Delahuntys from Kilbeggan

Chris:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I checked the subscription site Roots Ireland for Co. Westmeath and the earliest Thomas Delahunty baptismal record was in 1834 which would be too late for your ancestor. FYI Kilbeggan RC records are on Roots Ireland and go back to 1818 so he must have been baptized in another parish that no longer has records back to the late 1820s.

As far as his birial place, I would check sites like historicgraves.com  findagrave.com etc

Roger McDonnell

Roger,

Thanks for your help. 

The only reason I think he was born in kilbeggan is his RIC record states his place of birth was Kilbeggan,  however,  that doesn't necessarily mean his was.

I am also unable to find his birth record  or his marriage record,  so now,  he's becoming a bit of an enigma and really frustrating.

If you can find his burial place would be great as I am planning a trip over to the emerald isle later in the year and it would be good if I was able to pay my respects to him. After all, if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here.

Once again, thanks for your help.

Regards 

Chris

In 1881 your Thomas was living in Clara

See: Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland 1881, on the Tullamore Page

Your Thomas Delahunty’s death [full description, cause, place, notifying person] can be found at

He d. 16 Jul 1885 at Erry, which is a Townland immediately outside of Clara, on the road to Ballycumber.

See the Free Government Civil Registration Site: -

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1885/06277/4798556.pdf

Before Independence that Townland was known as Erry Armstrong, having been renamed in a typical vanity by the local Armstrong family!

At time of death he is described as 59 years. Ordinarily I would be cautious of Death Certificate Age, however Policemen’s ages are usually accurate, therefore you may assume he was born 1825/ 1826. I do notice that his wife, the notifying person, was illiterate, so that factor adds an uncertainty to his precise age. 

Unfortunately. Clara and Horseleap Parish commence Feb 1845.

https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0916

Kilbeggan would have been the Post Town, or closest big town

Those Catholic Parish Records are available free at: -

https://registers.nli.ie/

However no RIC man could serve in his or his wife's parish.

A Thomas Delahunty is b. 02 Apr 1827 in Moneygall, s of Roger Delahunty & Ellen [sic] Cosgriff, which is most likely Cosgrave

https://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634656#page/1/mode/1up

The RIC Records are complete, unlike their sister force, the DMP, whose records were often lost, stolen or destroyed, apart from just a few books

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-irish-constabulary/

RIC men have been indexed by Jim Herlihy, The Royal Irish Constabulary: A Complete Alphabetical List of Officers and Men, 1816-1922 (Four Courts Press Ltd, 1999).

Using the Warrant Number found in that index it is possible to trace the Personnel File in either the UK National Archive or using copies in Church of the Latter Day Saints Family. History Centres

To find a grave search the local newspaper for a Death Notice

https://www.johngrenham.com/records/newspapers.php?county=Westmeath&search_type=full

Or search graveyards closest to where he died

https://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Heritage/Archaeology/Burial-Grounds/

Four are listed at

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery-browse/Ireland/County-Offaly/Clara?id=city_229916

There is no content listed there yet

If an RIC man was a pauper at time of death his comrades would club together to raise a stone to his memory.

And Good Ancestor Hunting

Michael Dixon