My ancestor James Blackburne was born in Castlerae (Kilkeevin) Roscommon in 1810. His father was also called James. All the information I have for him comes from his death certificate in Australia and English census returns for 1841 & 51. I would dearly love to find him in Irish records but everything I've tried draws a blank
Heather:
You did not mention the religious denomination. The subscription site Roots Ireland has Kilkeevin Church of Ireland records back to 1748. The RC baptismal records for Castlerea/Kilkeevin parish start in November 1804 but there is a gap between May 1809 and January 1816. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0551
I searched Roots Ireland and did not find any Blackburn baptismal records around 1810.
I searched the 1832 Tithe listings for the parish and the only Blackburn records were for a Thomas Blackburn in Knockroe townland.
Have you considered DNA testing?
Roger McDonnell
Roger, thank you so much for trying. I had no luck with roots.ie either but will re-try with his mother's details. She was Dorinda Chambers. Might Kilkeevin Church have any further records? DNA testing was what led me to James in the first place - he started quite a dynasty!
Heather:
No further records that I'm aware of.
Roger
Perhaps this is a brother of your James…
Marriage: 04-Mar-1851
Parish: Kilkeevan Church Of Ireland, Co. Roscommon
Husband Wife
Name: Robert Blackburn Mary Darcy
Address: Castlerea Castlerea
Both belonged to COI.
Occupation: Farmer
Husband's Father Wife's Father
Name: James Blackburn George Anderson
Occupation: Farmer Soldier
Witnesses: Thomas McManany Margaret Lenis
Notes:
Rev John Molloy:
The Husband And Wife Were Both Full Age When They Got Married:
Perhaps Dorinda Blackburn is a daughter of Dorinda Chambers Blackburn…
Married on 8-Sep-1819
Parish of KILKEEVAN CHURCH OF IRELAND, Co. Roscommon
Husband Wife
Name: John Kean Dorinda Blackburn
Address: Not Recorded Not Recorded
Source: RootsIreland