Finding Baptismal Records for Children Born in Moore Parish, Roscommon from 1859 -1875

RCW:

I'm sure they were baptized at Moore church but the records were lost prior to 1876. Here is a link to the Lewis Topographical Dictionary for Moore civil parish and the last paragraph indicates that there was a chapel at Moore in 1837.  https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/M/Moore-Moycarnon-Roscommon.php

By the way, you did not mention a Margaret Dolan. She was born February 11, 1867.

Roger McDonnell

Hi Roger - thank you for your response. Yes, I did forget Margaret (she immigrated to Boston and died after the birth of her first child...so sad).  I had reached out to Fr Malloy at St Mary's asking for information on when the church was built and opened and when births were recorded.  He referred me to a young lady at the Moore Community Center who informed me that no births were recorded in Moore before 1864 that births from 1864 to 1876 were registered in Creagh-Ballinasloe then after 1876 they were recorded at Moore Parish.  I went through all the baptismals at St Michaels - Ballinalsoe, St Peter's Athone and Diocese Clonfert - Parish Taghmaconnell from 1859 - 1876.   Not a child to be found. So you are telling me that the early records prior to 1876 were lost ...so unfortunate.  The reason I am digging is to find out more on my 1st GGM Ann Kelly and my 2nd GGPs Thomas Dolan and Mary Kenny.  I am running into a brick wall.  

I have a Thomas Kelly b. abt 1861 (location and parents unk) m. Mary Caulfield b. 1867 (Lowtown Kilcashel, Ballydangan, Roscommon) daughter of Patrick Caulfield and Ellen Dolan, they had 7 children born between 1888 -1908 and they are not on nli.ie.  Do you know where I might find baptismal records for Moore beween 1881 and 1910?  When I went looking for my 1st GGM, Ann Kelly b. abt 1863-64 (no civil record). I wondered if she was related somehow to Thoms Kelly? I have a DNA match on ancestry with 2 peole at 125 cM with two of the grandchildren of Thomas and Mary's children.  

So I guess right now I'd like to find the baptismal records for the 7 children born between 1888-1910, where might I look?  I am wondering if Ann and Thomas might be siblings or cousins.  

Best,

Regina

Regina:

Roots Ireland has records for two of the children in Moore. According to their index, they have Moore records up to 1900.

Mary born December 8 1889 father Thomas Kelly and mother Mary Caulfield sponsors Michael Caulfield and Winnifield Caulfield.

Thomas  born September 19 1892 father Thomas Kelly and mother Mary Caulfield sponsorsPatrick Dolan and Delia Dolan.

I will do some searching for the other children.

Roger

Regina:

Roots Ireland indicates that there are civil birth records for Patrick 1888 Mary 1890 Thomas 1892 Eliza 1895 Bridget 1900 Sarah 1902. Before I look for these records on www.irishgenealogy.ie  do you already have the civil records which do not have sponsor names. Perplexed where the other baptismal records are held.

Roger

Hi Roger - So where are are all the records afer 1900?  I have all the civil birth records of the 7 Kelly-Caulfield children including their last child, Michael J Kelly b 2 May 1908 ... looks like one of those oops babies.  Now I have Mary Kelly b. 7 Feb 1890 (Lowtown) to Thomas and Mary Caulfield.  On Thomas' civil birth reocrd I have 6 Sept 1892 (Lowtown) to Thomas and Mary Caulfield.  So maybe Thomas' baptisam was 19 Sept 1892 but not certain about Mary being baptised on 8 Dec 1889 two months before being born. But I do have their civil birth records.  Otherwise on Rootsireland all the other dates are consistent with the civil birth records I have.  So I am still looking for baptismal records for:

- Patrick b. 29 may 1888

- Mary Ann b. 7 Feb 1890

-Elizabeth  b. 1 Oct 1895

- Bridget 15 may 1900

- Sarah b. 1 Aug 1902

-Michael b. 2 May 1908

One thing that is apparent is that Lowtown looked like a pretty tight community with lots of Kelly's, Caulfield's, Dolan's and Kenny's.  What's an Irish girl to do trying to find her 2nd GGPs beginnings???

Best, Regina

Regina:

There was a fine if you registered an event (BDM) late (I think you had 30 days). So if a family knew they were past the 30 day time period, they gave an incorrect date to the local registrar to keep within 30 days. That explains why a child was baptized two months before they were born (civilly registered).

Roger

Hi Roger - I recall you were the one that told me about that previously; it was about my great aunt, Mary daughter of Ann Kelly and John Dolan.  So speaking of Mary Dolan maybe you can help me piece some things together - I have her Irish Civil Birth Record with a DOB of 11 Feb 1886.  I have her death certifcate which states she d. 17 May 1903 died at age 17/9 months/11 days which would bring an adjusted birth date of 6 Aug 1885.  On the passenger manifest from Queensland to Boston it lists Mary as 7 months.  So it probably took 4-6 weeks to sail from IRE to Boston ??? so she departed IRE abt April 30 - May 15, so she was not a 2.5 month baby traveling so back 7 months would be - I bet mid to end of September, 1885.  What I am leading up to is, there may be a baptismal record for little Mary from Aug - Dec, 1885 and then back a year; a marriage record for Ann Kelly and John Dolan?  I am really looking at all my options to obtain more info on this family, hopefully leading to learning more about Ann's parents and John's parents.  I may have told you that I am hoping to visit the Ballinasloe area of Ireland in 2022.

It is discouraging having no church records, at least for the better part of the 1800's, to review they are so helfpul in piecing family information together.  Especially with names like Dolan, Kelly and Kenny!  If you look at the 1901 and 1911 Irish Census for Lowtown Kilcashel - it looks like a Who's Who for Dolan's, Kelly's, Kenny's and Caulfield's.  

Anyway, any help and insight is greatly appreciated.

Best,

Regina

Regina:

No baptismal record or marriage records on Roots Ireland and no civil marriage record on www.irishgenealogy.ie

I would think a ships crossing to America would take two maybe three weeks in 1885/1886.

Keep u sposted of your 2022 travels plans to Ireland.

Roger