Timothy Ahern of Dirreen

Mary:

Baptismal records for Athea RC parish start in April 1830 and according to the subscription site Roots Ireland there are no Timothy Ahearn records in 1830 or 1831. Two possibilities: Timothy was baptized at Athea before April 1830 or he may have been baptized across the county border in Kerry but without knowing his parents names, we can't confirm any record located.

Civil registration of births started in 1864.

Timothy died in 1884. See fifth record at the link.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1884/06311/4809611.pdf

Roger McDonnell

Roger, thank you very much!  I did not have this record.  The informant was my great grandmother before she emigrated to the US.  Timothy's age at the time of his death was reported as 73, so he was born about 1811.  I wonder where Catholics would have been baptized around 1811?  And, I assume by your response that the only way to know about his parents would be personal family records, assuming no church records exist?  The local parish church is St Bartholomews which was built about 1832. 

And a related question: Timothy and his wife, Bridget, had many children before and after 1864.  For those children born between their marriage date (1848) and 1864, is rootsireland the only option for a searchable record?  BTW, I am also in MD and some times go to the local Family History Center.

Thank you, again.

Mary:

There was an old chapel prior to the 1832 church but apparently no records exist. See this writeup from the 1837 Lewis Topographical Dictionary.

In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or district called Stonehall and Cappagh, comprising also the parishes of Cappagh and Nantinan; the old chapel is in the village of Stonehall, and a handsome chapel of hewn marble was built at Boherbuie, in 1832, at the expense of J. Waller, Esq. About 120 children are taught in the two public schools of this parish, one of which is supported by Mr. Waller; and there are two private schools, in which are about 170 children. Of the castle built by the Danes nothing is now remaining, and of that subsequently erected the vestiges are very slight. In the south-western part of the parish are some fragments of the castle of Carrigonan; and on the new line of road, near Holly Park, are the interesting ruins of the old church or priory of Killeen. Not far from Carrigonan are the remains of the small church, of Cillenalotor, 12 feet long and 8 feet wide, lighted by one narrow lancet window in the east gable, and having a very low pointed entrance on the west. Near Stonehall are some very small but interesting lakes, on the shores of which are vestiges of ancient buildings.

I took a quick look on Roots Ireland and found Helen March 10 1851 William May 5 1853 Mary August 27 1855 Edmond May 19 1858 Timothy September 6 1861.

I have not been there in probably 12 years but I spent many a Saturday at the Essex FHC.

Roger

Roger--Thank you, again.  That is a very interesting excerpt.  The distance between Athea and Stonehall is 39 km on today's roads, which seems like quite a distance for those days.  Mary

Mary:

39 km does not make sense. Possibly a different Stonehall.

Roger