My gg grandfather John Roach(1817-1861); and his wife Jane Cullen (1814-1880) were from Co. Wexford, Ireland, but lived their married lives in St. John's and Middle Cove, NF. Their stone marker in Holy Trinity RC Cemetery in Torbay reads: "Erected by their sons in memory of their father John Roach, who died Feb 7, 1861 aged 44 years. Also of their beloved mother, Jane, who died June 10, 1880 aged 66 years. Natives of the County Wexford, Ireland." John's Obituary in the Times and General Commercial Gazette, Wednesday, 20 February 1861, Vol. 29, No.15 reads (somewhat at variance): "At his residence in Middle Cove on the 8th inst., Mr. John Roche, aged 46 years, a native of County Wexford, Ireland - is deeply regretted by all who knew him, and leaves a wife and five children to mourn his loss." One of their children, Richard, b. April 23, 1849 in Middle Cove; d. August 6, 1916 at Topsail, was my g grandfather. The others, of whom five survived, were Elizabeth (b. 1840); John (b. 1842); James (b. 1843); Jane (b. 1845); Mary Anne (b. 1847); and Patrick (b. 1852). James, is undocumented - no parish records for 1843. Richard's Baptismal record was in Box 4, p.13, RC Basilica Baptisms (actually baptised at the RC Chapel, Henry Street)-the Basilica was not completed until 1855. His mother's name was shown as Ellen Cullin - someone wrote Jane above it. The family name on Elizabeth's birth record is rendered Roach, as is John's, James' and Jane's. Mary Anne's is ROACHE, as are Richard's and Patrick's(with the e). The sponsor's name is Edward ROACHE. Elizabeth (and James, if ours) died before 1861, explaining the "five" in the obituary. John was (oral tradition) coachman and groom for at least two Colonial Governors as early as 1832, including Sir John Harvey, who served in NF from 1840-47. John and Jane lived for a time on Sheehan's Lane, (near Government House), held property in the Estate of the late Colonel Skerritt on Military Rd., and then on Brady's Path. The first before, and the latter two, after the move to Middle Cove, to occupy land previously owned by the Delaneys who had (oral tradition) returned to Ireland (1846). The Middle Cove grant had lapsed and was then confirmed to John in 1848. But there were Delaneys in NF so...no certainty there either. John signed a Deed of Trust shortly before his death with Edward, Superintendent of Grounds at Government House. He retained the deed (like a Will), obviously devised to circumvent the lack of women's rights at the time. For almost two decades, until shortly before his own death, Edward had control of the family's affairs, and he signed everything back to Jane and the children under similar terms, modified twice to suit Jane, shortly before he died full of years. By then, the Woman's Land Act had passed, and she wanted things to her liking! These documents suggest a close, even familial connection, but are not conclusive. Edward F. was from Borris, Co. Carlow and was older than John. He, too, held property in St. John's and, as a Yeoman, had additional responsibilities to the Crown. Edward married Catherine Maher, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary in NF in 1829, and they were grandparents to the future RC Archbishop, Edward Patrick Roche(b. 1874, d. 1950)in Placentia/St. John's respectively. Their youngest son, Edward J., moved to work at the Anglo-American Telegraph Station. He married local woman, Mary O'Reilly and they had two sons, the second, John, died at 19, while working as a reporter in St. John's. Both boys were parent-less by ages 10-12; their mother dying first. The future Bishop's first parish was ours, and he was fast friends with several generations. No links with other Roach or Cullen families in NF have been proven. DNA testing has proven negative across the board.
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