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Hello.  Could anyone explain naming convention query to me please?  If following tradition (pre-famine), if the Mother has not an elder sister (or any sister) who would likely the 4th daughter be named after please?

Also, Sponsors.  If typically named after siblings and sibling in law, then first and second born children, who likely would be their sponsors -aunts/uncles or possibly cousins?  I understand that a female with a different surname as a sponsor may be a married sibling or sister-in-law but if the male has a different name, is this stictly a brother-in-law?  Was it usual for two sponsors and would they come from both sides of the family?  

 

Thank you.

Spookyv

Sunday 24th Apr 2022, 05:00PM

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  • While there's no law about godparents, in my experience they were usually close relatives. I've often see the witnesses at the wedding (usually siblings) be the godparents of the first child.  But then again, close friends or neighbors might be witnesses as well.  

    Were witnesses from both sides of a family? No hard and fast rule about that as far as I know.

    Maybe send the names of the children/witnesses you are trying to figure out? Perhaps someone here can help further.

    Patricia

    Sunday 24th Apr 2022, 06:44PM
  • Thank you.  That is helpful.

    My family came from Killukin (Boyle) Croghan Area.  Roman Catholic. They emigrated around time of the Famine.  Denis Gannon (believe Denis died in Ireland or UK) & Mary Stapleton (emigrated to USA with the children but may have been in UK first).    If anyone knows of these families any info would be gratefully received. Period from 1825 to 1843.  Thank you.

    Child 1 - Sponsors were John Dolan & Ellen Gannon  (I have no idea of John Dolan but think Ellen may be Denis's sister?)

    Child 2 - Sponsors were Mark Hanly & Catherine Stapleton (I have no idea of Mark Hanley but I think Catherine may be Mary's Mother)

    Child 3 - Sponsors were W Flynn & M Stapleton (I have no idea of who these are but M surely must be Mother's side)

    Child 4 - James Dolan & Bridget Cox (I have no idea)

    Child 5 - Thomas Gannon & Anne Higgins (Thomas is the brother of baby but have no idea of Anne Higgins)

    Child 6 & Child 7 - Thomas and Catherine Gannon (Siblings)

    Child 8 - John Gannon (Sibling) an Margaret Cox (I have no idea who she may be).

    Thank you.

    Veronica

    Spookyv

    Monday 25th Apr 2022, 10:30AM
  • Why not look for these names on rootsireland.ie; it's a paid site but you can join for just a day or a week.

    Look for Cox married to Gannon or Stapleton, for example. Hanly married to Stapleton, etc.

    I hope this is helpful.

    Patricia

    Tuesday 26th Apr 2022, 02:34PM

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