When a Catholic parish marriage says "marriage of Patrick X and Mary Y of Z (town)" - does it mean that the man, woman or both are from the town Z? Sometimes it list 2 towns but often it's one with the other NR (not recorded) and there is a single town listed on the original record. Thanks! Margaret Bradley
Margaret:
I don't think there is a firm rule for situations where only one townland is shown and certainly every parish priest had his own system for recording townlands.
I usually assume that it is where the couple will be residing. It could be the groom's home townland (or both parties are from the same townland). Sometimes the groom was not from the parish and the couple planned to live with the bride's family so the bride's townland was shown.
Roger McDonnell
ok thanks! It does seem to vary depending upon priest and town.