Heres another one of my Irish ties and though I have actually made contact with family members in Kerry and know a bit about the location of the family I have never been able to find solid documentary proof for this ancestor ie baptism or baptisms for other family members. ( I know the history of the Cantillons is well documented even to them being thrown out of their castle by the Crosbies....always fancied a drawbridge and moat !!)
Catherine Cantilen (or one of the various spellings) was transported on the "Midlothian" to VDL on 24 Feb.1853. Transported for 7 years. She was 17 years of age (so born circa 1833-35). Native of Co. Kerry.
Her convict record states her father was Patrick, brothers - Patrick and John, sisters - Honora, Bridget, Mary Ellen and Margaret at Native Place.
As I stated I've actually made contact and had some writings with descendants of Catherine's siblings but it is all anecdotal and family stories. The family is from around Castleshannon/Causeway.
The Roman Catholic parish of Causeway has records back to 1782 but I've never been able to get a response from the parish priest. There are microfilms of the registers at the NLI but they require written permission from the Bishop of Kerry to be viewed and its a bit hard to get a look at them from Australia.
Is anyone now or in the near future venturing to Causeway to seek their own relatives and may be able to assist me with a search as they seek their own? or is anyone going to be using the Causeway microfilms in the NLI?
Cheers,
Peter J Oakley