Genealogy Chat

Someone in Belfast went into the church records and found my grandmothers baptism records, she was just 3 weeks old in 1878 when she was baptised in Belfast Antrim.

So why can't GRONI find her birth record or even the marriage of the parents, anyone know why this would be.?

Betty

Betty,

Sorry, I can't answer your question, all I know is, researching Ireland is like trying to get 'blood from a stone'.

I still can't understand why, when up until about 100 yrs. ago, when the whole of Ireland was 'British' that there are no records (BMD's or Census) for Ireland.

My Mother was born in Ireland in 1912, so strictly speaking she was 'British' as, presumably, were her parents but there is no record of her, or them, on the GRO.

Ireland, was, is and probably always will be unique.

M. Steer

Hello Margaret,

Thanks for your reply, GRONI couldn't tell me why they couldn't find the birth and said they would return half of the payment I made. They also said they couldn't find the parents marriage either. I gave them parents names and everything, even the name and address of the church she was baptised in, and that she would have been born in November 1878. Its such a pain this as I have tried so hard for 2 years to get this information and as far as I know births and marriages had to be registered at that time in Ireland.

Betty

Betty,

My Mother was born in Ireland - I know each of her siblings and her parents but I've not been able to access any official records (Irish or British), unless I can travel to Dublin or Belfast (even then it's debatable).

Ireland (God love her!) has always been a problem!

M. Steer

Hi Margaret,

I have always wanted to visit Ireland, don't think I will ever see it but would really would have loved to go there.

Betty

Betty,

If you ever get the chance, go there.

It's FABULOUS!

M. Steer

Hi Margaret,

I never will get the chance but would have loved to have gone though.

Betty

Betty

I'm afraid it is not uncommon.

Whilst the requirement to register births came into force in 1864 it was not rigoursly enforced until about 1880-1890 when there was a review of the system and time limits and penalties were introduced. In the early years parents did not register children as registration cost money. In large families with the prospect of infant deaths it was potentially a cost they could ill afford.

Baptisms however were a completely different story and you did not have to have a birth certificate for baptism. Catholics would definitely get thier children baptised as failure to do so would mean their child would go to hell when they died. Also you were frowned upon in the community if you did not get your children baptised.

I have a number of instances in my tree where I have the baptism record but a birth certficate cannot be located. The most recent is my grandfather who even though he was born in 1919 there is no record of his birth. In his case he was a home birth delivered by my great grandmother and it was too far to walk into town to get him registered - however they still managed to make the trek into the church in their finery to get him baptised.

Karen