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General question about Baptismal sponsors

Kerry

Hi,

My question is this..using the names of three Baptismal sponsors ( Jeremiah Reidy, Mary Reidy, Julia Reidy) for three of the nine children in one family; can I "guess" that these three people were the siblings of the mother Johanna Reidy? The years are between 1870 to 1879 in Ballymacelligot...they are from Shanaknock.  I understand that Bapstismal sponsors were generally siblings or siblings-in-law of a parent, and that the sponsors maiden name was given for a female even if she was married.

Am asking becasue I think that I might have the incorrect parents for Johanna Reidy on my Ancestry tree because none of those three names, Jeremiah, Mary, and Julia, are on the current tree as her siblings.  Additionally, my current tree with her parents and siblings show that they were all from Tralee, so I am wondering if I have the wrong family attached to Johanna.

Ballymacelligot records for births and marriages don't begin until 1868, thus I am exploring the Baptismal sponsor's names.

 

Thanks for any insight!

carolyntoohey@…

4 replies

Carolyn:

I believe you are correct with your "guess" about the Reidy sponsors. They were likely siblings to the mother.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks once again Roger! Now, off to find the "real" Johanna Reidy from Ballymacelligot!  There are just too many folks with the same names!

 

Carolyn

carolyntoohey@…

Hi Carolyn

To add to that...

Jeremiah Reidy may also appear on record as Darby or Dermod/Dermot (all variations for the old Irish name Diarmuid).

 

Rua

Thanks Rua! I never heard of those derivations of the name Jeremiah. My big stumbling block is the birth/marriage records only beginning in 1868.

I am attempting to piece together Johanna and Jeremiah's (her husband) families, but am not getting very far since their siblings were probably born and possibly married prior to 1868 as they both were.

Thanks for the tip anyhow.

carolyntoohey@…

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