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Shinrone Parish Records - alternative parish?

I understand that the church records for Shinrone only go back to 1842. Does anyone know the likely alternate parish for baptism if someone was born in or near Shinrone in 1829? Or was there a church there but no records kept?

My g-g-grandfather, James Kennedy, was recommended for service in the RIC by James Butler, who was the Sub Inspector in Shinrone at the time (1848). That's the only piece of information I have to go on for where he might have been born in Offaly. He gives his birth county as Kings on his RIC record as well as census records. His birth year is either 1828 or 1829, based on his age at enlistment. His father's name was not included on his marriage record. HIs first born son is NOT named James so it is likely that his father is not named James either.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

rootslb

5 replies

rootlb:

Welcome back to Ireland Reaching Out!

More than likely he was baptized in Shinrone but records for that parish were not retained or were lost prior to 1842. See this 1837 history of Shinrone from the Lewis Topographical Dictionary which indicates there was an RC church in Shinrone in 1837  https://www.johngrenham.com/records/lewis.php?civilparishid=2020&civilp…

Roots Ireland does have one 1828 James Kennedy baptismal record and two 1829 records in Co. Offaly but they are likely different James Kennedys.

Have you considered autosomal DNA testing?

Please consider adding your ancestor stories to our XO Chronicles site  https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for the information. That is both helpful and disappointing. My mother and uncle have both done DNA testing but without tangible results.

rootslb

In regard to the query regarding James Kennedy of Shinrone, County Offaly. Sub Inspector James Butler who recommended him as constable was my g g grandfather. James'  son, Richard married Bridget Kennedy, the daughter of James Kennedy.  It could well be your James Kennedy, as RIC families were inclined to marry among themselves. They may also have been neighbours, going by Griffiths Valuation, they were numbers 10 and 12 in the Shinrone Map.

Briddget Kennedy and Richard Butler were married in Nenagh on the 25 of May 1875. Bridget's father is given as Jas. in the register.

This possible senario is set out in my profile of Richard Butler's in Wikitree 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Butler-24906

Hope this info is of interest. I would be happy to hear of any other children of James Kennedy of Shinrone.  Paul

 

 

 

 

ptlawlor@yahoo.com

Paul

That is very interesting! Bridget is quite a bit younger than James Kennedy, but she is too old to be his child. He wasn't married until 1856. I've also accounted for all his kids. She could be a much youngest sister. Based on the naming patterns of James Kennedy's children I don't think he himself was the oldest son and he named his own oldest son ... well that's a mystery and it depends on who transcribes the record as to what it says. It is either John or William and both would be a depature from the pseudo latin in the rest of the register. Kennedy is a tragically common surname. It wasn't James anyway, so that makes it unlikey that his own father's name was James. Could be an uncle? There are some interesting newspaper articles about James Butler. He was reprimanded for farming while serving as a police officer

 

rootslb

Thanks "rootslb" for your reply. So it is back to the drawing board on Bridget Kennedy but I will continue to search.

Yes, James Butler fell on hard times. He was reprimanded for allowing his men to farm and keep cattle. His son Michael, my great grandfather, also joined the RIC, as did my grandfather. Seems to have been a family tradition. Best of luck in your research.

 

ptlawlor@yahoo.com

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