Hi Joy, What great information! No wonder I couldn't find a record of a RC church in Chester in the 1740s. The article is very interesting. Many of the Dowdalls in Ireland had their own family chaplain, including Henry's family while he was growing up. I don't know when Henry Dowdall moved to Chester. His wife Lady Alice (nee Nugent) died at Athcarne, County Meath in 1735. There has never been any mention of children. The Dowdalls were originally a Norman family so perhaps he went to the Fitzherbert's house. From the obituary I assume it had been in Chester for some time. "On the 20th Instant died at Chester, Henry Dowdall, Esq; in the 95th Year of his Age. He was possessed of a plentiful Fortune in Ireland, and had married a Daughter to the Earl of Fingall. He was Recorder of Drogheda when King James II, was in that City, whom he then addressed in a Speech, much admired for its Elegancy and Liveliness of Expression. He was a perfect Master of the Classics, and thoroughly versed in all polite Learning. As he was happy in a remarkable Memory, he retaine'd what he had read almost to the last. His Vivacity, Humanity and Affability, rendered him loved and respected by all his Acquaintances. He lived and died a Roman Catholic, and made an equitable Disposition of his Effects." Henry Dowdall wrote his family tree in 1687. I am trying to get a copy of it. It would be interesting to find what led him to Chester in the 1740s. Thank you for all your helpful information. Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: Joy Langdon To: conaught2 ; CHESHIRE@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [CHS] Henry Dowdall's death in 1748 in Chester According to the British History Online website "Until the 1750s there was no permanently resident priest in Chester, masses being said either by a gentleman's chaplain, typically from Hooton Hall in Wirral or the Fitzherberts' house" http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57320 Regards, Joy From: conaught2 <conaught2@charter.net> To: CHESHIRE@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, 7 November 2013, 19:03 Subject: [CHS] Henry Dowdall's death in 1748 in Chester Hi Joy, Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I will look at Find My Past transcripts and check spelling variations which there are many. I am trying to locate the names of the RC churches in Chester in 1748. Do you know if St. Werburgh was built on the site of an older church on Queen Street? Hopefully Henry's burial record still survives. Thank you again for your prompt response. Margaret