Of the three types of Roman Catholic records most commonly used for genealogical purposes (baptismal, marriage, and burial), marriage records are often the most useful, and potentially the most complex. Most useful because of the sheer amount of genealogical information that can often be gleaned from a Catholic marriage record. While a baptismal record will … Continue reading Translating French Records: Catholic Marriage Records
My Lahey ancestors came from Killycross Upper, Ballymacegan, Lorrha, Co. Tipperary, Ireland;[1. Killycross Upper and Killycross Lower were sub-townland denominations within the townland of Ballymacegan.] and emigrated to March Township, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada from the mid-1820s to the early 1830s. And the reason why we have their townland of origin is that John Lahey, … Continue reading From Ballymacegan, Lorrha, Tipperary to March Township, Carleton, Ontario
I found this photograph attached to a family tree at ancestry.ca, and contacted the owner for permission to post at my site. The owner kindly granted my request. This is John Killeen, son of Denis Killeen and Mary Ahearn. John Killeen was born about 1828 in March Township, Carleton Co., Ontario. On 20 December 1852, … Continue reading John Killeen (about 1828-1906)
Thomas Hourigan and John Hourigan were born in March township on 14 September 1849, the sons of Patrick Hourigan and Ann Teevens. I have no idea whether they were identical, or fraternal, twins, but in any case, the priest who baptized the infants -- Fr. J. Ryan -- made an interesting distinction between the two:[1. … Continue reading Hourigan twins baptized
For marriages from 4 January 1850 to 6 February 1855, please see Part One. Part 3 to follow. *This marriage, which required a dispensation from the impediment of a mixed marriage, was later crossed out in the register.
Thomas Benton (1826-1890) was born in Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Thomas Benton and Catherine ("Kitty") Dwyer. Of these facts I am now reasonably certain (which is to say, as certain as one can ever be when it comes to 19th-century Irish genealogy). But for the longest time, I had only "Thomas Benton, … Continue reading “Of the Rail Road in this mission”
I found this photograph attached to a family tree at ancestry.ca, and contacted the owner for permission to post at my site. The owner, who must be a distant cousin of mine, kindly granted my request. This is Patrick Ryan, with perhaps one of his daughters, Bridget ("Jette"), Catherine ("Cate"), or Honora ("Annie"). The photograph … Continue reading Patrick Ryan (1842-1920)
... was me smashing through a brick wall). Last May, I asked whether my brick-wall ancestor Thomas Benton might have been the son of Thomas Benton and Catherine Dwyer of Cappawhite, Tipperary. And the answer is Yes. If you have Irish Catholic ancestors, I cannot overemphasize the tremendous importance of the Catholic parish registers. In … Continue reading SMASH! (that sound you just heard …
