Hi all, I have written again to the archives at Westminster re whether Father Hardy, who it seems performed the burial ceremony on George Goodman 1888, had any records kept as he appeared to be a secular priest. I gather that meant they had no fixed place/parish. Apparently he acted as rector until 1904 at Rickmansworth parish, having firstly built the corrugated iron chapel in the high street. I was hoping that if there may have been some god parents mentioned re George senior's family. On the other hand I wondered also whether Mary Goodman (nee McCarthy) had the children baptized in Cashel where her mother lived. Thinking that the family would not have had the cash to come over for the occasion. Especially as it appears from the rate book records that Mary was paying for her mother to live in William street Cashel. It probably was convenient for Mary, working in England as the mother appeared to care for at least one of the children. The one who died interned in the rook of Cashel 1888. My cousin looked into any baptisms at Cashel in the past, so my brother informs me, but to no avail. Not sure if she also looked at nearby places, may be worth another look. Although my real interest lies with the elusive George Goodman re his birth place, his past prior to 1871 and his Rickmansworth family. However, Mary does seem to be somewhat of a character also. Having seen the rule book for midwives, she must have been made of tough stuff and must have been quite thrifty too. To have embarked on such a training having lost so many of her family members and presumably leaving young George in a boys home in England. Also my grandfather Hubert, if she did initially take him with her to Ireland, he would have been quite young. Sad though if she used some of that strength of character to persuade George (senior) to take on her religion at marriage as it may have alienated him from his supposedly Rickmansworth family. Which in turn would make it even more difficult for me to find out who they were.
