Hi,
I found two transcriptions on Family Search (see attached). I believe one might be a record of my great-great grandmother's marriage. Many of my ancestors came from Belfast, so I feel that "Ann Cunningham" may be my ancestor. I cannot find anything about her husband which would be Edward Gaffney, born in 1825-27. I believe he may have lived in Belfast. He was born approximately in 1825. I have several US censuses from 1860 to 1895 which includes their family. If anyone could help with this, I would appreciate it.
EMV
Thursday 30th Dec 2021, 03:19AMMessage Board Replies
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The 1846 marriage in Belfast you have found was between Ann Cunningham and William Kirk, and the one in Lurgan was between Mary Ann Cunningham and William Delaney, so neither is the marriage to Edward Gaffney you are looking for. Link to copy of certificates attached:
Both the above ceremonies were Church of Ireland (Ie Episcopalian). Statutory marriage registration began in Ireland in 1845 for all denominations except RC. RC were only included from 1864 onwards. If you are looking for an RC marriage before 1864 or a non RC marriage before 1845, you need to rely on church records. Not all have survived, and in the case of many protestant records, not all are on-line.
I had a look through the RC databases on Ancestry and the irish civil marriage records but cannot see a marriage to Edward. If the ceremony was RC and in Belfast then unfortunately the records are incomplete in that St Mary's, the oldest church in Belfast, doesn't have any marriage records before 1867 (either lost or never kept).
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Thursday 30th Dec 2021, 08:46AM -
Thank you Elwyn. Although it's frustrating and disappointing, I'm glad you stopped me before I went down the proverbial rabbit hole! I really appreciate your help.
EMV
Monday 3rd Jan 2022, 02:26AM