Martin Reddigan

Other Events:

• Immigration: Between 1803 and 1809, Ferryland, Newfoundland
• Residence: 28 Sep 1827, Aquaforte, Newfoundland
• Death: 21 Nov 1827, St. John's, Newfoundland

Notes:

Birth:
Although Reddigan is a rare surname in the south-eastern counties of Ireland, research of Irish records indicate the presence of small pockets of the surname (and several variants) associated with towns and villages along the banks of the river Suir. The majority of these few surviving records are for parishes on the Co. Kilkenny side of the river, with occasional references to life events associated with parishes located on the Co. Waterford side of the river. In Newfoundland, the association of the surname with Co. Kilkenny was identified in the 1825 marriage (at Aquaforte) of Mary "Readigan", who was very likely the daughter of Martin.

Immigration:
The first mention of Martin Reddigan in the Ferrryland area was in the Surrogate Court Records of 1809. It states that he was fined £3. 3. 0 for assaulting Walter Wallice and burning two of his shirts, however there was no indication where Martin was living at that time.

Residence:
Martin's place of abode in Ferryland District is clearly indicated in a petition that he signed (in his own handwriting) at Aquaforte in September 1827. The petition reads as follows:

Enclosure in Sir Thomas Cochrane Dispatch No. 24 of the 9th October 1827 - CO.194.74 - Page 279.

To the Right Honourable Lord Goderich, Secretary of State for the Colonies

Reports having reached us that it is the Intention of his Majesty's Government to impose a duty upon all articles imported into this Island; and that an increase of Duties on Spirits is also contemplated.

We the principal, but poor Inhabitants of this place, humbly beg to remonstrate against the intended measure; and we Implore of your Lordship's most serious consideration of the depressed state to which we are already reduced, from continued unsuccessful Voyages in the Fishery for we do with truth assert, that if the intended measures takes place and greater burthens laid on us, that it will be impossible for us to subsist.

We confidently hope that your Lordship's quiry into, and faithful representation of these facts, that the intended measures will be abandoned; and in Duty bound we shall ever pray.

Signed at Aquafort September the 28th 1827.

Peter Winsor; John--X--Brown; Thomas Meagher;
Thomas Payne; Robert Bowden; Thomas Stamp;
Edward Condon; Robert Sanders; John Howlet;
Michael Cadigan; Martin Readigan;
Matthew Ryan; Matthew Harney;
Richard--X--Welsh; James Sisk

Death:
Less than two months after Martin signed the petition at Aquaforte, The Newfoundlander, a St. John's newspaper, carried the following news item on November 21, 1827.

"Melancholy Occurrence - A poor man, belonging to Caplin Bay, named MARTIN REARDIGAN, went into one of the stores of Messrs. JAMES STEWART & Co., for the purpose of purchasing some Molasses, and while in the act of receiving it from the Storekeeper, fell down and instantly expired. An inquest was immediately held before Mr. L.L. CHANCEY, coroner - Verdict, died by the visitation of God."

Although the newspaper account says Martin "Reardigan" was from Caplin Bay, it is highly likely that he was the Martin "Readigan" who had signed the petition as an inhabitant of Aquaforte. In support of this conclusion, just two and a half weeks after Martin's death, Richard Reddigan of Caplin Bay sold a dwelling house, fishing flakes and stages at Brewin' Cove, Aquaforte to Andrew Morrisson, surgeon, Ferryland for £51. 8. 9 (Source: Registry of Deeds- Southern District - Volume 1 - Folio 47).

No specific indication of the kinship between Martin and Richard is given in the deed, but the deed states " .... I Richard Reddigan at the time of sealing and delivery thereof have in myself good right full power and lawful and absolute authority by these presents to grant bargain sell, assign, transfer and set over the aforesaid property and every part and parcel thereof and appurtenances thereunto belonging". This declaration appears to indicate that the ownership of the property at Aquaforte was not being disputed by any family members. Although it appears that Michael Reddigan and Mary (Reddigan) Mullaly were children of Martin, the deed suggests that Richard Reddigan may have been a co-owner of the property at Brewin' Cove. At the time of Martin's death, Richard had recently married and moved to Caplin Bay.

Martin married Johanna Cain Abt 1800, Ireland. Johanna was born Abt 1780, Ireland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
There is no written proof that Mary was the daughter of Martin Readigan, however, from a research point of view, and based on the rarity of the surname in Newfoundland, it seems likely that she was Martin's daughter.

Name:
Mary's surname spelled "Readigan" in her marriage record.

Mary married John Mullally 11 Nov 1825, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland. John was born Bef 1800, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland; died Aft 1865, St. John's, Newfoundland; was buried Aft 1865, St. John's, Newfoundland. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 25 Sep 1803, Co. Waterford, Ireland; Address:
  Trinity Without RC Parish
• Court Action: 6 Feb 1832, Ferryland, Newfoundland
• Voter: From 1840 to 1849, Admiral's Cove, Fermeuse, Newfoundland

Notes:

Court Action:
Micahel was charged and convicted of assault against Anne Congdon. No other details or residences given, however Anne was likely living at Clears Cove, Fermeuse where her family operated a business.

