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Inconsistencies

MayoCastlebar (Mayo)

Hi, In searching for details on my wife's great grandfather, I'm wondering about some inconsistencies.
In the 1901 Census of Ireland, his name is Edward HERATY and age is 52 in Dooncastle, Aghagower, Mayo.
But from the baptisms of Aghagower, they list the birth of "Edward of Thomas and Honoria HERAGHTY" April 30, 1843 Doon.
I'm thinking this is the same person because the location and names are too close to be just a coincidence.
Now I understand the spelling difference because they sound alike. And in Chicago, they changed it to HARRITY. In other lists around this time, I noted several other Heraghty entries and none for Heraty, so I'm thinking Edward may have changed it consciously or not? Other ideas?
But there is a definite difference in age. From the Census, Edward would have been born about 1849 and the Aghagower document says 1843. Which is more legitimate?
I truly value any opinions from more knowledgeable sources.
Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on these differences.
Mike

mjlongeway

2 replies

These are just my thoughts, others may have more to contribute.

Many the families that emigrated had their names changed, often by the Transcribers at the port of entry as they did not understand the Irish Dialect.  Some earlier emigrants may have  had Irish as their main language and used an irish version.

Age differences are also common, up until the Civil Registration 1867, there was no compulsion to register BMD, it was mostly Church records

Dooncastle is on the approach road to Westport,, but there runs a road here from there to Aughagower.

Here are two interesting articles

http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Ireland-birth-records.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/records/state/index2.htm#GRO

 

IrelandXO member

Not uncommon at all...  My "Garrity" family in America came from Mayo, and there the name was never recorded with that spelling but of the Irish spelling of Geraty or Geraghty.  But in American English "Garrity" is the pronunciation of Geraghty, same with Heraghty.

The birthdates our family list, change from census to census.  Most of my family did not even know their exact bday. 

IrelandXO member

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