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Unusual baptism

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My wife's paternal G Grandparents (Joseph Quinn & Mary Sloan) were married in the Crossgar Catholic church in 1871 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1874.

I believe Joseph's parents were Thomas Quinn and Jane Hunter who were married in Dunsfort in 1848 (Church of Ireland). 

I have found a baptism certificate, which is likley to be Jospeh's, but it is unusual in that he was baptised at St Paul's in Dublin in 1969 at the age of 19. His residence was given as Down Patrick (I don't know if this means County Down ofr the town of Downpatrick).

My questions are 
- Thomas and Jane were married by licence. Any suggestions as to why by licence and not by banns?
- Why would Joseph be baptised in Dublin instead of Northern Ireland?
- Is it just a coincidence that he is married almost exactly 2 years after his baptism?

Three certificates attached

Fieldmouse48

2 replies

Marrying by banns was slower than marrying by licence. The banns had to be read 3 times over a series of Sundays. With a licence, you could marry more quickly. It was however more expensive. It often suited couples who didn’t want to wait 3 weeks or more (eg if pregnant or about to emigrate).

The adult baptism at age 19 would be because the groom had converted to Catholicism. It wasn’t essential to be a Catholic in order to marry in a Catholic church in 1871 but some pressure was put on non-Catholics to convert, and many did.

I can’t say why he was baptised in Dublin but would assume he was living there at the time. No other reason springs to mind. (He could have been baptised anywhere. There was no special religious requirement to have it done in Dublin).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you. That answers a lot.

Fieldmouse48

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