I think that Patrick and Bridget were prepared to say things about their ages that may not have been totally accurate. Patrick states that he was 30 – hence born in 1856 (before May 26) or 1855 (after May 26).

Bridget says she was 29 (hence born in 1856 (after May 26) or 1857 (before May 26). Bridget was definitely born at Trim, Co Meath, in 1855 before March 23. She was actually 31 when she married Patrick.

Patrick was almost certainly born at Tulla, Co Clare early in 18572. Things were pretty crook in County Clare in those days, and Pat’s baptismal certificate states his place of birth was the Workhouse at Tulla. The Tulla workhouse took in those from a number of surrounding areas, including the parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus which adjoined the parish of Tulla.

Of course, Patrick may not have been sure of his birth year (or day even). However, Patrick Brassil and Mary Roughan baptized a son Patrick on 18 Feb 1857. Although there were quite a few Patrick Brassils, and even more Mary Roughans, knocking around that area back then, I am convinced that this is the baptismal record of our ggfPat. I presume that the family went back to NMF as soon as they could, for it has always been NMF that was referred to in Brassil family history. Interestingly, I remember Dad saying that gg Pat was the only son of his father Pat. He said that the only relatives we had called Brassil were us siblings, Uncle Tom, and David and Richard. Other than that there was no-one this side of Ireland since the early 1800s.

I believe that gg Patrick Brassil came out to Australia on the Kapunda, landing in Townsville in 1875.

The Kapunda sounds vaguely familiar to me. (Did my Dad say something about it once?) Anyway, the ships manifest gives ggfPat’ss age as 20, meaning born in 1855. Again, another unclear age.

Once you try to track gg Pat’s parents it gets really murky. There are too many possibles and not enough probables.

So Patrick’s father Patrick was probably born in NMF, and his mother Mary Roughan probably was too. I have not as yet been able to find a marriage record that I am happy with…

Pat Brassil, born nmf 1834, parents Michel Brassil and Honor Enright does not seem right…

Footnotes

1. Baptism of Bridget Kiernan, 23 March 1855, at Trim, Co Meath

2. Baptism of Patrick Brassil (ggfPat), 18 February 1857, at Tulla, Co Clare