Peter McGuire/Maguire and Catherine/Kitty Sinnott

G Sully:

Hello again!

Can you clarify where you located the 1844 Marriage record? Killanerin marriage records start in 1852 and Gorey in 1847.

I did locate two Peter McGuire/Maguire baptismal records in Enniscorthy in 1811 and 1813. See below. One of these may be for your Peter.

Roger McDonnell

First name(s)PeterLast nameMcGuireBirth year-Baptism year1813Baptism date17 Feb 1813ParishEnniscorthyDioceseFernsCountyWexfordCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)LaurenceFather's last nameMcGuireMother's first name(s)MaryMother's last nameWhettyRepositoryNational Library of IrelandNational Library of Ireland linkhttp://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634056#page/1/mode/1up

First name(s)PeterLast nameMaguireBirth year-Baptism year1811Baptism date15 Jun 1811ParishEnniscorthyDioceseFernsCountyWexfordCountryIrelandFather's first name(s)LawFather's last nameMaguireMother's first name(s)MaryMother's last nameWhittyRepositoryNational Library of Ireland

Hi Roger:

I found the information about the marriage of Peter McGuire and Catherine Sinnott from Catherine's application for a Civil War Widow pension.  She had to document she had been lawfully married to the deceased Peter.  Catherine wrote to the current Parish Priest at Kilanerin, Gorey (William O'Neill P.P.) in 1888 and received a handwritten letter verifying their marriage.  A copy of that letter was in Peter McGuire's Civil War Records in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  The priest who married the couple in 1844 was Rev. E. Doyle.

Thanks for those two baptismal records fpr Peter McGuire/Maguire. I have seen them both.  I am guessing that the Peter born in 1811 died as an infant and the next son was given that same name.  I seem to recall that was not an unusual practice.   Still, how can I be certains that Peter born in 1813 is my Peter.  Any suggestions?

Thanks, Gail Sullivan

Gail:

Yes, using the same name for a newborn that was used by a deceased child was a common practice.

Obviously, the marriage records before 1852 for Killanerin were lost at some point.

I don't know how you can very the 1813 record as your ancestor.

You may want to consider autosomal DNA testing. Perhaps you will match someone who has more info on your McGuires.

Roger

There seem to be some differences in dates for both Peter and Catherine.    On findagrave there is a headstone image with the following transcription:

MCGUIRE

Born Apr 19, 1818 Enniscorthy County Wexford IRE, died nov 18. 1887.

Mother Catherine Sennott, his wife, born mar 25 1819 Gorey County Wexford Ire, died feb 5 1907

Peter McGuire

BIRTH 1815

DEATH Nov 1887 (aged 71\72)

BURIAL

Saint James at Sag Bridge Church Cemetery

Sag Bridge, Cook County, Illinois, USA 

MEMORIAL ID 18883401

The only hesitation I would have about these dates is that this is clearly a relatively modern headstone, likely erected by descendants rather than put up close to the time of death, so the information is what the descendants believed and may be wrong.  However it does suggest that Peter was from Enniscorthy, and it was wife Catherine who might have been from Kilanerin, Gorey (marriages, I think, more often taking place in the wife's parish than the husbands).