Gadsden and Nash in Griffith's Valuation, Waterford

Griffith's Valuation Roll, that vital source for ancestors in Ireland, offers further enlightenment and a geographical backdrop to the Gadsden and Nash families in 19th c Waterford.

Mrs Mary Anne Gadsdin [sic] appears as the owner of two properties in February 1851. These were located in The Glen, Parish of Trinity Without, in the city of Waterford. One was a 'House and Yard' valued at 8 pounds 10 shillings, occupied by Richard Walsh, and the other a 'House, office and timber yard' valued at 8 pounds 5 shillings, where the tenant was Michael Connolly.

Not far from The Glen, Mrs Anne Nash owned a 'House, office and yard' in Thomas Street Upper, East side, valued at 28 pounds; in December 1850 this property was without a tenant. Thomas St was one of three or four streets leading up to The Glen. A four minute walk along The Glen would bring a pedestrian to Bridge Street, the address of Gadsden and Nash Provision Merchants as seen in various trade directories.

Map showing Parish of Trinity Without, Waterford:
a white star marks location of The Glen,
 at right Thomas Street is arrowed in white;
above and to the left of The Glen, Bridge Street,
where Gadsden and Nash Provision Merchants was situated,
 is marked with a white cross.

The plot thickens: on 30 May 1844 in Liverpool a Roger Gadsden* married (in the Catholic church, St Peter's) Margaret Welsh, daughter of John Welsh, 'pig dealer'. Roger's father is named as John Gadsden, merchant. Witnesses were Patrick Kelly and Betsy Connolly, both good Irish names. One of Mary Anne Gadsden's tenants in Waterford was Connolly. Her other tenant was a Richard Walsh (perhaps a confusion with Welsh?) and next door was Mrs Margaret Walsh (could she be the mother of Roger's bride?). Roger Gadsden's father-in-law the pig dealer would have been a useful contact for the bacon merchants' business (Gadsden and Nash) in Bridge Street. And sure, isn't Liverpool just the next parish?

* There's a Roger Gadsden mentioned in the 1851 UK Census (Leeds) born in Waterford  and age given is 26 so he was born about 1825. He could well be a son of John Gadsden and Mary Anne nee Bone and equally could be of an age to marry in 1844.

Gadsdens of Waterford, Ireland

Waterford City, 1830s

In the early 19^th c three sons of John Gadsden (my great great great grandfather) b 1759 (who married Phoebe Hill) began spending time in Waterford City. They were John Gadsden b 1794 (my great great grandfather who married Mary Ann Bone) and his brothers James Eyre Gadsden b 1809 and Charles Edward Gadsden b 1807. 

There are indications that the Gadsdens may have ‘commuted’ between Ireland and England. Freeman’s Journal published the announcement of the marriage of John Gadsden (b 1794) to Mary Ann Bone (incorrectly spelled Hone) in March 1821 at Hackney.* Significantly, at this date John Gadsden is described as ‘of Waterford’.

Yet John and Mary Ann married at Hackney (Mary Ann’s father was resident there) and their first two children were born at West Ham in 1825 and 1827. This Gadsden family was still associated with the parish of St John, Hackney, when their third child, Mary Rochenda, was buried there in November 1828.

Turning to Ireland, Pigot’s Directory for Waterford City in 1820 lists ‘Gadsden and Nash, Provision Merchants, Bridge Street’. In 1824 they are at the same address providing ‘provisions, butter and bacon’. In 1838, Charles Edward Gadsden crops up in the Freeman lists as ‘Merchant, Apprentice of late Joseph Nash’. Slater’s Directory of 1846 shows John Gadsden as ‘Bacon Merchant, Bridge Street’.

Bridge St., Waterford

Initially, the Waterford entries seemed to indicate that the John Gadsden in partnership with Nash in the provision business would be a different John from the person living and producing children in West Ham in the 1820s. Nevertheless, John of West Ham is described as ‘of Waterford’ in 1821. And Charles Edward Gadsden, John’s brother, is apprenticed to Joseph Nash in Waterford. This is clearly no coincidence.

A close connection between the Gadsden and Nash families gradually became apparent. Joseph Nash was the son-in-law of an Elizabeth Gadsden. While more research is required on Elizabeth, it is known she married Joseph Barrington Bradley and had a daughter Ann who in 1815 married Joseph Nash in Waterford. Joseph and Ann had 8 children, one of whom - born in 1825 - being named Joseph Gadsden Nash (a clincher, if ever I heard one).

Causeway Meadows Farm,
birthplace of Joseph Nash

Joseph Nash snr (1787-1837; merchant of Worcestershire, born at Causeway Meadows Farm, Dodderhill) was partner in Gadsden and Nash Provision Merchants of Bridge Street, Waterford. 

By 1838 the reference to Charles Edward mentioning ‘the late Joseph Nash’ confirms Nash was then deceased. Joseph Gadsden Nash (grandson of Elizabeth Gadsden) was only twelve years old at the time. The provision business in Bridge Street continued, as John Gadsden is listed there in 1846. 

Further research brings interesting, even surprising, details about the women involved: Mrs Nash and Mrs Gadsden.

To be continued

* Freeman's Journal was one of the leading Dublin newspapers from its founding in 1763 until 1924. Its birth, marriage and death notices cover all of Ireland and include people from other parts of the United Kingdom (often with an Irish connection), the British Empire and even occasionally North America.

Acknowledgement:

Judy Tuccinardi