John Purcell Born 1856

[Kurt in S.A.]

Wow! Spinster at age 18...tough times!!

Kurt

[pwaldron]

Thanks, Barry.

This is definitely the correct marriage certificate for the Clare-born Dr. John Purcell at last!

Dr. John Purcell of Silsden was 25 in 1881, 35 in 1891, 45 in 1901 and 55 in 1911 in census returns, so I think it is safe to assume that he was born in 1855 or 1856 in Feakle. Perhaps "21" on the marriage certificate was this clergyman's way of writing "full age", meaning 21 or over. We know that John qualified as a doctor in 1878 and he certainly wasn't the sort of child prodigy that the age on the marriage certificate would imply.

Linda's document above identifies two of Dr. John Purcell's sisters as Katherine and Nora; Linda or Mary will presumably be able to tell you the names of the others.

[marymp]

Barry,
Are you aware that John Purcell is listed in the 1881 Census? At that time he was a boarder in the home of William Glover and his wife Elizabeth. His place of work is given as St John's Street, Silsden. His age was 25 and year if birth was 1856.
I checked the local cemetery in Feakle, Co. Clare and and discovered that his mother Anne died at the age of 33 on the 4.4. 1865. His father Mathew died in 1891.

[pwaldron]

There's a photo of Anne's tombstone inscription here.

It's not easy to read, and the index to deaths says she was 38:

Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index, 1864-1958 about Anne Purcell
Name: Anne Purcell
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1827
Date of Registration: 1865
Death Age: 38
Registration District: Scarriff
Death Country: Ireland
Volume: 4
Page: 355
FHL Film Number: 101582

[Barryt17]

Are you aware that John Purcell is listed in the 1881 Census? At that time he was a boarder in the home of William Glover and his wife Elizabeth. His place of work is given as St John's Street, Silsden. His age was 25 and year if birth was 1856.
I checked the local cemetery in Feakle, Co. Clare and and discovered that his mother Anne died at the age of 33 on the 4.4. 1865. His father Mathew died in 1891.

Yes Mary i know he boarded on Wesley Place Silsden with his cousin George McDonnell prior to him renting the house next door with George. 10 years later he rented the old Wesleyans priest house with George and his new wife Alice.
They lived upstairs and they ran a joint practice there till George to a house and formed a practice in Clarence House, Clifford Street Silsden where he remained until passing it on the his cousin Mattie who ran the practice till the mid 1960`s.

Thanks for the help with this information Mary,
Johns father, Mathew Purcell, married his second wife Mary Reynolds on 21 July 1868 after the death of Anne in March 1865, so John Purcell has a step mother by the time he was twelve years old.

Johns 1856 siblings were,
Katherine 1850 married Andrew Slattery and when he died married Thomas Clune, she died in 1949 aged 99 years old.
Dennis 1852
William 1859
Matthew 1860
Mary 1861 became a nun @ Mercy Convent in Kilrush, Co. Clare, she died in 1906
Annie who died in infancey in 1862
Nora 1863 married Pat Hannan

[Polycarp]

Hi Barry,

See "The Saturday Record" (Ennis), 30 July 1927.

There is a piece headlined 'Great sportsman passes away. Dr. John Purcell dies in England'.

It states that the late John Purcell was the brother of Mr. W. Purcell, ex Co.C, Baura House, Feakle; of Mr. D. Purcell, Bauryanne, Feakle; and of Mrs P. Hannon, Killula, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Most of the account in the 'Record' chronicles his life in England and his association with football in Silsden.

Polycarp

[Barryt17]

Hi Barry,
See "The Saturday Record" (Ennis), 30 July 1927.
There is a piece headlined 'Great sportsman passes away. Dr. John Purcell dies in England'.

Thanks for that, how would i be able to obtain a copy of that do you think?

[Barryt17]

I feel all the forum who have greatly helped me in my search deserve an update and big thanks from me.

I have all the information, and more, on the life and times of Doctor John Purcell, you could say from conception to completion.

All my research is now with my co writer in Australia and we would hope to have the book finished towards the autumn.

Its a new concept in writing, we are writing a story based on all the facts i have gathered but it will also be a story of love, passion, dedication and completion.

I will post again when we publish, many, many thanks to all who made it possible and for your patience with me in doing so.

Barry

[Jim McNamara]

Barry, you wrote: quote=
"Hi Jim
The John i am researching was born in 1856 and was in the UK in 1880 a qualified Doctor and Surgeon who qualified in Edinburgh in 1878, his father was Jack and his mum Anne (Malloney).

Not sure about A. Connellan
I really appreciate your trouble."

A. Connellan is the Priest at Feakle who performed that baptism. He is somewhat infamous for scolding Biddy Early many times from the pulpit and is alleged to have taken her little (blue?) magical bottle and tossed it into one of the local lakes. Sorry, but too lazy to check for the name of that lough.

All the best of luck to you with your new endeavor. I hope you let us all know how to buy it once it's on the shelves.

[Barryt17]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the post script but one mistake i made was Johns father was not Jack but now confirmed as Matthew 1820 - 1891.

Matthew was the son of Jack 1759 - 1841 and Mary Redden and had a brother and 3 sisters.

He married Anne Malony, 1848 - 1865 who bore him John and 3 bothers and 3 sisters.

Anne died in 1865 and Matthew married Mary Reynolds in July 1868 who became step mum to his first wife`s children.

So it looks as though John was probably christened by James Dore who was in fact the Priest before Andrew Connellon but they both had run ins with Biddy Early, the "Castleconnen Witch"

Thanks again Jim