872 to 1873 for John Clark https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
I can see 3 possibles
Ardee
Kells
Oldcastle
None of them may be correct if he was in fact Patrick.

[Sinann]

Welcome to RootsChat.
Have to post quick sometimes on iPad or you lose the post.

Does his marriage give his father's occupation?
Any idea of siblings?
Have you got him in the 1911 Census, is that where it said Meath. 1911 can be better for place of birth that privious census.

[Karen Strange]

Thank you.

Found him in the 1911 census and it did say County Meath. No siblings but mum thinks he left Ireland with a brother but she has no idea of name.  Dad's occupation on the birth certificate says contractor.

[Sinann]

I was trying to find a Patrick Clark/e contractor but no luck so far,I take it his father was still alive in 1900, I wonder if he John was one of these people who gave his father a better sounding job. The word couldn't be carpenter by any chance?

[Karen Strange]

We presume he was still alive and were farmers in Ireland.  The wedding certificate is a copy given to me by a cousin, it looks like contract but definitely not carpenter.  Margarete father was Edward Aindow and a farm labourer.

[Radcliff]

John Clarke
April 28th 1871
Fordstown
father Patrick a cattle dealer
mother Mary formerly Starkey

[Karen Strange]

Thanks for the information and will have a look into this. Is Fordstown a district in County Meath?

[Sinann]

Yes
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1871/03287/2204603.pdf
So that's a Cattle dealer, 2 farmers and a carpenter.