Holden/Kildaire

http://kildare.rootsireland.ie/quis.php?page=0&prevStartQuery=0

This pay to view site seems to have your marriage listed and a transcript will give you a parish. You can however obtain a lot of data for free if you don't mind spending a lot of time and effort. See below-

As for location just google Athy, Kildare.

In this example I was looking for a Minnie and Catherine Wiley sisters parents unknown.

How I did it was to use the pay to view site

http://rootsireland.ie/

I did firstly a national search for Minnie which threw up a couple both in Antrim. I then switched to County Antrim.

By playing about with the date range I was able to narrow down the baptism to a specific year. I still have not used the pay to view option yet nor used up any of my limited number of free previews. Once I had a Minnie I had to find her parents first names. I started with father first name a - this would bring up any firstnames starting with "a". Working through the alphabet got me to H when I got a hit adding further letters and worked out father was Hugh. Search then for Wiley children no firstname father Hugh within ten years of Minnie. Got 6 hits and using same technique was able to work out the 6 names - but no Catherine. Minnie is a common nickname so reverted to Catherine. Broad search found two which narrowed down to one in 1868 and one in 1872. Was able to work out 1868 was daughter of John and Mary. Broad search found no other children to this couple. 1872 Catherine was daughter of John and Jane and a broad search threw up 9 children. Plodding through the alphabet got me Alexander, Eliza, Catherine, Eleanor, Francis, John, James, Samuel, Wilhemina, which was more complicated since it is usually spelled WilheLmina.  Catherine I knew was 1872, and bit of playing about with date range got me 1881 for Wilhemina. Age gap fits the two sisters although the ages are well out - no surprises there!

You can play about with the dates until you match up the other 7 children. You can refine it a bit more by choosing one child then working your way through the drop down menu of the various parishes until you get a hit. Then you can see if all the other children were also in the same parish. Bearing in mind couples did move about as well as changing churches. It is quite possible that these 9 children were born to more than one couple named John and Jane.  Getting one transcript should give mothers maiden name and doing a broad search for baptisms to John and Jane with new surname hopefully should confirm 9 children. However many older records do not list mother's maiden name. Using this technique you can gain a lot of data without using up your limited number of free searches or having to buy any transcripts.

Bob Graham (County Fermanagh XO)

Yes I did get info from roots ireland site. For this family I have narrowed it down to Naas, Athy and Castledermot.  I have not been able to locate Athy on this site so I've been using Kildare (general).

Chrissy

Hi Chrissy

I'm Linda the Kildare Town Liaison volunteer.  I had a look at your post and would like to help if I can.  Do you know if Michael and his family were Roman Catholic (RC) or Protestant (CofI)?  And have you the death certs and/or birth certs for any of the family?  The religion will make a difference regarding where to look and who to contact and the certs may give you information that can help you identify where the family came from origianally.

The National Library of Ireland has copies of some church registers on microfiche so it might be possible to look at them for information as well.

I hope this message gets to you and look forward to hearing back soon - if possible could you post your reply on the Kildare Town Parish page.

Regards

Linda

Hi Chrissy

Did you get the last email I sent?

Linda

Hi chrissy i think we couod be related my dad is from maganey outside athy 

Success!

Just wanted to post a quick update.  There's been alot of research and work going on off-site since the first message was posted and between myself, the Holdens in America and the Holdens here in Kildare we have at last been able confirm the link between the families who all descend from Michael Holden and Ester Page.  I'm delighted to have been involved in this and am thankful to Chrissy, Erin, Tadgh, John and Willie for giving me the opportunity to help.

Linda Magee

Kildare Town Parish Liaison

Hi Chrissy and Linda!

I realize this message board started a few years ago, but I'm also a Holden and traveling to Ireland this Thursday. Michael Holden and Etty Page are my 4th great grandparents! We are planning on stopping in Kildare on Thursday the 24th in the afternoon.  So Linda this question is for you - we are wondering if there are any Holdens still living in the area?? Or if we could locate where Michael and Ester are buried? Not sure if you're able to find out either of those questions, just thought I'd check. Hoping for a response, thanks so much! 

Olivia

Chrissy - I guess that also means we are related in some way!

Yes we are!!!!  Can you give me your line to Michael and Ester? Are you on Ancestry or done DNA?  You are in luck!!!  We found the Holden's living in Ireland!!!!  We have a facebook group and I will add you. I am on FB as Chrissy Holden Masciangelo. Send me a friend request!  So exciting!  The big question we all have is do you have pictures of Michael and Ester or know who Michaels parents were?  Can't wait to hear back! Great to have another Holden! Michael and Ester are my 2nd great grandparents.  My Dad was John Holden.

Also, the Holden's living in Ireland are on the FB group.  Hopefully you can meet up with them.  I do know that Michael and Ester are buried in an unmarked grave.  The Ireland side Holden's should be of great help!!!  

Hi Chrissy! So exciting thank you!! I've just sent you a FB friend request. I'm on Ancestry.com, and if my research is correct Michael's parents were Thomas Holden and Eleanor Owens. I've only been able to locate one picture of Ester. Looking out for the FB group invite! Gotta love the Holdens, thank you! :)