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George Francis Despard

LaoisPortarlington (Laois)

Hi, I am researching my family tree. Both my great grand mother and great grand father were born in Ireland.
George Francis Despard was born in Portarlington in 1843, but I have no copy of his birth certificate.
He married a Susan Smith on 14 Mar 1872 at Ballycahane, Guilcagh, County Waterford.
On the marriage certificate his father is named as Edward Despard.
I have been using lots of different resources but cannot find any evidence of an Edward linked to George.
There are about four Edwards who could be his father but I suspect it might be a middle names (as was the custom) or he was illegitimate.
From the name you can guess he was from a Huguenhot family who settled in Portarlington.
I have searched online for records but so far no luck.
Does anyone have any suggestions of where to search, or is it necessary for me to visit the town?

I am an Irish citizen living in France but have never visited the area but intend to late next year.

Thanks

John Despard

john@despard.eu

2 replies

John,

Statutory birth registration only started in 1864 so you won’t get a birth certificate for someone born in 1843. You might find his baptism record though but you need to know his exact denomination and where it took place. If he was Huguenot, then he’s unlikely to be RC. You might expect him to have become either Church of Ireland or even Presbyterian. (Many Huguenot refugees in Ulster became Presbyterian). There was also a Huguenot church in Dublin but I don’t think it was still functioning by the mid 1800s.

According to my guide to Church of Ireland records, Portarlington’s (St Paul’s French church) start in 1694. The originals are in local custody at the parish church, and there is also a microfilm copy in the National Archives in Dublin. The Church of Ireland generally charges a fee for searching their copies but the National Archives copy should be free to view. The records are probably not on-line anywhere, so a personal visit may be necessary to view them.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Elwyn for your reply.
I think i will need to visit Portarlinton and perhaps Dublin as you suggested.
I have been using various online sites and especially ancestry.com,
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/102554215/family

Just frustrated because there are so many Despard families in that area.

I am having more luck with the other side of my family the Gillis name.
Most of that side worked on the The Dartrey Estate, originally known as Dawson’s Grove in Monaghan.

John

 

john@despard.eu

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