tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post5772157565166316921..comments2024-03-22T23:04:53.937+00:00Comments on Black Raven Genealogy: The way they wereDara http://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-73398428863431541142016-03-07T10:08:30.592+00:002016-03-07T10:08:30.592+00:00So sad, Dana, but their strong belief in the after...So sad, Dana, but their strong belief in the afterlife probably helped greatly. I once heard names were reused because (as well as honouring those important to them) they believed the soul of the child that passed would then help protect their new sibling in life. Dara https://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-82280940901164088702016-03-07T02:54:56.113+00:002016-03-07T02:54:56.113+00:00First of all, I found it incredibly sad that your ...First of all, I found it incredibly sad that your ancestors lost three young children. And, I understand the custom of naming a child after a deceased child, but it is hard to comprehend that at as comfort - though I'm assuming that's why they did it. And, it's hard to imagine this kind of life. It makes me more thankful for what I have!Dana Leedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387705697369311607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-24656472431886228102016-03-06T13:35:08.620+00:002016-03-06T13:35:08.620+00:00Wendy, I'm sure the situation had improved by ...Wendy, I'm sure the situation had improved by the time your great-grandmother left for the U.S. - she could afford her passage, at least. But undoubtedly, as they were Gaelic Irish, her parents may have been born into such conditions. It just dawned on me recently - this was their lot, give or take a generation or two. It's sad really.Dara https://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-6971179677292549492016-03-06T12:55:57.106+00:002016-03-06T12:55:57.106+00:00I wonder if this is what my great-grandmother came...I wonder if this is what my great-grandmother came from. I suppose I will never know how she lived or why she and her sisters left for New York. The conditions you describe would make anyone dream of something better. Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863357756727783017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-36208252513932624652016-03-06T10:34:17.056+00:002016-03-06T10:34:17.056+00:00Thanks Leslie, much appreciated. Don't give u...Thanks Leslie, much appreciated. Don't give up on finding them; I just found my great-grandfather. He had the single most common surname in Dublin and all I knew was his parents were John and Elizabeth. Turns out his mother was Alicia, but I still got there in the end. There is always hope.Dara https://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-77808616977361276822016-03-05T20:31:01.354+00:002016-03-05T20:31:01.354+00:00Thanks Dara... one can always hope! I'm search...Thanks Dara... one can always hope! I'm searching for William Kelly & Ellen/Helena Kennedy. With such common surnames, it seems impossible!! I've traced them in England, but the records only say Ireland... no indication of where. <br /><br />I want to say... I just found your blog this morning & have been enjoying reading through your posts. I love the little glimpses into their lives that you describe. <br /><br />LeslieLesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17041934929479574202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-78755522401184742422016-03-05T20:01:14.928+00:002016-03-05T20:01:14.928+00:00I don't think they had it easy, even without t...I don't think they had it easy, even without the Famine. Keep searching for your ancestors, some day they just might turn up.Dara https://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-86113525352202293442016-03-05T17:57:01.685+00:002016-03-05T17:57:01.685+00:00Thank you for this sobering description of what ou...Thank you for this sobering description of what our ancestors lives were like. <br />I have Irish Ancestors, but as of yet can't find from where in Ireland they were from. I only know they were born around the time of the potato famine. Would have been very rough times, for sure.<br /><br />LeslieLesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17041934929479574202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-21664226354356511562016-03-05T16:45:08.960+00:002016-03-05T16:45:08.960+00:00Thanks for leaving a comment Jennifer. It's tr...Thanks for leaving a comment Jennifer. It's true, in many ways, we have it so easy today compared to those in the past. Yet, they may have been simpler times. We have our own 'stresses' today and in general, I don't think we're any happier now, for all our comforts.Dara https://www.blogger.com/profile/16643201998217385573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900963722618733171.post-644105859531957972016-03-05T11:31:19.352+00:002016-03-05T11:31:19.352+00:00Dara, thank you for this post.
No doubt, physical...Dara, thank you for this post.<br /><br />No doubt, physically our ancestors must have been made of sterner stuff than us, in order to endure at all, but what always comes to mind for me is the indomitable spirit our ancestors must have possessed. The idea of the 'indomitable spirit' of the Irish might seem like a cliché, but their lives must have been imbued with it; otherwise, how else would you move forward when you are burying your babies? <br /><br />My mam used to say our ancestors and family members were grateful for every single thing they were given, and found joy in the smallest matters. Nothing was ever taken for granted. A history, such as this one of your Byrne family members, puts our modern lives into rather harsh perspective. Éire Historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.com