A promising avenue - the Berrill's

For the moment I'd like to turn my attention to my mother's side of the family. Tomorrow or tuesday I shall be heading to the National Library of Ireland where most parish records are kept on microfilm. Hopefully I will have found out more by then, but let this post suffice as an introduction to the Berrill family.

My mother's name is Marie Whelan (née McKenna) and her family is predominantly from Co. Louth, north of Dublin. Her mother's name is Bridget Berrill and 'Berrill' is a name which is primarily located in Co. Louth. It is quite rare outside of that county, but frequently found in England along with variants such as Burrell/Berrell/Borel etc. Indeed, it is traditional seen as an old Anglo-Norman name, and that lineage immediately sparks my interest (i'm a medieval historian!). But let's not jump too far ahead!

My mother's grandparents were Thomas Berrill and Margaret Donagh, seen here in this photo:

I'll stick with the Berrill's for the moment. Thomas and Margaret were married in the Church of St, Mary's, Drogheda on June 5th, 1912. Thomas was a law-clerk residing in Dyer Street, Drogheda, while his father was John Berrill, a baker.

John Berrill was married to Alice Byrne (resident in Dromiskin at the time) on 8th November, 1877. John was over 20 years older than Alice at the time of the marriage, although both were of full age (i.e. over 21). According to the 1911 census records they had six children in total. Still resident with them in 1911 were Thomas and George and they were both Solicitors General Clerks. The other brother John, who appeared in the 1901 census, had married by 1911 to a women named Ellen. By 1911 John Sr. was a retired baker and John Jr. seems to have taken over the profession from his father. As to the other three brothers, they are still a mystery. I am assuming that they were older and probably already married and moved out by 1901. However, Berrill is an unusual enough name that I ought to be able to find them easily enough if I so wish.

Next is to go back one more generation. John Berrill's father was also called John, and Alice's father was Thomas Byrne and I know little about them. That is evidently the next part of my search, but I am fully aware that the further back I go the more difficult my task becomes. I'll post family tree's, charts, and maps soon so that all this becomes clearer!