Kavanagh, Styles

Styles Family of Baltinglass, County Wicklow

IMG_9271_thumbnail
Baltinglass Abbey, © A C Ward 2016

Family Snapshot

Husband: Edward Styles

Born: bef 27 Jan 1822 in Ballyshonog, County Wicklow, Ireland1

Died: 8 Sep 1892 in Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA2

Parents: Robert Styles and Anne Byrne

Married: 20 Sep 1860 in Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland3 to

Wife: Margaret Kavanagh

Born: bef 2 Apr 1837 in Carrigeen, County Kildare, Ireland4

Died: 20 Mar 1896 in Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA5

Parents: James Kavanagh and Catherine Nolan

Children:

1. Robert Styles (1861-1912)6
2. Anne Styles Nulty (1863-1947)7
3. James Styles (1865-19398)
4. Katherine Styles Hayes (1867-1946)10
5. William Styles (1869-1897)12
6. Edward Styles (1870-1908)14
7. Mary C. Styles Macken (1874-1936)16
8. Margaret T. Styles Ward (1876-1936)18
9. Thomas Joseph Styles (1879-1951)20

Relationship to: E Ward: 2nd Great-Grandparents

1. Edward Styles & Margaret Kavanagh
2. Margaret T Styles (1876-1936) & Alfred John Ward (1883-1953)
3. James Joseph Ward (1920-2000) & Mildred Geneva Butcher (1917-1995)
4. (Living) Ward
5. E Ward

Margaret Styles Auburn NY thumbnail
Margaret Styles was born on 19 May 1876 in the small town of Baltinglass in County Wicklow, Ireland.

She was my great-grandmother and although I never met her, she was an important person in the life of my grandfather James Joseph Ward. His father Alfred Ward deserted the family when James was only 3, and he grew up with his mother Margaret and her brother Thomas “Uncle Tommy” Joseph Styles.

Margaret and Tommy were the youngest of nine children born to Edward Styles a harness-maker, and Margaret Kavanagh, a farmer’s daughter from Carrigeen, just over the border in County Kildare. The Styles Family lived on Church Lane by the River Slaney that runs through Baltinglass.

Ireland Electoral Register Edward Styles Baltinglass East Church Lane 1885 to 1886 cropped
Electoral Register, Baltinglass 1885-86, Edward Styles, Church Lane22

Last month my sister and I visited Baltinglass and got to walk down the street Margaret Styles and her siblings lived and played on in the 1870s-80s. At the far end of the lane sit the ruins of Baltinglass Abbey. Established in 1148, the stone walls and arches are as much a part of the landscape as the hills behind it.

Rising from the center of the Abbey are ruins from a later time, the tower of the former Church of Ireland parish church built in 1815, which would have been in use when the Styles family lived on Church Lane. Next to it is St. Mary’s, the town’s current Protestant church, built in 1883 when the old church fell out of use.

Next to St. Mary’s Church is the Rectory with a group of outbuildings built around 1885. Walking closer to the town’s main street is another historic building, Stratford Lodge National School built around 1870.

The Styles family did not attend St. Mary’s church down the lane from their house , but instead were parishioners of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church around the corner and down the town’s Main Street at the other end of the town. It is a very grand church for such a small town. I had a hard time getting the whole building in one photo!

Edward Styles had come to the area near Baltinglass in the 1830s-40s, his family being former tenants on the Estate of Earl Fitzwilliam near Tinahely in the southern part of County Wicklow. Margaret Kavanagh was the fourth of nine children born to James Kavanagh, a farmer from Carrigeen, and his wife Catherine Nolan. Edward and Margaret were married in 1860 at the Catholic Church in Baltinglass. Robert, their first child, was born in the townland of Mullarney between Castledermot in County Kildare.6 The remaining 8 children were born in and baptized in Baltinglass: Anne,7 James, 9 Katherine,11 William,13 Edward,15 Mary,17 Margaret,19 and Thomas Joseph.21 (Digital images to the Baptismal Registers are linked in the references).

For more detail on 2 generations of the Styles Family see: Descendants of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh of Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland

On the other side of Church Lane, Main Street crosses the River Slaney on Baltinglass Bridge, then passes the other cross streets of the town: Mill Street and Edward Street. This particular part of town is home to a peculiar intersection of historical events and family legend. For more on this story, see: The Land War and the Shooting on Baltinglass Bridge. (this post coming soon)

The Styles family emigrated to America in the 1880s. The older children left first, starting with Robert in 1883, followed by James, Anne and Katherine. Finally Edward and Margaret arrived in New York on the SS Adriatic on 12 Nov 1888.23  The family settled in Auburn, New York where some descendants still live today. See: The Styles Family comes to America – Baltinglass to Auburn, New York .

