Hi,
I've recently started looking into my 3x great grandfather's early life before he emigrated here to New Zealand, and have come up with various bits of info, some from online research I've done myself and some from family history research/memories by others (although in this regard I always like to check facts...which is hard to do with limited records available).
John Hughes, born about 1822 in County Westmeath, son of Michael Hughes, Farmer, and Catherine (surname as yet unconfirmed). I can't confirm John's birth as I don't think there are records available for that date?? (But his death here in NZ points to 1822 being correct). I have found baptism records for three of his brothers - James 1827; Edward 1830; Mathew 1832; all baptised at Ballinabrackey, Co. Westmeath. Mother's name Catherine but no surname entered.
According to family info John was supposedly the third child, and there are others besides him and the three brothers named above, but how do I find out more info? Many of the brothers (and possibly sisters) immigrated to the US, including the eldest William who became a catholic priest. William's headstone inscription (East Bloomfield, Ontario, New York) states that he was born 12th Feb 1814 in Baltinoran, County Meath.
Family letters and info refer to home in later years being a place called Rockfield; and John's father Michael was reputed to have been born in Rockfield, Westmeath. I can't find a Rockfield - is this place something to do with Killucan or Mullingar? Griffiths Valuation puts a Michael Hughes at Cushinstown, Killucan in 1854 (according to family sources Michael reputedly died 10 Feb 1865 in Rockfield - this corresponds with a record of a Michael Hughes death 1865 at Mullingar, born 1800...but how to confirm this is the right Michael Hughes?).
Anyway, there is a lot of confusing and missing information about this branch of my family, so any help or guidance anyone could give me would be much appreciated thank you.
