Person:Michael Reid (2)

Michael Reid was baptised on 11th September 1846 in the parish of Clonbulloge, County Offaly. At the time of his baptism the family lived at Bracknagh, in the extreme south of the parish and right on the border with County Kildare. Bracknagh is about five miles north of the town of Monasterevin, County Kildare, where the Reid family would later settle (and may have lived previously too). Michael's parents were a mason and bricklayer named John Reid and his wife Julia Hanlon. According to family tradition, John Reid worked building the Irish railways and thus moved around extensively. This does seem to be supported by the baptisms of his children, which are spread seemingly randomly across Ireland. At the time Michael was baptised, the railway through Monasterevin and Portarlington, both a few miles south of Bracknagh, was being built, opening in 1847.^[3]

By the early 1850s the family appears to have settled in Dublin. Michael became a grocer's assistant and lived with his sister Rosanna at 19 Upper Stephen Street. Michael does not appear to have married or had children. He died in 1885, aged 38, and his father was his next of kin. John Reid by this time had moved to Monasterevin in County Kildare, and secured a grant of administration to wind up Michael's estate, which was valued at £59 17s 4d.

1. ↑ Clonbulloge, Offaly, Ireland. Catholic Parish Registers.

   Baptisms 1846
   Date: Sep[tembe]r 11
   Name: Mich[ae]l
   Parents: John & Julia Read
   Residence: Brackna
   Sponsors: Andrew Hanlon & Mary Hylan

2. ↑ Principal Probate Registry (Dublin). Will registers of Ireland, 1858-1891. (Dublin: National Archives of Ireland).

   1886
   REID, Michael
   Effects £59. 17s. 4d.
   12 Feb Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Michael Reid late of 19 Upper Stephen-street Dublin Grocer's Assistant who died 17 May 1885 at same place were granted at the Principal Registry to John Reid of Monasterevan County Kildare Bricklayer the Father.

3. ↑ Database of Irish stations with opening and closing dates