I was really looking forward to meeting Martina today. According to DNA testing we have a common ancestor. Well, maybe, but like most Irish ancestors he/she remains hidden in the mists of time, probably using an assumed name. She drove over from near Enniscorthy to see what we could come up with.
When Martina arrived she brought a home-made apple pie - a whole pie! Wowser. As an aside I've invited Jim and Mary to come over tomorrow evening and hopefully the remainder of the pie, if not consumed, will go home with them. I am too easily led into temptation and that wonderful pie keeps whispering my name. Thank you Martina for the wonderful treat.
Martina also showed some hope for my eventually being able to make a tasty loaf of brown bread. She gifted me with a non-stick loaf pan. I can't let her down. I really must keep trying to perfect the bread.
We spent much of the day around the table looking over materials that Martina had brought and notes she had, along with reference to my tree. Although there are some common surnames, they are not blood relations. Names in my tree that matched hers are all in-laws. This all leads me back to my theory that there was a wandering chap, many generations back, who got waaaaay too friendly with every lass in the counties of Wicklow, Wexford and Carlow and thus today's puzzle was born. The result was an apparent genetic match with a lot of people - none of whom are popping up.
At least one of Martina's matches is true, but had been identified even before the DNA testing. In my case - still a faint hope that someone will turn up. It seems that on Ancestry DNA, few of my matches have a family tree, and those who do are not interested enough to reply. I've had a couple of emails from folks with whom I can't find even a country in common, let alone a person.
My internet connection, now that the landlords are back, is much more stable. How can this make a difference? I haven't even spoken with them. Beats me. It did go down for a short time today but only for about half an hour. Since then the connection has remained strong. For this I'm grateful, if surprised.
I'm now arranging to meet with the researcher I've hired in the past, to help me review records at the National Library of Ireland next Thursday. I have to go into Dublin at some point that day to return the rental car and will stay overnight at an airport hotel before my very early morning flight to England next Friday.
Does this mean I'll drive into downtown Dublin? Nope - not a chance. I'll drive to some sort of park and ride and leave the car. From there I'll get a bus or train into the centre of the city. At the end of the day I'll reverse the trip and pick up the car, drive to the airport and return the Ford Focus to Hertz. Luckily they only require that you return it with a full gas tank, not a clean exterior. I can't believe it's been three weeks already and I haven't passed a single car wash.
So, I shall have to get my ducks in line and send off a message to the Sheffield Archives requesting the documents and manuscripts I want to review. All of my fingers and toes are crossed that some little tidbit of information will turn up to help unravel the shroud enveloping the ancestors. It is certainly wound very tightly. I just want to tug at it some more and see what relics fall out. Ah to be a psychic. Someone with that "gift" wouldn't have nearly so much fun tracing their roots, they'd just call upon the spirits and ask them questions, wouldn't they? Then again, what fun is that?
So - tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy and windy but I don't see much rain with only a 20% POP. Then again, today was only 10% POP and there were indications of rain on the car. I didn't go anywhere except to empty the garbage. Tomorrow I think I'll return to Athy, check in with the Heritage Centre, review the directions to Barrowhouse townland and then try to follow them to the right place. Maybe my Fennells and Whelans will be hiding under rocks and not be so resistant to being discovered.
There's another little mystery there too, as some of them lived in a townland called Monebrock - also referred to in documents as Mount Brock or Moneybrook. It's close to Athy but in the neighbouring county of Laois. Only thing is, nobody there has ever heard of it. It's still listed today so I shall try to solve that as well. If it is decent weather - ie not freezing cold or raining - I'll do a little walking along the Barrow river.
I might gather up my courage and knock on the Church office door to see if I might have a peek at the register. I've browsed it online and didn't find everything I was searching for. Maybe handling the real thing, if that's possible, will work better. Apparently most churches here are now bombarded with requests to look at the registers, to the extent that they just ignore all emails. Ah well...
There's a little gift shop at the Heritage Centre and I shall probably make another contribution to the Irish economy. I saw a few little things of interest on my last visit.
Jim and Mary are coming over tomorrow evening. I've been to their place a few times and it is certainly time to return the favour. I've bought some daffodils and they are so bright and pretty that it almost seems like Spring in here. I said "almost". With the blinds down and the heat turned on I can dream.
It's past bedtime now so will sign off with hopes for a more interesting commentary, for you dear readers, on the morrow.
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