Henighan's of Balla

[Northern Gen]

Hi all,

I am helping a relative with their family tree and we've already hit a brick wall! The lady in question is Mary Henighan who, on the 1911 census gave her birthplace as Balla. She was born around 1845 and married a William Munden who was in the 30th Regiment of the British Army. Their first child, Mary Jane, was born in Montreal, Canada in 1864 where William was posted. There are a number of problems we have encountered:

1. On Mary Jane's baptism record from St Patrick's RC in Montreal, it states that she is the daughter of an "unlawful marriage" between Mary and William. What would make the marriage unlawful?

2. Were William and Mary "married" before leaving for Canada, and if so was this in Ireland as there is no record of a marriage in England.

3. Was Mary resident in Canada prior to William's arrival? Is it possible her family emigrated from Ireland to Canada and this is how she met William.

If it is of any help, William and Mary had 7 children in total. Mary Jane was the eldest and was born in Canada, Henry was next (he was born in Ireland in 1870ish), then William Dan, Emma Honora, Alfred John, Annie Elizabeth and Albert who were all born in the UK.

Any insight into Henighan/Hennigan's would be great, as would information regarding the British army being based in Ireland. Unfortunately, my previous research has mainly been confined to the UK so Irish genealogy is all quite new!

Thanks in advance 

[hallmark]

RC Registers are online free....  http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1044  would be Balla Parish.

[myluck!]

The marriage may have been deemed unlawful if he hadn't asked permission of his superior officer in the army.

edited to add

If his regimental # was 457, he is listed on the 1861 army census at Jersey & Aldershot and on the 1871 army census at Dublin.
Their son Henry is shown as born Jul 08 1870 and bap St. Paul's Arran Quay Jul 25 1870 LINK

The regiment's history might help locate where the marriage took place


also to note that she is described as born Castlebar, Ireland in 1891

[hallmark]

 She was born around 1845 and married a William Munden  Their first child, Mary Jane, was born in Montreal, Canada in 1864....

...so she was 19 when giving birth. Not of Full Age (21) to marry.

[Northern Gen]

Thank you hallmark and myluck!

I didn't expect such a quick response!!

The baptism of Henry in 1870 is definitely the right one. As for the marriage of William Munden and Mary Hennigan, I'll have to look into getting access to William's service record to see whereabouts he was prior to Mary Jane's birth.

Myluck!, where can I find copies of the 1861 and 1871 Army Census' you mentioned?

[hallmark]

Some of Castlebar records mention same Regiment!  http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1039

[Northern Gen]

Really Hallmark  , where?

[hallmark]

There are a few Marys, but without father's name which one??

[hallmark]

source of above   http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000631982#page/30/mode/1up