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Question on incomplete marriage register entry and no corresponding RC church registration

I have found an incomplete 1864 marriage entry for my great-great grandparents JOHN HUGHES & MARGARET MAHON in the registrars district of Castle Pollard Westmeath. Whilst it states a marriage took place at the RC chapel Castle Pollard, I can find no such corresponding marriage in the online catholic marriage register.

The preceding entry in the civil register is also recorded as taking place at the RC chapel Castle Pollard and actually does appear in the chapel register.

Can anyone suggest a reason for such an anomaly. Any suggestions as to how I might determine the parentage of my great great grandparents in the absence of marriage information?

I attach copies of the civil and chapel pages for reference.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

martin.hughes9760

5 replies

MH

I suggest that you contact the Registrar in Delvin and request that he arranges to have the original register for 1864 checked for the marriage of John Hughes and Margaret Mahon.

I attach records of the birth of John Hughes in 1870 and Patrick in 1874.

Their father is recorded as a Shoemaker. Being a shoemaker, he would be known to the general population of the area in which he was living.

Regards,

McCoy

I think the couple must have intended to marry that day, and to save a little time the priest partly completed the civil register in advance. My guess is that the marriage was called off for some reason, and the priest omitted to draw a line through the incomplete entry.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

MH

Attached copy of 1901 Irish Census for John Hughes,Togher, Finnea.

John is shown as 55 years age and was born in County Longford.

Regards,

 

 

McCoy

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4DL-88J ;  Marriage of James Hughes , born 1869  est.,  son of John Hughes and Margaret Mahon, spouse Mary Moylan  Massachusetts State records

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGD7-GFM ;  Birth of Mary Anne Hughes 22/9/1876 Ireland    Daughter of John Hughes and Margaret Mahon

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5Q2-CB8 ;    Birth of Patrick Hughes   20/7/1874  Finnea, Co. Westmeath  son of John Hughes and Margaret Mahon

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBR-K4F5 ;  1901 Census Ireland   Margaret, John and Patrick, if this is your relative , then John was from County Longford and was a shoemaker, 

I checked the 1911 census and Margaret is listed as head of the family, married for 46 years ( John is not on this record but Margaret is not listed as widowed), 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003535504/ ; 1911 census   Patrick Hughes is single and Mary Anne Heslin , a grand daughter born in county Longford

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FR36-W2W ;   Birth of James Hughes   3/7/1865

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRSV-59L ;   Birth of Michael Hughes     27/9/1867

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRWQ-3RQ ;  Birth of John Hughes   16/8/1870   I read on one of the census records that there were 6 children to this marriage with 4 surviving children (1911 census) 

 

kellyeileen20@…

To McCoy; Elwyn and Eileen. I am really grateful for all of your help and advice. I will work my way through these helpful replies. They seem to confirm some of my research on the wider family and provide exciting new information.

Kind regards

MH

 

martin.hughes9760

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