Voter:
Michael Reddigan is listed in the Voter's Lists at Admiral's Cove, Fermeuse from 1840 to 1849. It is unlikely that he moved, so it appears he probably died before the compilation of the 1852 Voter's List.

Michael married Bridget Cody 19 Nov 1833, St. John's, Newfoundland. Bridget was born Abt 1810, Fermeuse, Newfoundland; died Yes, date unknown, Admiral's Cove, Fermeuse, Newfoundland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
If this son was from John Mullally's first marriage, he was likely born at Aquaforte, otherwise he was born at Ferryland.

Buried:
Robert Carter did not indicate if the boy's body was recovered for burial.

Died:
Robert Carter's noted that "Richard Mackey upset a punt at Cold East Point, and a boy (Mullally) was lost."

Other Events:

• Occupation: 1871, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; Seafarer

Notes:

Birth:
The age given in his 1868 marriage record was 34 yrs.

Died:
Michael's mother was recorded as Mary Mackey however, I suspect that she was actually his stepmother. The local Newfoundland newspapers incorrectly recorded Mchael's place of death as Gloucester, England instead of Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.

Michael married Elizabeth Kehoe 23 Nov 1868, Little Bras D'Or, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Elizabeth was born Aug 1842, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada; died 29 Oct 1918, Nova Scotia, Canada; was buried 31 Oct 1918, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Research Overview: 1869, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland

Notes:

Research Overview:
Martin Reddigan is first mentioned in an old court record as living in Caplin Bay in 1869, He was also recorded several times in the earliest surviving marriage and baptism records. Martin eventually married his "cousin" Bridget Reddigan in 1875. It is not known for certain where he came from, or with whom he lived prior to his marriage. Since he was obviously from another branch of the Reddigan family, the only logical conclusion is that he was the son of Michael and Bridget (Cody) Reddigan of Admiral's Cove, Fermeuse. Based on the Fermeuse Voter's List, it appears that Michael Reddigan probably died when Martin was about 13 years old.

According to an article, gathered by the late Ray Curran re the Johnston family, it states that Richard Reddigan and Jane (Johnston) Reddigan reared up "Mike Joe" Reddigan. However, Mike Joe was 27 years old when his father, Martin died in 1902 and his mother, Bridget didn't die until about 1930. This leads me to believe that there may be confusion in identifying the correct generation. If factual, it is more likely that Martin possibly may have lived with Richard and Jane Reddigan in the late 1860s/ early 1870s.

Although he was probably born in Admiral's Cove, Fermeuse, Martin's death record states that he was born at Caplin Bay, however this information is obviously incorrect.

Martin married Bridget "Biddy" Reddigan 14 Jan 1875, Ferryland, Newfoundland. Bridget (daughter of Richard Reddigan and Catherine Evoy) was born Aug 1838, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland; died Abt 1930, Calvert, Newfoundland; was buried Abt 1930, Holy Trinity RC Cemetery, Ferryland, Ferryland District, Newfoundland, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 1 Nov 1875, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland

Notes:

Died:
No Vital Statistics death record found, but Mike Joe was enumerated in the 1935 Newfoundland Census. He had died by the time the 1945 Newfoundland Census was compiled.

Michael married Alice Ann "Alice" Power 20 Jan 1908, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland. Alice (daughter of Thomas Power and Mary Ryan) was born 15 Jul 1884, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland; died 18 Feb 1965, Calvert, Newfoundland; was buried Abt 20 Feb 1965, Holy Trinity RC Cemetery, Ferryland, Ferryland District, Newfoundland, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 9 Jul 1877, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland
• Immigration: 14 Nov 1903, New York, New York, United States

Notes:

Immigration:
Immigration records show that Miss Alice Reddigan (20) and Miss C. Reddigan (18) were listed on the manifest of the SS Silva departing from St. John's on Nov. 14, 1903 for Halifax, NS and New York, NY. However on the manifest indicates that their final destination was Halifax, not New York.

Reddigan family folklore related by the late Tom Reddigan indicates that his Aunt Alice and cousin Catherine Frances went to the US at the same time. This information appears to match the 1903 immigration record information. However, in the 1910 US Census, Catherine's immigration year is recorded as 1907. In searching the immigration records for that year, there is also a record for a Kate Reddigan who arrived in New York, via Halifax, on May 15, 1907. However, there is insufficient information to determine whether this individual was Catherine Frances Reddigan of Caplin Bay or Catherine Reddigan of St. John's. At that point in time, some of the St. John's Reardigan family still used the Reddigan spelling of the surname.

Catherine married George Joseph Armstrong 24 Apr 1910, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States. George (son of George Armstrong and Dorothy Gatherall) was born 20 Jul 1878, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland; died 27 Mar 1947, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; was buried 31 Mar 1947, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 20 Jul 1879, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland

Other Events:

• Baptism: 22 Feb 1882, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland