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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: xpress4 on Tuesday 24 March 15 20:28 GMT (UK)
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My ancestor was born in Queens County in 1814. His child's birth record lists denomination as Catholic. However, his second marriage much later in England was in an Anglican church.
How often did a Catholic marry an Anglican? If so, which religion did the family adopt? I'm so confused. I'm trying to determine the family's religion in order to search the correct parish records.
Thanks for any guidance!
Brenda
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There's no easy answer to this one, Xpress. Mixed marriages are extremely common and there is no knowing what an individual family are likely to do when it comes to bringing up the children.
My personal tip would be that, if there is no clue, then look in the Anglican records first and, if you can't find them there, then see if you can find the RC ones.
I say this because there was a long period in British history when it was, for a number of reasons, often easier for baptisms and marriages to take place in the Church of England, even though the family members were actually RC. For quite some time it was the only lawful way to get married. If the family were lucky enough to live on the estate of a big house where the family were recusants, they often permitted local Catholic families to have the children baptised in their own private chapel. Others were not so lucky and there was no Catholic church within easy access.
When circumstances changed, the family line often reverted back to baptising their children in the Catholic church. There are even instances of different children within the same family being baptised in separate denominations, some Anglican and some Catholic.
Incidentally, you will often find records of Catholic baptisms recorded in Latin, ie 'Jacobus' for 'James', 'Johanna' for 'Jane' etc., so if they come up like this on a genealogy site, that's a clue.
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Under Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act, 1754, it was a legal requirement, in England, to marry in a Church of England church.
This remained true until 1837.
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Thanks to you both! That is very helpful :)
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First wife was probably Roman Catholic in Co Laois
The second wife was likely Anglican.
Church weddings are usually held in the Bride's Church.
For following the family onward the English records are more complete.
Census records usually record denomination.
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Census records usually record denomination.
Only the Irish census!
Religion has never been indicated on English census records ;D