I am looking for any information on my maternal great-great-great grandfather who immigrated to Newfoundland in 1793 and married Mary Phelan, who was born in St. John's, Newfoundland to Ned Phelan and Susannah Hammond in 1772.
He is listed as coming from the parish of Ballyneill, Diocese of Lismore on his marriage record.
I hope someone can help me, with any information at all.
Thanks in advance. Kelly Dinsmore
Hello Eileen, the short answer is no, you are dependent on church records at that remove and most parishes did not commence keeping records until into the 1800s, some did but mainly in urban areas it appears to me. If the records only started in 1824 there then that is is it, Roots Ireland has some parish records not on the national Library site and it is a subscription site and you cna check for free there but it charges to view certificates https://rootsireland.ie/ifhf/index.php
I understand there was a lot of trade between Waterford and the east of Canada in the 1700s and into the 1800s so that is probably why they ended up there.This site gives the civil twonlands and parishes and may interest you https://www.townlands.ie/
There are many active groups on Tipperary both on Facebook and via the library in Tipperary http://tipperarystudies.ie/genealogy/
However neither is likely to have records specifically to what you are looking for as more than likely they have not survived if they existed in the first place. During the 1700s it was not wise to raise your head if a Catholic so there was a reluctance to keep records identifying who was a Catholice etc.
Apoligies that I am getting the New Year off on a negative but thought a bad answer is better than noe at all.
Regards
Pat
Thank you Pat
I've heard that in Newfoundland into the mid 1800s it was illegal to practise Catholicism. The secret priests would hold mass out in the woods and dare not be caught. As well I understand that parents would bring their children back to Ireland for baptisms. Have you heard of this? If so, might some of my ancestors have done this as they were all from Ireland and I know my great great grandfather was captain of a Brigantine for example.