FOLEY, Leitrim Ireland

[claretnblue]

Hi all,

I am seeking advice with regards to finding the baptism of an ancestor from Ireland.

His name was Patrick FOLEY born c1856 in Leitrim Ireland son of Dermott FOLEY.

In 1871 he was living and working (as an Iron Works Labourer) in Mossend, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland where he gave his place of birth as Leitrim Ireland.  He then moved to work at the steel works in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England where he married in 1880 and gave his fathers as Dermott FOLEY (shoemaker).  He then returned to Lanarkshire, Scotland 1881 to work in Iron Works again, before moving to Sunderland, County Durham, England in 1882 as an Iron Works labourer.  after this he disappears from records leaving his parentless children in Sunderland in 1891 census dispersed amongst strangers.

Any help or advise in where to start searching in Leitrim would be great, and any links to online records even better.


Regards,

Claretnblue

[shanew147]

You need to know two details to start a search for parish records - the denomination of your Foley family, and which parish or townland they lived in.

Some transcripts of Leitrim parish records are available on the pay-website at RootsIreland, but note that not all parishes have older records, which is why knowing the parish that your Foley ancestors lived in is important.

See :
   Introduction to Irish Records
   My Ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?




Shane

[shanew147]

I had a quick look at the baptism Index on RootsIreland, and there is just one Patrick Foley listed on a Co. Leitrim search between 1854 and 1858 (5 between 1852-1860) - unfortunately he no longer matches if I add father's name of Dermot[t] to the search.


Shane

[claretnblue]

Thanks Shane,

Looks like I may be off to a bad start with the limited information I have on Patrick.

He was married at St Mary's Cathedral Middlesbrough, which is Roman Catholic.

With regards to birthplace he either put Leitrim Ireland, or just Ireland as his place of birth in records i have, so have no idea which parish or townland he was from, or whether he made up a fathers name (Dermott) on his wedding day or not.

Regards,

claretnblue

[mmcpadden1947]

Clare,
I have checked 1901 + 1911 census in the hope that the Foley surname might be confined to a part of Co.Leitrim,however it was widespread at that time.
I think it might be worthwhile exploring the info. from Roots Ireland without the fathers being Dermott,which seemed to cause a problem.
It would have been highly unusual in the 1830s to have such a first name.
Most were named after a grandfather,paternal or maternal depending on their place in the family.
As the marriage of son Patrick took place in England there could have been some confusion as regards pronunciation / accent .
I have found this among my Irish ancestors in the 1800s too,where the Registrar was not Irish,while the marriage took place in Ireland.

If this yielded a townland or district you could proceed with that.
Your ancestors were highly  likely to have been R/C.

If you find nothing further online you can contact :
Leitrim Genealogy Centre,County Library,Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim.
Email : leitrimgenealogy[at]eircom.net
Fax    : 00 353 71 9644 425
Tel     : 00 353 71 9644 012

They have all  surviving Baptismal Records etc.prior to Civil Registration in 1864 for Co.Leitrim.

Let me know how you progress.
                                                 Maura

[claretnblue]

Thanks,

Will let you know how I get on.

Regards

Claretnblue