My 3 x Great Grandparents, James Casson and Ann Ryan were married at Castletown-Geoghegan, County Westmeath on 27 February 1835.
The following children were all baptised at Castletown-Geoghegan: Patrick bapt 1836, John bapt 1838, Catherine bapt 1840.
The following children were all baptised in St. Helens, Lancashire, England: James 1844, Mary 1845, Thomas 1846, Mary 1848, Margaret 1850, Matthew 1853, Joseph 1856 and Ann in 1859.
The family presumably emigrated sometime between 1840 and 1844.They lived in St. Helens and can be traced through the census returns, however some of the children returned to Dublin to marry and were not counted in the 1871 English Census.
Patrick married Eliza Carter on 26 February 1836, James married Kate Jones on 23 August 1869, Thomas married Sarah Carter on 24 January 1869
According to the ages given in the English Census Returns and his death/burlal record, James Casson would have been born between 1813 and 1817 in Ireland, unfortunately he does not state where in Ireland he originates from! I have located a record for a James Casson son of John/James (hard to read) Casson and Graine (Grace?) Kelly on 29 January 1815 at Offerland, Laois, but I am unsure if this parish is within the Castletown-Geoghegan area.
Ann Ryan is a very common name and again I have no information of her birthplace, according to the ages in the census returns and her death/burial record she would have been born about 1815/1816.
Any help locating James or Ann's baptisms or parishes or any other information on the family would be greatly appreciated.
Chris
Thursday 24th Jun 2021, 11:57AMMessage Board Replies
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Chris:
I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not locate a baptismal record for James Cassin/Casson including the 1815 record you mention in your note.
By the way, Offerlane RC parish is a good distance from Castletown/Geoghegan Co. Westmeath. Co. Offaly is between Co. Westmeath and Co. Laois.
The Castletown/Geoghegan RC parish records start in 1829 so if that was Ann Ryan's home parish, her baptismal record would not be available.
Sorry, I was not more helpful. Have you considered DNA testing?
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Thursday 24th Jun 2021, 06:49PM -
Roger
Many thanks for trying. I got the 1815 record from the Irish Catholic Records imaged on the National Library of Ireland website. It was very hard to read but as you say the distance between Offerlane and Castletown-Geoghegan is quite considerable so unlikely this is the correct baptism. I have had my DNA tested and the result was 30% Irish mainly from the North Leinster area.
Chris
Friday 25th Jun 2021, 11:08AM