Kearney/Dwyer

Unfortunately Irish death certificates in the 1800s did not record a married woman’s maiden name. However if you order the certificate you will at least know her marital status which may help - eg if it’s a spinster it’s not the lady you are looking for, and if it says either married or widow, you’ll know whether her husband was dead or alive at that time.  The informant’s details may also help (if it was a son or daughter, for example). You should also get an address for the deceased and that may help research the family further. Likewise if you get the John Kearney death cert, you may be able to see if it matches Bridget’s.

Be aware that death registration only started in 1864 and so if either died before that, there won’t be a record. Few RC parishes kept burial records.

You can order a photocopy of the certificates from GRO Roscommon for €4 (euros) each.  http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx

You have to download and print off the form. Then either post or fax it back to them. You can’t e-mail it to them. However if you want them to e-mail the cert to back to you, they will do that, so tick the relevant box.

Put the reference details on the form (anywhere). Don’t worry about leaving some boxes blank. As long as GRO have the location, name(s), year, quarter (where there is one), volume and page number they should find it.