I am searching for the parents and siblings of John Fitzgerald born 1869 in Bruff. John is my great grandfather. According to his marriage and death certificates, his parents were William Fitzgerald and Mary Dugan/Duggan. I have searched Ancestry, Familysearch.org and ifhf.org and can find several siblings for John. However, in some cases, the transcribed records don’t match the online parish record image. I’d chalk this up to an error in transcribing, but this happens in more than one record. For example, the Civil record for twins Anne and Bridget Fitzgerald born May 1879 are transcribed as children of William and Mary Duggan, but the online parish image shows parents as William Fitzgerald and Mary Small. Their birth/baptismal dates are May 15, 1879 and May 9, 1879, and both are in Hospital & Herbertstown (H&H).
The same discrepancy is true of:
Michael Fitzgerald born Feb. 16, 1867 to Duggan on a civil record and on the parish record to Small on Feb. 17, 1867. Both in Knockainy & Patrickswell
James Fitzgerald born Oct. 24, 1874 to Duggan on a civil record but the parish record lists mother as Small. In Ballingoola.
Patrick Fitzgerald born June 6, 1865 to Duggan on a civil record and on the parish record to Small on May 28, 1865. Both in Patrickswell (Knockainy and Loughgur also listed).
Mary Fitzgerald born in 1876 to Duggan on a civil record (Ballingoola) and on the parish record to Small in H&H. The Small record has a date of May 21, 1876 and Duggan’s July 1, 1876.
There are other children of both couples that don’t conflict and I did find a marriage record for William and Mary Small but nothing for William and Mary Duggan.
I don’t know what to make of these conflicts and I’m hoping someone might be able to explain or have a theory. Was “Small” Mary’s maiden name and she married a Duggan before Fitzgerald? Did William have two families at the same time; this seems unlikely given that both families were living in the same areas, but you never know.
Any feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
Eileen Healy
(Sorry if a portion of this message was previously posted. Computer error!)