Reference Notes

  1. Killaveny (Counties Wicklow and Wexford), Diocese of Ferns, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Edward Styles, 27 Jan 1822, son of Robert Styles and Anne Byrne of Ballyshonog, p. 127; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633993#page/127/mode/1up :2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04257/01, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  2. New York State Department of Health, death certificate, 9 Sep 1892, Edward Stiles, age 59, Auburn, Cayuga County, no. 41405; Vital Records, Albany.↩
  3. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Marriages, marriage of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh of Carrageen, 20 Sep 1860, p. 36; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634400#page/36/mode/1up :2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/08, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  4. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Margaret Kavanagh, 2 Apr 1837, daughter of James Kavanagh and Catherine Nolan of Carrigeen, p. 60; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634399#page/60/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/07, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  5. New York State Department of Health, death certificate, 2 Mar 1896, Margaret Stiles, age 47, no. 11342, Auburn, Cayuga County; Vital Records, Albany.↩
  6. Castledermot (County Kildare), Archdiocese of Dublin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Robert Styles, 18 Aug 1861, no. 495, born 15 Aug 1861, son of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh of Mullarney; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633368#page/43/mode/1up :2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 06481/02, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  7. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Anne Stynes [Anne Styles], 21 Jun 1863, daughter of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 23; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634400#page/23/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/08, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  8. Ireland, birth certificate for James Styles, born 26 Mar 1865, registered 4 Apr 1865, Baltinglass, entry 196, vol. 7, p. 489, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  9. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of James Stynes [James Styles], 2 Apr 1865, son of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 30; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634400#page/30/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/08, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  10. Ireland, birth certificate for Catherine Styles, born 10 Mar 1867, registered 19 Mar 1867, Baltinglass, entry 484, vol. 2, p. 479, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  11. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Catherine Styles, 17 Mar 1867, no. 34, born 9 Mar 1867, daughter of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 11; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/11/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  12. Ireland, birth certificate for William Styles, born 22 Jan 1869, registered 5 Feb 1869, Baltinglass, entry 415, vol. 2, p. 486, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  13. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of William Stines [William Styles], 31 Jan 1869, no. 333, born 23 Jan 1869, son of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 22; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/22/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  14. Ireland, birth certificate for Edward Styles, born 27 Dec 1870, registered 10 Jan 1871, Baltinglass, entry 66, vol. 2, p. 515, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  15. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Edward Stines [Edward Styles], 1 Jan 1871, no. 552, born 26 Dec 1870, son of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 35; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/35/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  16. Ireland, birth certificate for Mary Styles, born 28 Jan 1874, registered 10 Feb 1874, Baltinglass, entry 71, vol. 2, p. 476, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  17. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Mary Stines [Mary Styles], 1 Feb 1874, no. 8, born 28 Jan 1874, daughter of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 60; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/60/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  18. Ireland, birth certificate for Margaret Styles, born 19 May 1876, registered 2 Jun 1876, Baltinglass, entry 415, vol. 7, p. 469, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  19. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Margaret Styles, 21 May 1876, no. 50, born 19 May 1876, daughter of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh, p. 76; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/76/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  20. Ireland, birth certificate for Thomas Stynes [Thomas Styles], born 12 Jun 1879, registered 13 Sep 1879, Baltinglass, entry 315, vol. 2, p. 428, Baltinglass, County Wicklow; General Register Office, Roscommon.↩
  21. Baltinglass (Counties Wicklow and Kildare), Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Register of Baptisms, baptism of Thomas Styles, 2 Feb 1879, no. 2, born 26 Jan 1879, son of Edward Styles and Margaret Kavanagh p. 91; digital images, Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI (http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634401#page/91/mode/1up : 2015); digitized from NLI Microfilm: 04192/09, National Library of Ireland, Dublin.↩
  22. “Ireland, Electoral Registers, 1885-1886,” Edward Styles, inhabitant occupier, no. 698, Baltinglass East, Church Lane, house, Polling District of Baltinglass, p. 12; digital images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2016); citing: United Kingdom Electoral Registers deposited at The British Library, London.↩
  23. “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1891,” Edward Stiles family, SS Adriatic, 12 Nov 1888; Arrival: New York, New York, Microfilm Roll: 527; Lines: 38-44; List Number: 1531, digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSL-862J : 15 April 2015); citing: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237,NAI: 6256867. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives, Washington, DC.↩