James Mernagh

[hedwig06]

I wondered if someone could help me....

I have a James Thomas Mernagh born c1846 County Mayo - information from the English census's.
First appears on the 1881 English census.

He marries in Rathdown 1868 to Birmingham born Charlotte Bowley, (I found this info off mayoancestors.com)

How do I find James's family without travelling to Ireland?

Can I apply for his marriage certificate?  If so where do I apply?  Are there any census information for Ireland pre 1881, or are there Electoral Registers or land registers?

I really have no idea how to go any further back, I have read some of the information available on this site, but they don't seem to answer any of my questions.

I would really appreciate some step by step answers   

Thanks Angi x

[aghadowey]

To answer a few of your questions-

Can I apply for his marriage certificate?  If so where do I apply? 
Index to Irish civil registrations is online (free):
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;t=searchable;c=1408347
Search for bride and groom separately then cross-reference results for matching details.
You can order the marriage certificate from GRO (giving names, year, registration district, volume and page numbers)- form is not properly designed for this sort of common request so just ignore bits that don't apply and include only the details from index that I mentioned.
www.groireland.ie/apply_for_a_cert.htm

Are there any census information for Ireland pre 1881, or are there Electoral Registers or land registers?
1901 is first complete census for Ireland.

I really have no idea how to go any further back, I have read some of the information available on this site, but they don't seem to answer any of my questions.
Have you looked in MAYO RESOURCES? and IRELAND RESOURCES here on Rootschat?- there are lots of topics about directories, church records, etc. which should help you understand what's available.

[hedwig06]

Aghadowey,

Thank you.

I have read the Mayo resources here on Rootschat, but there isn't really a mention of somewhere to collect information during the period I would like, i.e, 1840-1881 ish.

I gather the information just isn't there to be found?  Without going to the local records office in Mayo....

I will try to find the marriage reference number and send off for it, hopefully it will give me James's fathers name, but after that I don't know how to find the family in Irish records.

I take it there isn't really one place to go for all Irish records?  Is there one planned?

Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions, I know they are probably very basic questions, but I really find the Irish side of genealogy hard to research

Angi x

[aghadowey]

Don't be afraid to ask questions- unless you do you'll never learn- and we will do our best to answer them.
There is no one place for Irish genealogy which is why it's so important to know where your ancestors lived (parish if not actual townland).
If you are searching for information in mid-1800s before civil registration you'll need to look at local sources like church records (if they exist) and perhaps land records, directories, etc.

[hedwig06]

Thank you.

Angi x

[dee melody]

Angi, I can see a Marriage Ref for Charlotte Bowley but cannot see the cross ref for James. 

All or most of the information at the North Mayo Family History Centre is now online at www.brsgenealogy.com (pay to view 5 Euro - very expensive) You need to register, and can at least check family names before paying)

Charlotte Bowley / 1868 / Reg. District: Rathdowen
Vol No: 2 / Page No: 992


You could also search on Griffiths Valuation for the families:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

Dee

[hedwig06]

Dee,

Thank you.

All help gratefully received

I really cannot get to grips with the Irish genealogy.

Angi x

[dee melody]

Neither can I Angie and I've been to Mayo twice, spent a fortune and still not found the relevant family.  It's all trial and error.  Even the staff at the groireland.ie took pity on me when I was searching for records. 

Dee
 Note:  There is a Church Baptism for a James MERNA in County Wicklow - on brsgenealogy.com.  It is possible this could be your gentleman? 

[hedwig06]

Dee,

It could be?  But how with Irish genealogy do you prove it?

I'm glad its not only me struggling

I have had thought about going to Mayo, but with only the tiny information I have it seems pointless.

Angi x