Claremorris

Hi Ray,

Thank you for your message.

As they were married in 1864 you may be able to find their marriage record in civil records which are available from the General Register?s Office in Dublin. Here is their website:

http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

You can search the indexes to these records here:

https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408347

Sometimes these marriage records contain the names of the couple?s fathers.

Do you know if Stephen and Bridget were born in Claremorris? If so you may also be able to find their birth records in parish records. Most Catholic records are held locally. One website which you may be find helpful is the Irish Times where they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. For Kilcolman/Claremorris check:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Mayo&parish=Kilcolman&churchid=1056

For Church of Ireland registers check: http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/. 

You could also search the land records for record of their families. There are two:

The Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1838) found at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

and Griffith?s Valuation found at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/     

Some other websites that you may find helpful are:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

Family Search: www.familysearch.org

Genealogy links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/mayo/index.html

Please post any other information that you have regarding the families. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support