Annette,
I am researching My Burke/Bourke/Burke line and in doing so have found a problble connection with the names Southwell and Piper and Lawrence.
Perhaps if I put here some of the information that I have I could further my quest and possibly add to yours.
I have traced my great-great grandfather Richard Burke (that is the sp. I will use) coming into NYC on February 28, 1842, born in Ireland (where ?), from the port of Liverpool aboard the SHip Hibernia, with his wife Elizabeth and two sons, RIchard and John (all three born in England).
Richard was born in 1815 (I have currently sent for his childrens' birth certs in NYC hopeing to glean an approximate date of birth for Richard). If this is my Richard he was christened in Rathkeale August 21, 1815 and is the son eof Richard Burk and Mary Southwell. (other sibs Michael (1812), Sarah (1813 and Margaret (1818). Michael married Honora Scanlan (1834) he died 10/17/1836 and is buried in Rathkeale.
Richard (1815)'s father was Richard Burke christened 12/12/1790 Rathkeale. Richard's parents were Michael Bourk and Sarah Piper, he was christened on 9/18/1774 in Ballyhay, Cork. He is the son of Edmond Bourke. Sarah Piper is the daughter of George Piper and Ann Lawrence christened on 5/5/1763 in the Rathkeale church. Michael and Sarah were married 2/22/1790 in the Rathkeale church.
I received most of this inforatoin from Ted Thompson though his Teskey information.
Can you contact me, - I have Richard's lineage in the U.S. Like I said I have more work to do to "claim" him and I am diligently doing that.
Sincerely and thanks for anything else you can share.