Hickey Family

[shanreagh]

My Hickey, g grandfather, John Hickey was born (1836) and lived in Lambeth Surrey. His parents, according to his baptism record from St George's Catholic Church, Southwark, Surrey, were John Hickey and Catherine Riley and census records show that they were both born in Ireland, both in about 1811, but gives no more detail. I cannot find a marriage in England but have found an original record on the National Library of Ireland website showing a John Hickey and what looks like Kitty Reilly married on 1st March 1835 at Hospital and Herbertstown, Limerick.

I started looking on the Surrey forum  - https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859755.msg7287896#msg7287896  but was advised that this Irish forum was more appropriate.

Can anyone point me in any direction towards getting further back with my family?

Wjat are the names of all the children of this couple please?  Were they all born in England? 

[shanreagh]

Thanks for all the pointers, I will follow these up.

One problem is that as Hickey and Reily are fairly common names in Ireland I am not sure whether this marriage relates to my John Hickey and Catherine Reily or a totally different family. The entry shows Kitty which may be short for Catherine but in other records - the baptisms of three children and in census records - she is always Catherine.

And if it is, can I assume that the witnesses are parents?

The Kitty or Catherine scenario can be explained as the marriage certificate will have probably been drawn up by a priest who knew the family well and she may have been known as Kitty in the family and around the district. Going to a new place and with new procedures she may have been asked, if she could not read/write 'what is your name?' and of course would not be giving a family's/close friends nickname/diminutive. 

For all we know the husband may not have liked Kitty as a name.....

Who reported/registered the births of the children?

Always good to check further but do not dismiss this because of a difference in names, especially if the difference in names is that of a well known diminutive.   My grandmother, also a Catherine was universally known as Cass (also a Catherine diminutive).  Her children are registered under Catherine.   

[friesland]

The children wrere all born in Lambeth, Surrey in England. John in 1836, Patrick in 1838 and Bridget in 1841. I have no birth certificates but the baptism register, in the Catholic Cathedral, shows the parents as John Hickey and Catherine Riley. The godparents of John are Patrick Murphy and Bridget Riley, Patrick are Patrick Riley and Helen Connor, Bridget are Jacob Quinlan and Bridget Riley.

I am trying to follow up on Patrick and Bridget Riley who may be related to Catherine. It may be an assumption but I would think that they would be resident in England.

[shanreagh]

I would also follow up on the Connor/s name as a sponsor.....NB this was a name that appeared as a witness on the 'Kitty' marriage.  Marg^t Connors.

And then while you are at it follow up the Murphy and Quinlan names.  Again some families often had one sponsor/godparent from each side of the family or close family friends.  Always worth checking.