Patrick Downing

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I assume your Downings were Church of Ireland?  

I was not sure if your family was from the parish of Whitechurch or the parish of Mothel.  The records for Whitechurch do not go back to the early part of the 19th century because they were destroyed in the 1922 Public Records Office fire. I was not able to find any info on the parish of Mothel. I use this link provided by the Representative Church Library in Dublin.

https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf

I can see two Motherl parishes in Co. Kilkenny but none for a Waterford parish with that name. I did search the subscription site Roots Ireland but did not find a good lead for a baptismal record for Patrick. Likely his baptismal record is not available.

Let me know if you have questions.

Roger McDonnell

Hi Roger

Yes, I believe it's Church of Ireland.

From what I've been able to figure out, I think Patrick Downing (3GG) was born in the parish of Whitechurch, married to the Rev. Wm Hill's daughter at Mothel. I found a Tithe Applotments in 1826 and 1831, Ballyhane, Whitechurch, Waterford, for a Patrick Downing..but my Patrick would be somewhere between 16-21, so I wonder if it's his father.  My 2GG William Downing was born 1839 at Mothel. My main research goal is Patrick's line, it's one of my only 3G lines where I am stuck.

Thanks!

Mothel civil parish was part of a parish union with the parishes Few and Rathgormuck, and unfortunately it's not looking promising for records - the only historic records listed for the parish in older parish handlist of record from the RCB are marriages starting 1847, which would be covered by civil records.

The latest RCB Parish parish list does not include an entry for Mothel, Co. Waterford but does include entries for Few & Rathgormuck both of which refer to Mothel. The list includes an entry for a Mothel in the correct Diocese - Lismore, but under Co. Kilkenny which I suspect may be a mistake, clicking on the hyperlink brings up details which lists Mothel parish Lismore Diocese, Co. Waterford and with the previously mentioned starting date of 1847. A note also mentions that earlier registers were lost in the civil war.

Unfortunately it looks like the early records for Whitechurch parish, Lismore Diocese Co. Waterford were also lost.

The Clergy of Waterford & Lismore (Ulster Historical Foundation)  includes some brief biographical details on William as follows ;

Hill, William ....~1861
  described as 'Doctor' in Par. records
  C. [Curate] Mothel & Fews 1820 to 1856
  Issue : 1 dau. [daughter]
  Died : 6th April 1861, bur. Mothel