Hi Joan, When I was browsing through old newspapers several years ago I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Henry's obituary. Previously I could only guess what year he was born. The obituary solved the mystery. I forgot to make a correction to the obituary. Henry Dowdall's wife was Lady Alice (Alison) Nuggent, daughter of the Earl of Westmeath not the Earl of Fingall. You have a wonderful list, thanks to all the suggestions and information I now have a better idea where to look. Thank you, Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan Birtles" <joanbirtles@bigpond.com> To: "'conaught2'" <conaught2@charter.net> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 4:49 PM Subject: RE: [CHS] Henry Dowdall's death in 1748 in Chester > What a fantastic record to have on ones ancestry. Thank you for sharing > Henry's obit with the list. > Joan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan Birtles" <joanbirtles@bigpond.com> To: "'conaught2'" <conaught2@charter.net> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 4:49 PM Subject: RE: [CHS] Henry Dowdall's death in 1748 in Chester > What a fantastic record to have on ones ancestry. Thank you for sharing > Henry's obit with the list. > Joan > > > 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 > > > >