Mary (Maria) McCaffrey and Eliza McCaffrey, Lisnaskea workhouse

TheDr44,

The 1877 birth certificate has the mother’s maiden name deleted and there’s no father’s name. That indicates the birth was illegitimate. So that will explain why you can’t find any marriage for the parents. There wasn’t one, at least not by 1877.

If they have survived, you might get a little more information about Eliza from Lisnaskea Workhouse admission records which, if they still exist, will be in PRONI (the public record office)in Belfast. Personal visit required to view them.

https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lisnaskea/

TheDr44,

With birth registration, where the parents are married, there’s a presumption of legitimacy and so the husband’s name is routinely recorded (even if he was not the father). However with an illegitimate birth, only the mother’s name will appear unless the father attends the registration and confirms paternity. (Otherwise the mother might name anyone, with all the trouble that might cause). No scope for speculation on a birth certificate. Hard facts only.

Baptisms of illegitimate children are slightly different. If the father attends, his name will be recorded. If he doesn’t the Priest/Minister sometimes asks who he was and records that. Often with “allegedly” or “reputed” attached to his name. That looks to be what happened in this case.

Without a townland (address) I couldn’t suggest how you might find Mary/Maria’s family. Her townland could be in the workhouse admission records, unless she was living rough in which case you tend to get “Union at Large” as the address.

TheDr44,

Yes you could go to the workhouse infirmary without being a resident. That wasn’t the intention when the workhouse system was first set up but as time progressed people often went there for medical treatment. The workhouse infirmary was free at a time when most medical treatment had to be paid for. 

The admission records should show whether she was already an inmate or whether she went straight to the infirmary on admission.

Two sponsors are required for a Catholic child baptism. (None required for an adult baptism). Should be Catholics themselves and connected to the mother in some way, so as to be able to ensure the child was brought up in the faith. Maria McManus could certainly be a relative or close family friend.

Did Mary marry in England? If so, you should be able to get her father’s name and occupation from the civil marriage certificate. And the Catholic church record may show her mother’s name too.