Michael Joseph Bergin
Michael was the son of Denis Bergin and Anne Elizabeth Cummins. He was baptised in August 1854 in the Roman Catholic Parish of Clonaslee, in Co. Laois (formerly Queen's County) in Ireland.
This is the interior of the Catholic Church in Clonaslee. This is where Michael Bergin and his brother John were baptised in 1854 and 1858 respectively. It is probably the church where funeral services were held for their parents Denis and Anne Bergin (but this is not documented) who died in 1875 and 1882 respectively.
In the baptismal register, it is recorded that Michael's parents resided on the townland of Ballykenneen, which is close to the border with King's County (Offaly).
The photograph above, taken in 2002, shows part of the Ballykenneen townland now taken over by forest. In the 19th century this area was probably home to a number of families.
Nothing more is known until Michael, as a young man, followed in his father's footsteps and entered the Royal Irish Constabulary. The Bergin families of counties Offaly and Laois are mainly farmers and, it seems, for those Bergins who wanted an alternative occupation, the constabulary offered the preferred career.
The following information was provided by Brian Mullaney, after referring to information published by Jim Herlihy. The records show there had been six members of the service named Michael Bergin : SN 18876 served 1853 to 1855; SN 38169 served 1871 to 1872; SN 56820 served 1891 to 1895; and another three serving in later years. From other information, "our" Michael Bergin is the second of these with a transcription error in the date of cessation of duty.
Entry to the Royal Irish Constabulary required that the recruit be 19 years of age and at least 5 feet 9 inches tall, but sons of policemen could join at 18 years and were required to be only 5 feet 8 inches tall. Constabulary service records show that Michael Bergin, a labourer, joined the service on 7 October 1871 (he would have been only 17!). His height was 5 feet 8½ inches. His police service number was 38169. The record shows that he was Catholic religion and later married a woman from Waterford City (the stated marriage date is 3 July 1879). After recruitment in October 1871, he was allocated to serve in Waterford City on 31 May 1872 and then to Limerick City on 10 September 1879.
Under the heading "rewards, marks of distinction and favourable records" Michael Bergin's record shows "II H.Y.S. 9/6/1883". Thanks to Ernie Kraut who provided information about the significance of this notation. Ernie reported that Jim Herlihy, prominent researcher of Irish constabulary, advised that rewards were circulated on the "Half Yearly Sheet" and that "I H.Y.S" meant a first class reward. Consequently it is presumed that "II H.Y.S." means a second class reward circulated in the Constabulary's Half Yearly Sheet.
Under the heading "Punishments. If fined, state the amount" is a longer list of entries :
Admonished 30/5/1873
Fined 10s. 3/6/1875
Fined 40s. 16/8/1875
Fined 50s. 7/3/1877
Fined120s. 10/11/1880
Fined 40s. 20/7/1882
Under the heading "If Discharge, Dismissed, Resigned or Dead state the date thereof" it is written "Discharged on Gratuity 1/9/1883"
Under the heading "Injuries received on duty, date or report" the record is blank.
Under the heading "If Dead, probable cause of Death. If resigned, why? Remarks." It is written in brackets "Connected in Kings County".
The record, read in conjunction with other information, suggests a most interesting tale. The above service record shows that he received a number of fines but there is no indication of the reasons (perhaps they were noble reasons or perhaps not). It is reported that recruits were not permitted to marry for seven years. It appears that his marriage in 1877 was undertaken without official approval. In keeping with the regulations, Michael's marriage to a woman from Waterford is recorded in the service record as 3 July 1879 and shortly afterwards he was transferred from Waterford to Limerick City.
The marriage certificate states the Michael Bergin, a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) whose address was Mary Street, Waterford (which was the location of the R.I.C. barracks at that time), married Mary Ann Phelan in St Patrick's chapel, Waterford, on 8 June 1877. One can guess that love encouraged them to the altar but that he did not disclose the marriage to the constabulary as it was contrary to regulations.
Michael Bergin was the father of four daughters : MaryAnn born August 1878, Elizabeth in September 1879, Julia in September 1880 and Catherine in November 1884 (more details). The first three daughters were born during his police service. One can guess that there was some drama. His marriage was reported to the Constabulary in July 1879 just two months prior to the birth of his second daughter and he was transferred from Waterford just eleven days prior to the baby's christening. We do not know whether Mary Ann and the infant children relocated to Limerick to be with Michael but it is more likely that she stayed in Waterford where she had family support and that the Phelan grandparents, aunts and uncles probably helped with the young family. Limerick city is approximately 150 kilometres from Waterford and with horse-powered travel, would have constituted a considerable distance from his family. The biggest fine imposed on Michael Bergin during his service was in November 1880 which would have been two months after the birth and christening of his third daughter, Julia, in Waterford City. One can only guess the circumstances which led Michael to breach regulations at a time when his wife was in faraway Waterford with three daughters aged two years, one year and newborn. It is probable that family responsibilities prevailed over the regulations of the police service. It would seem that the Royal Irish Constabulary was not necessarily a family-friendly employer. A further stress would have been the tragic death of his mother in a house fire in January 1882.
Michael received another fine in mid 1882 and it is not surprising that he left the force on 1 September 1883. The significance of the notation on his record linking his resignation to a connection in Kings County is not known.
It is confirmed that Michael changed occupations. Waterford Heritage Services advise that Michael Bergin was listed as having his butcher's shop in Arundel Square in 1884. According to the birth certificate of his fourth daughter, Catherine, born in November 1884, Michael was a "victualler"; this term has had different meanings including supplier of groceries or provisions, supplier of provisions to ships or to an army, a tavern or inn-keeper, and the term presumably encompasses the occupation of butcher.
The death of his wife in childbirth in June 1886, would have been a further great sadness in Michael's life. In records dated 1890, there is no reference to his business in Waterford City.
Nothing has been found to document anything else of Michael. His youngest daughter Catherine told her Australian family that her parents had died when she was young. However a search of death records in Ireland has not confirmed the death of her father.
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