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I am trying to make a connection to the Breen branch of my family.

My Great Great Grandmother was Catherine Mary BREEN b) 1856 and she apparently came over to New Zealand in around 1875.

Story I have heard was that she travelled alone under the protection of the Captain,possibly on a ship called the FERNGLEN.

She married the following year (1876) to Samuel George CROWHURST

Am wondering if anyone in the UK has a Catherine Mary BREEN born around that time that came out to NZ?

Would appreciate any help.

Thanks
Karley

Do you have any information about her parents? Is there anything on the marriage certificate? This one is a possible:


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983
about Catherine Mary Breen
Name: Catherine Mary Breen
Year of Registration: 1856
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Greenwich
County: Greater London, Kent, London
Volume: 1d
Page: 578

1861 England Census
about Catherine Mary Breen
Name: Catherine Mary Breen
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Hugh
Mother's Name: Dora Mary
Gender: Female
Where born: Greenwich, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Lewisham
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Registration district: Lewisham
Sub-registration district: Lewisham Village
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 15
Household Members:
Name Age
Agnes Mary Breen 3
Catherine Mary Breen 5
Dora Mary Breen 33
Eleanor Mary Breen 8
Hugh Breen 36 (assistant in the Royal Observatory)
Hugh Richard Breen 7
James Michael Breen 1
Mary Anne Breen 9

1871 England Census
about Catherine M Breen
Name: Catherine M Breen
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Hugh
Mother's Name: Dorothy M
Gender: Female
Where born: Greenwich, Kent, England
Civil Parish: Greenwich
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Street address:

View Image
Registration district: Greenwich
Sub-registration district: Greenwich East
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Household schedule number: 97
Household Members:
Name Age
Agnes M Breen 13
Catherine M Breen 15
Dorothy M Breen 45
Dorothy M Breen 9
Eleanor M Breen 18
Gertrude W Breen 2
Hugh Breen 46 (Ireland)
James M Breen 11
Louia Breen 6
Mary A Breen 19
Sarah R Breen 17

She's not with the family in 1881, so that would make sense time wise


1881 England Census
about Hugh Breen
Name: Hugh Breen
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Dora
Gender: Male
Where born: Ireland

Civil Parish: Plumstead
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address: Purrett Rd 1 Jacobs Cotts
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Pensioner Civil Serv

Registration district: Woolwich
Sub-registration district: Plumstead, East
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Dora Breen 53
Dorothy Breen 19
Eleanor Breen 28
Gertrude Breen 12
Hugh Breen 56
Hugh Breen 27
Teresa Breen 14

I just found what little other info I have.

Catherines parents are:

Hugh BREEN
Dora Mary DODD

That is everything I have unfortunately.

I appreciate any help

OMG! I just read all you provided and I see Hugh & Dora there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You Rock! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

1851
Name: Hugh Breen
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Dora M
Gender: Male
Where born: Ireland

Civil Parish: Greenwich
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Registration district: Greenwich
Sub-registration district: Greenwich West
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 93
Household Members:
Name Age
Dora M Breen 22
Hugh Breen 26
Mary Featherstone 15 house servant


Living upper George St
Dora was born in Ireland as well
His occupation is assistant RG? (can't read third letter) Greenwich

HO107; Piece: 1586; Folio: 423; Page: 31

As they were born in Ireland, the trail may well go cold here. I can't see a marriage for them on the GRO references either

Luckily, he is with his parents in 1841, so you get another generation back

Hugh Breen Jr
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826
Gender: Male
Where born: Ireland

Civil Parish: Greenwich
Hundred: Blackheath
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street address:George St

Occupation:

View Image

Registration district: Greenwich
Sub-registration district: Greenwich West
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Catherine Breen 40
Ellen Breen 10
Hugh Breen 45
Hugh BreenJr 15
James Breen 15
John Breen 7

HO107; Piece 489; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Greenwich; County: Kent; Enumeration District: 5; Folio: 33; Page: 22; Line: 22;

The occupation for both Hugh jr and his father is Computer Royal Observatory. Or at least I think it says computer.

All the children were born in Ireland

Remember that in the 1841 census all adult ages were rounded down, so Hugh senior could have been aged 45-50, Catherine 40-45 and Hugh jr 15-20. Only ages under 15 were recorded correctly

Linda

Wow!

I am so absolutely thrilled at the information you have both supplied for me tonight.

I cannot say thanks enough. You have gotten me more info than I imagined.

Thank You so much for your kindness and help.

Karley

1891 Hugh is dead, Dora is widowed, but she comes from Dublin in Ireland, so you may be able to find her there. I couldn't find her in 1841 on the English census before she married Hugh

Dorothy N Breen It does say Dorothy on the image, but it is obviously her
Age: 63
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Dublin, Ireland

Civil Parish: Croydon
Ecclesiastical parish: St Saviour
Town: Croydon
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Croydon
Sub-registration district: Croydon
ED, institution, or vessel: 30
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Dorothy M Breen 24
Dorothy N Breen 63 living on her own means
Eleana Breen 38 governess private family
Gertrude Breen 19 pupil teacher school
Hugh R Breen 37 stationers assistant
James Breen 31milkman
Kate Breen 26
Theresa M Breen 24 dress maker

non of the children are married

1851 census

I think it reads:

Assistant, R. Ob., Greenwich

which would be Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

Do a Google search for Royal Observatory, Greenwich. and also for Hugh Breen

http://www.archive.org/details/reductionofobser02royarich



Babbage, responsible for the very first computer in the 1840's, was working on it at the Royal Observatory.

Would try contacting Royal Observatory and see what they can tell you.

Death of Hugh
Hugh Breen
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Year of Registration: 1891
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 66
District: Croydon
County: Greater London, Kent, Surrey
Volume: 2a
Page: 159

and Dora
Dora Mary Breen
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Year of Registration: 1899
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 71
District: Croydon
County: Greater London, Kent, Surrey
Volume: 2a
Page: 173

Gosh you ladies are fabulous at this!

Yes royal observatory will be correct, hugh was an assistant there and Lewella provided info that showed his father Hugh Snr worked there too.

I am madly printing all this info off so I can look back at it and take it all in.

I'm loving it!

Thank You all.

I can't see either Hugh or Catherine Breen from the 1841 census in 1851
there is a death which may be him
Hugh Breen
Year of Registration: 1848
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Greenwich
County: Greater London, Kent, London
Volume: 5

There appear to be links with Dublin in the 1840's so perhaps Hugh Senior came to Greenwich because of his job.

A big thanks to Pam for suggesting I Google the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

I did and found a history on my Breens and their association with the GRO.

Lots of printing out tonight haha.

Probably for 'Computer' read 'Mathemetician'

I read through the article you obviously found.....so lucky to have so much information written out for you !!!

I wish my James Breen had been as famous as yours.