Thank you both for your reply. I have the information given to me by another family member who did some genealogy. We are both stuck at this marriage record. We have no birth records of the bride nor groom or the name of their parents. We are completely at a dead end.
Does anyone have any super sleuth ideas of how to delve into that? We have the birth records of 4 of Anne & Philip's children (Mary Margaret, John J., Bridget and Philip J.). One birth record, of my great-grandmother, Hanna (aka Ann) Shanahan is missing.
Their first 3 children were born in Waterford and one born in Boston. My great-grandmother, Hanna was supposedly born in Ireland (but not quite sure where) before they immigrated to Boston. Philip Shanahan was not around at the time of her birth as he was in Boston (he was a seaman/ship's carpenter) and had disappeared and married another woman in Boston. It was only when he was sick with a fever that he accidentally spilled the beans and upon interrogation by his 2nd wife, confessed that he had a wife back in Ireland with 4 children (sailors!). His 2nd wife took pity and insisted that he send for his wife and family and that they get back together (good gal!). Anne traveled to Boston with her 4 children in about 1873.
I can go forward but can not go back any further than Anne Keane and Philip Shanahan. When they came to America they names on records became Anne Kane and Philip Shannon.
If anyone has any advice on how to find out about their family background, I would be most grateful.
all the best,
Pamela