Edward or Edmund Grace : Short Biography

REF. KK 05/20 – Edward Grace family from Co. Kilkenny

The request received was for information in respect of ‘Edward Grace who was born at Kilminick, Callan, County Kilkenny on 8 April 1846 to Michael Grace and Cate Gorman. Edward died in Pennsylvania in 1894’.
At present our Society is compiling an extensive database derived from church and civil sources which greatly helps with such enquiries pertaining to Co. Kilkenny. We can confirm that we have computerised all extant church records of baptism and marriage available to us from the earliest up to c. 1900. We have also computerised all births, marriages and deaths from 01/01/1864 – 31/12/1900. Yet we must point out to you that parish records may not be continuous or entirely complete especially in respect of the earliest years of the nineteenth century.

Research fees are paid for searches and work undertaken for clients and are non-refundable. Searches are based on the information provided therefore precise information should lead to a fruitful search, though no guarantees can be entered into.

The first search undertaken was in respect of the marriage of Michael Grace & Cate/ Catherine Gorman. This was discovered and noted to have taken place on 17th Feb 1841 and was recorded in the catholic parish of Callan. The only information in the record is the residence of presumably the bride, since marriages generally took place in the home parish of the bride. This was Mallardstown, Callan. The amount of stipend or offering paid to the priest for the ceremony was 4 shillings. There were no names of witnesses on record.
Baptisms were sought to this couple and noted as follows:
Patrick Grace date of baptism 18 Aug 1840 possibly should read 1841?
Mary 26 Feb 1843
Edmund 08 May 1846
Anastatia ` 28 Jul 1855
I can confirm that Edmund was the name registered at baptism, not Edward. Interestingly this may be incorrect because the father’s name was also entered incorrectly as Nicholas.
There are various family residences given in the above records as follows: Kilkenny Road, Callan in 1840/41, Kilbricken in 1846 and Coolalong in 1843 and 1855. All are close to the small town of Callan. Since both marriage and baptisms occurred prior to civil registration of births, marriages and deaths there is no way of providing information relative to the parents of the couple at marriage, nor occupation of Michael Grace when his children were baptised, which would be on record post 01/01/1864 if civil records were available in respect of the family. See scans attached.

An indication of the father of Michael Grace is perhaps that of his first son Pat/Patrick. A search for this baptism was undertaken but bearing in mind that the earliest baptisms from Callan date from c. 1821 it is not surprising that no record of it was discovered. Moreover, there are no baptisms of Grace children to a father Patrick Grace of Coolalong during the period 1821/1831.
Naming practices carry age old traditions here in Ireland and indeed some of the Irish carried their practices with them to their new world and new settings. The first son was named for the paternal grandfather, the next for the maternal grandfather and the third for the father himself. Likewise with the females in the family but perhaps not so regularly as that of the males.
Census records for each household were taken every ten years from 1821 forward. However, these no longer survive therefore we can only plot the residences of families based on what was noted at evens like baptisms and marriages as well with some relevant land valuation records. The Tithe Applotment Books were compiled during the period 1823/1838 and recorded all those leasing agricultural land of five acres and upwards. This was in order to determine the amount of tax/tithe to be paid to the Established Church/Church of Ireland. These books include one Patrick Grace of Coolalong leasing land in excess of nine Irish acres c. 1827. Scan attached from original books from microfilm.
The next valuation carried out in this country was the General Valuation of Ireland completed for the Barony of Callan c. 1849. This includes Michael Grace leasing house, office [outhouses] and land from W. H. Bradshaw as well as a parcel of land all totalling in excess of eleven English acres. This is the same land but recorded differently at that time. Copy attached from the printed books. This is the last general valuation undertaken and henceforth the records were updated and amended to indicate the person who paid the rate established from the valuation of the property to the local authority of the time.
In an effort to establish if the entire family emigrated it was decided to search for marriages in respect of Patrick, Mary and Anastatia. One marriage was noted for Patrick whose father was Michael Grace from Coolalong, the last residence of the Grace family noted.
The marriage took place on 26 Nov 1874 in Callan.
Patrick Grace married Eliza[beth] Rowan.
Witnesses were Thomas Healy & Ellen Kennedy.
Note: Wife’s father deceased. [Callan district marriage register].
Patrick and Eliza/Elizabeth had four children Catherine, Bridget, Anastatia & Michael at Coolalong. Patrick died on 13 Oct 1894 at Coolalong, aged 54 years, a married farmer and his death was reported by his son Michael Grace.

The Grace family continued living at Coolalong where his widow Elizabeth is head of household per the Census returns of 1901. Her daughter Bridget and son Michael are still living here with a general domestic servant and two farm workers. The situation is almost unchanged in 1911 and now Eliza, her daughter Bridget Mary and son Michael are there as well as one domestic servant and one farm worker. The additional information gleaned from this return was that Eliza had four children born alive of whom only two are still living!
Since this is the last accessible census it is not possible to update the family beyond this date without recourse to records offices. The 1926 return will not be released until 01/01/1926, there was none in between 1911 and 1926.
It is possible that Edmund’s sisters Mary and Anastatia emigrated or married elsewhere other than Kilkenny. It must also be borne in mind that infant mortality was high in this era and it is very possible that one or other died young? As already stated there are no official death records in this country prior to 01/01/1864.
This completed our search for the Grace family of your ancestors from Callan for the present since time has not permit any further work. It is hoped that the foregoing proves of interest to you.