James Breislan
BRISLAWN, BREISLAN, MEAGHER
Posted By: Eric S. Huffstutler (email) In Response To: Location of Immaculate Conception Cemetery (Ellen Frances Meyer)
Date: 5/15/2004 at 11:29:08
Ellen,
Just wanted to let you know that James is at the Castle Grove Catholic Cemetery which I am transcribing for online.
Thanks for the compliment but no, the Jones County site isn't mine but Richard Harrison's and GenWeb. I am simply a volunteer and live in Richmond, Virginia.
Are you sure you have the correct spelling for his last name? The 2003 walk through provided to me by the Jones County Gen. Soc. as well as the 1930's WPA reading both says his name is James BREISLAN, died February 20, 1878 at age 66. His wife is listed having died November 27, 1875 age 59 but the stone is broken so the name is missing. A son named Mathew is also there having died June 17, 1858 age 45. So BREISLAN is what is on their headstones but still could actually be BRISLAWN.
Certain documents such as census, marriage, deeds, and yes, headstones could have a misspelling done by whomever was doing the writing and written down phonetically hence BRISLAWN vs. BREISLAN. Another factor is human error transcribing old flourished style handwriting where some letters look like others, especially if sloppy and blurred with age. Online census index and other transcribed from original documents are notorious for that which is why you always try "all" possible butchered variables!
The LDS shows him as James Francis Brislawn, born September 30, 1811 (in Ireland) and died February 20, 1878 (in Linn Co., IA). He married September 8, 1845 possibly at Merion, Montgomery Co., PA to Anastasia Meagher, born 1815 (and died 1875 as per above). His parents were Michael Brislawn and Betty Kelly.
When dealing with stones, especially those made of softer materials, the wind coming across plains as well as general weather can take a toll on them making the engravings hard to read and sometimes impossible. Of course you also have broken and missing stones for various reasons. This is why the urgency to preserve what we can NOW before even more end up this way and people are lost forever.
[Note: Don't get confused with a James Brislan that shows up in the 1880 KY census having been born c.1810 Ireland.]
There is also a BRISLAWN LOGGING COMPANY, PO BOX 65, TROY MILLS IA 52344, which is close to Prairieburg. May want to contact them for family leads?
Eric
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