The Byrne (1) Family

This section dedicated to the memory of Thomas "Tom" Byrne
1904 - 1996

Below is the 1st Byrne family in my wife's lineage. This family eventually married into the Brennan family of the same locale. It is believed that Martin Byrne (Sr.) immigrated to Great Paradise, NFLD from Ireland and that his wife, Catherine Whelan, did also - although I suspect she was actually born in NFLD. This family, surname is not very common anywhere in NFLD during the time period of these early Byrnes so they're occurrences in records likely point to them all being related in one way or another.

Father: Martin Byrne: b. abt 1800, b. abt 1795, Ireland or NFLD; d. abt 1870, Great Paradise, NFLD.

m. abt 1820

Mother: Catherine Whelan: b. abt 1805, Ireland or NFLD; d. aft 1898, Great Paradise, NFLD.

Children:

1. Michael Byrne: Fisherman; b. abt 1820, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD; d. 1874, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Married: abt 1855, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD, to Ellen "Granny Byrne" Troy-Power: (older sister of Mary Troy-Power, below) b. abt 1828, Waterford, Ireland; d. 1925, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Children: Martin T. (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898), John, Peter, Mary and Margaret.

Note: Ellen Troy-Power immigrated to Newfoundland in 1833 from County Waterford, Ireland with her mother, Margaret Troy and younger sister, Mary Troy, when Ellen was 9 years old. The father did not immigrate with them and as this was during Ireland's 2nd Potato Famine it is assumed that the father had died back in Ireland due to the famine or had died enroute at sea. Shortly after immigrating to Newfoundland, Ellen's mother re-married abt 1842-1851 to a man by the name of "Patrick Power" and so Ellen and her sister became known by both surnames,  "Troy-Power". I have not been able to find a listing of biological children for this Patrick Power that he may have had through an earlier, 1st, marriage as I am unable to determine where he came from and where he and Margaret settled.

2. Peter "Pierce" Byrne: Fisherman; b. abt 1839, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD; d. 1879, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Married: abt 1869, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD, to Mary Troy-Power: (sister to Ellen, above) b. abt 1838, County Waterford, Ireland; d. 1873, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Children: Patrick (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898), Michael (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898), John (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898) and Edward.

3. Patrick Byrne: Fisherman; b. abt 1833; d. aft 1898, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD. (not known for certain if this is a son of Martin & Catherine - is listed with brothers above & below in same District Directory for 1898) 

Married: Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD, to Catherine Power: (could possibly be of the same Power family that Ellen and Mary's mother married into although would be a step-sister through Ellen and Mary's step-father, Patrick Power).

Children: Michael (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 & 1904), John-Thomas (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 & 1904), Ellen andrew (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 & 1904) and Patrick.

4. Augustine Byrne: Fisherman; b. abt 1835; d. bef 1898, probably in Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Married: Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD, to Elizabeth Power: b. abt 1835; d. aft 1898, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD. (could possibly be of the same Power family that Ellen and Mary's mother married into although would be a step-sister through Ellen and Mary's step-father, Patrick Power).

Children: John-Augustin (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 & 1904), Martin-Augustin (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 & 1904), James, Mary-Anne , Monica and Catherine.

5. Martin Byrne: Fisherman; b. abt 1837; (is not known for certain if this is a child of Martin and Catherine - is listed, along with another Martin Byrne, son of Martin,  in same District Directory for 1898) d. bef 1898, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Married: abt 1860 to unknown wife: (Note: is listed as "widow" of Martin Byrne in 1898 NFLD Directory but her name was not given). b. abt 1840; d. aft 1898, Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NFLD.

Children: Anne, Theresa, Catherine and Martin (fisherman in Gr. Paradise in 1898 and is presumed to be son of this Martin).

Note: Although not confirmed, Patrick, Augustine and Martin being children of Martin and Catherine may explain the large gap between the birth years of known brothers Michael (b. abt 1820) and Peter (b. abt 1839). It is possible that there are other siblings not yet found that would further account for the gap.