Road Blocks in Identifying a Birth
by Carmel Gilbride
Even when we are quite confident of our information on the person sought, as to their year of birth and likely registration district, there can be still be roadblocks in identifying a birth.
For many years I have searched unsuccessfully, for the birth Margaret Kelly in Dublin in 1902. Yes, this is needle in a haystack country. Prior to civil births going online, time and cash was expended trying to identify Margaret’s birth. Failing to find a Margaret Kelly, I then switched attention to those Kelly births registered prefixed by the word ‘unknown. Using the website, irishgenealogy.ie, typing in ‘Unknown ‘as the first name followed by the Kelly surname will supply you with a (long) list of births.
However, two pieces of information about Margaret were known. Firstly, the month of birth, and secondly that Margaret’s mother was unmarried at the time of her birth. Therefore, the focus was a female Kelly child born to a mother Kelly. Factoring these criteria quickly narrowed allowing me to finally view the birth of the elusive Margaret.
By Carmel Gilbride
By Paul Manzor
Comments
Many thanks for these tips. I've been trying to trace my Irish ancestors but I have no record of their provenance apart from "(Ireland)" referring to the birth place of the father of my paternal grandfather on his birth certificate of 1879 in the UK. I'll have to keep digging! Kindest regards, Leo McNeir
Sounds familiar. I am researching births of Bridget Gallagher & Patrick Boyle in Co Donegal. I cannot even locate their marriage if there was one & could they be lying in the 1911 census as too how long they were married. I have also discovered that they had 3 other children but don't know when or where ???
hi I am looking for a original birth certificate for a Agnes Isabella Martin.... I have got her marriage and death certificates and a birth register on which there is a date of birth ..... but I keep coming up with a deadend... I think she was born in Muckno but cant find records there either....
Kim, you dont say what year Agnes was born.. That''s vital If she was born before 1864, no birth certificate exists. That was the year registration of births began.# If after 1864, should be a birth cert and you can wade through all the great records on irishgenealogy.ie or findmypast.ie Dont put in her second name, just Agnes Martin.
Hi from South Australia. I'm trying to find birth details for my 2x great grandparents. As they emigrated to South Australia I have their death certificates, but would love to find their birth dates and where they were born. Details are Thomas Latimer 1850 Co Cavan and Mary Ranson 1852 Co Down. I know many records were lost in a fire and unsure if the years I am looking forward were lost. Thanks in anticipation.
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