Bridget Codd and her ancestors [Gen-024]

Bridget Codd married Martin Toolan on 29th April, 1879 in the R.C. Chapel of Castlebridge in the Registrar's District of Crossabeg in the Union of Wexford in the County of Wexford. She was described as a milliner, aged 20 years and a resident of Knottown, Co. Wexford. Her father's name was given as 'James' and he was stated to be alive at the time of the marriage. No information was given under the heading 'Rank or Profession of Father'. One of the witnesses at the wedding was Maggie Codd.

From the Baptismal Register of the Castlebridge Parish it appears that the parents of Bridget Codd were James Coode (sic) and Anne Furlong. There is no record of their marriage in Castlebridge: Anne Furlong may have been resident in another parish. They may have been married in 1854 judging from Bridget's date of birth.

The following are listed as children of James Coode (also Cood) and Anne Furlong:

Note: There is no Margaret ('Maggie') listed as a member of the family but see the following paragraph.

A James Coode of Nottown married Anne Rossiter on 7th February, 1853. Witnesses were Owen Shehan and Margaret Newport. The only recorded issue of this marriage was Margaret, baptised on 21st January, 1857. The sponsors were John Furlong and Margaret Newport. This James Codd was probably a cousin of the James Codd who was Bridget Codd Toolan's father. If Margaret's parents died soon after her birth she may have been reared by the Codd/ Furlong family. It is fairly certain that she is the person known to Maysie Toolan, Bridget's daughter, as 'Aunt Maggie'.

Tracing Bridget Codd Toolan's father and grand-parents is complicated by the fact that 'James Codd' was a popular name in Castlebridge parish. In the years 1822 to 1827 the births of three 'James Codds' were registered in the Castlebridge Parish Registers.

Maysie Toolan, Bridget Codd's daughter, was definite that her mother's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were named 'James Codd.' It would appear, therefore, that Bridget Codd's father was James, the son of James Codd and Bridget Doyle. Pat Codd, Laurence Codd and James Codd above may have been brothers and the fact that each had a son named James may indicate that their father was also named James. 

James Codd and Bridget Doyle were married on 21st June, 1818 in the parish of Glinn, Co. Wexford. Witnesses were James Doyle and Elizabeth Codd. (On 4th June, 1825 an Elizabeth Codd married Richard Furlong.) The children of the Codd/Doyle marriage were:

• Patrick (14-10-1818)
• Mary (20-9-1820)
• John (26-2-1823)
• Margaret (19-9-1825)    
• James (14-11-1827)  
• Bridget (24-4-1830)  
• Elizabeth (19-3-1833)    
• Anne (12-11-1837)    
• John (21-10-1840)

It will be noted that the names of the James Codd/ Anne Furlong children are similar to those of the James Codd/ Bridget Doyle family.

Bridget Codd Toolan lived in Knottown, Co. Wexford. Presumably her father James lived there also. However, the Tithe Applotment of November, 1833 lists only one person named Codd in the townland of Knottown and he was John Codd with 14 acres (approx.) of land. The Griffith Valuation of 1853 lists only one Codd in Knottown - John Codd with 25 acres (approx.) It is possible that John Codd left the land to James Codd the father of Bridget Codd Toolan. This James Codd must have died or sold the land before the Land Commission started operations as they have no record of it - under the name Codd at any rate. Of course, James Codd might have owned the land outright instead of being a tenant.

The Griffith Valuation lists a John Codd of Ardcolm (3 a.), Patk. Codd of Castlebridge (House and garden), a Patrick Codd of Monmore (141 a.) Patk. Codd, Whitefort (21 a.) and Patk. Codd, Garrycleary (9 a.) Joseph Furlong of Kilmisten (92 a.) as well as the John Codd mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The landlord of John Codd of Knottown was Hamilton K.G. Morgan.