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Ireland Select Birth & Baptisms vs. Ireland Catholic Parish Records, a general question

Hello,

I come across this all the time while doing research on Ancestry...please set me straight!

Why are the records in the Select Birth and Baptisms a week off? (i.e. later than the record from the Catholic Parish Register)

My example: Catholic Parish Register: Honoria Cahill born 12 Apr 1868 and baptized 19 Apr 1868 to John Cahill & Mary Dillon of Newton, Roscommon, Ireland.

Ireland Select Birth & Baptism :  Honoria Cahill born 25 Apr 1868 to John Cahill & Mary Dillon of Newton, Roscommon Ireland.

Are these not the same people? Why the varying dates? Thanks for any feedback because it drives me crazy!

Carolyn

carolyntoohey@…

3 replies

Carolyn:

This is a situation where the family registered the birth late and to avoid a fine, they changed the real date when Honoria was born.

See sixth record at this link  https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

You will note that the birth was registered on May 25 and the date of birth was April 25th conveniently avoiding a fine for registering outside the 30 day window. The baptism as you know was on April 19th so April 12th birth makes sense.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

Thanks once again! Good to know about the fines....I did not know that.  So, going forward, the information on the Catholic Parish Register is the one to go with, yes?

And, the information in the Civil Registration record that you pointed out agrees with the Select Birth and Baptism records that show up?  This really helps me...

Carolyn

carolyntoohey@…

Carolyn:

A baptismal record that shows a date of birth would be more accurate then a date on the a civil record.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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