Person:Bridget Burke (3)

BRIDGET KATHERINE BURKE CONKLIN COUGHLIN

Bridget Burke was born in Waterford. Her parents left her with an aunt in Dublin, and they emigrated to California. She attended the Ursuline School in Dublin . She married Thomas Conklin when she was 23 years old.

They came to America, and settled in New York City. Her husband was a sea captain. Later, they went into the shoe business, and Thomas died approximately five years after that. Bridget sold the business, and became a dressmaker, continuing that trade after moving to Dubuque, Iowa. She married Michael Coughlin, who was a grain inspector. (Information given to Mabel Newquist by Bridget Catherine Burke's daughter, Jennie Newquist. She also referred to her mother as Catherine.)

There is an Ursuline presence in Dublin - Cabinteely - Sandyford - Booterstown, but we have not been able to determine if it had a school that Bridget may have gone to. There is also one in Waterford. The first pupils began their education on the 8th September 1816 at the foundation house of the Ursuline Convent, Waterford. Four sisters from the Ursuline Convent Thurles set up the Order in the city at the house of Waterpark. During the following months, a more suitable dwelling was found at Newgrove, Newtown. Shortly after the small community with thirty boarders arrived to settle permanently at Elysium. A large coach house at the end of the Elysium garden provided accommodation for the teaching of the poor children in the area.

From small beginnings, with the increasing number of pupils there began a new boarding school and the extension of the nun's house, the former coach house was replaced in 1842 by a new solid building to be known as St. John's National School. This is very likely the school that Bridget attended.

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Traditional Irish Naming Pattern:

1st son was named after the father's father 2nd son was named after the mother's father 3rd son was named after the father 4th son was named after the father's eldest brother

1st daughter was named after the mother's mother 2nd daughter was named after the father's mother 3rd daughter was named after the mother 4th daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister

• This pattern is not set in stone. For instance, it was considered bad luck to have 3 people with the same name.

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Landowners of County Waterford: Abstracted from genealogy library reference book, the following individuals owned one acre or more of land in Co. Waterford, Ireland, the latter part of the 1870s: Edmond Burke, address Knocknaraha, Clonmel, owned 49 acres. Rev. John Burke, address Kilmeadin, Co. Waterford, owned 10 acres. Patrick Burke, address Knocknaraha, Clonmel, owned 49 acres.

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LDS IGI Record Search:

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She is listed by the first name "Bridget" in the 1870 and 1880 US Census for Dubuque, IA. We have assumed that Catherine was her middle name. It was also her mother's name. The youngest daughter, Agnes, also was listed as "Bridget" - probably a census error.

1870 Census Series M593 Roll 389 Book 1, Page 92a 472

468  Coughlin  Michael   40  m  Laborer  200  Ireland
468   Coughlin  Bridget  40  f  Keeping House  Ireland
468   Coughlin  Mary  14  f  Iowa
468   Coughlin  Margaret  12  f  Iowa
468   Coughlin  Hannah J  10  f Iowa
468   Coughlin  Bridget  7  f  Iowa
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Census: 1880 United States Census Census Locality: Dubuque County, Dubuque, Iowa: Microfilm Roll 338, Book 1, Page 123, First Ward Written info on page 42, Supervisor Disrict #2, Enumerating District 171 Census for Southern Avenue, #414, 449

Household:

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace 
Michael CONKLIN   Self   M   Male   W   50   IRE   Laborer   IRE   I
Bridget CONKLIN   Wife   M   Female   W   50   IRE   Keeping House   IRE   IRE  
Margaret CONKLIN   Dau   S   Female   W   22   IA   Dress Maker   IRE   IRE  
Jennie CONKLIN   Dau   S   Female   W   19   IA   At Home   IRE   I
Agnes CONKLIN   Dau   S   Female   W   17   IA   At Home   IRE   IRE  

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The census birth order of the four daughters is the same as Mabel Newquist's recollections. The change in the first names and surnames is possibly due to census errors, or specific name changes.

The 1890 US Census records for Iowa were destroyed in a fire. There is no specific record of her or her husband in the 1900 Iowa census for Dubuque.

Mabel Newquist stated that Jennie went to visit her mother in Dubuque when she sick. This was after Jennie's 1882 marriage, and rumor has it that it was in 1893 when their DeKalb Avenue residence burned. When she returned, John had built a new home for her.

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LDS Search:

Bridget Burke Birth: 15 JUL 1830 Birr, Offaly, Ireland Christening: Death: 01 JAN 1905 , Keokuk, Iowa Burial: , Keokuk, Iowa

Bridget BOURKE : Birth: About 1831, Dublin, Ireland Parents: Father: Thomas Burke , Mother: Catherine BRADY

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Two possible leads exist for more information on Jennie's parents after the 1880 census. One is the 1900 Cedar Rapids census which lists a Michael Coughlin. He is a widower. His Ireland birth date is listed as 1838, which is several years later than previous records. He became a naturalized citizen in 1870. His occupation is a church janitor, and he is living with the family of his daughter, Margaret. She married Daniel V. Sweeney in 1882. He was born in August 1853 in MA, and his parents were born in Ireland. They have four children: Jennie C. (b. 3/1888), Olliver C. (b. 5/1892), Mary E. (b.12/1891), and Leah (sp?) (b. 6/1886).

Another lead was provided by Patti Newquist in January, 2004. A website "Irish in Iowa" (which previously provided the 1870 census data on Jennie and her family) recently included a tombstone in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, IA. It contains the names "Michael Coughlin, b. 6/20/1832 in Ennis, Clare County, Ireland, d. 12/25/1894 in Davenport, IA" and "Bridget Coughlin, b. 3/4/1835 in Clare County, Ireland, d. 11/14/1919". The birthdates in Ireland are in the right range, although the Davenport location is new.

IA GenWeb Project ST. MARGUERITE'S CEMETERY NOW KNOWN AS MOUNT CALVARY CEMETERY ABSTRACTED FROM TOMBSTONE RECORDS OF SCOTT CO., IOWA-A W.P.A. PROJECT Davenport. IA

Davenport Times Davenport, Scott, Iowa Friday, March 9, 1900

Coughlin, Bridget, wid Michael, r 653 Sylvan av Coughlin, John, molder Metal Wheel Co r 653 Sylvan av Coughlin, Miss Minnie r 653 Sylvan av

The Davenport census for 1900 and 1910 lists the widow Bridget Coughlin and two children, Minnie & John. Minnie (1872 - 1928) is also buried in Mt Calvary. I don't think this is the grave of our relatives.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Newquist.FBC.FTW.

   Date of Import: Oct 6, 2000