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

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

 

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

 

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