RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Meath => Topic started by: paulmh on Sunday 23 April 17 19:42 BST (UK)
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I have been asked to research my girlfriends family, and I have been told that there is a 'family legend/story' that one of her ancestors was born illegitimately to the Lord Meath of Ireland.
I have been fishing as an amateur genealogist since around 2002 and from experience have learnt to take these stories with a pitch of salt unless proven otherwise.
With this I have taken it upon myself to prove/disprove this legend once and for all. However my knowledge of Irish records is a little thin as I've never (really) had to research them.
For something like this could someone give me any guidance as to how one would go about proving this particular family legend?
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Difficult, if not impossible, without an idea of dates-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Meath
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Difficult, if not impossible, without an idea of dates-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Meath
I have only today been handed a big file of research which was done 10 years ago. The file only contains census info and certificates. Right now I am making it my first job to piece the jigsaw together into a family tree and then go from there.
I will be requiring Ireland Census from circa1891 backwards - are these easy to obtain?
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I learned a long time ago ( like you) that you do not try to prove family stories, what you do is do the research back proving each generation as you go and 'proving' an illegitimate child is next to impossible especially to a titled family as they would have just sacked the women as soon as she declared she was pregnant ( if she worked for them) and paid her off, same with anyone else they would have been paid off or completely ignored. So unless there are poor relief records, naming the father you will find nothing at all.
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Census available is 1901 and 1911.... Ireland has no census prior to that they were destroyed so there are only snippets of previous census http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/
http://www.turtlebunbury.com/history/history_family/hist_family_brabazon.htm
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Census available is 1901 and 1911.... Ireland has no census prior to that they were destroyed so there are only snippets of previous census http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/
http://www.turtlebunbury.com/history/history_family/hist_family_brabazon.htm
I knew some had been destroyed but didn't know these were census records.
What is the availability on BMD's?
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Civil Records.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
Some have images of the Certs
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/what-years-are-covered-by-the-historic-records-of-births-marriages-and-deaths
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Civil Records.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
Some have images of the Certs
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/what-years-are-covered-by-the-historic-records-of-births-marriages-and-deaths
With Ireland at the time being one country there is a possibility that the records I need could be in the Belfast area - would these records also be at the links you have listed?
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The Irish Genealogy site (free) have vital records for Northern Ireland counties up until 1921- births, deaths and Catholic marriages 1864-1921 and non-Catholic marriages 1845-1921.
GRONI, Belfast's online site (pay) have births more than 100 years old, marriages more than 75 years old and deaths more than 50 years old.
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The Irish Genealogy site (free) have vital records for Northern Ireland counties up until 1921- births, deaths and Catholic marriages 1864-1921 and non-Catholic marriages 1845-1921.
GRONI, Belfast's online site (pay) have births more than 100 years old, marriages more than 75 years old and deaths more than 50 years old.
Thank you. I shall take a look later
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The family myth (so to speak) is a story that has been passed down from generations, and this story is 'supported' by a marriage certificate
Robert Owens Meadth married Annie Painter on 17th July 1921 in Barton Upon Irwell, Lancaster.
He is 27 years old, a bachelor and his occupation is Motor Salesman. He is living at 6 Osborne Avenue, Weade. His father is listed as Hugh John Meadth (deceased) and his father's occupation as 'of independent means.'
It is believed that the Lord of Meath funded his upbringing.
Robert was born in 1899 and the 1901 census says he was living with John H Meadth and was his step son.
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You haven't said when and where Hugh/John Meadth was born but there is a Hugh John Meadth born 1882 Dublin- father's occupation clerk-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1882/02761/2014056.pdf
Sister Maria Gertruda baptised 1881- click here (https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/5b91a20112064?b=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie%2Fchurchrecords%2Fsearch.jsp%3Fnamefm%3D%26namel%3Dmeadth%26location%3D%26yyfrom%3D%26yyto%3D%26submit%3DSearch)
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1901 census gives John H. Meadth as retired shipping clerk born c1851 Ireland-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9LY-T51
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1901 census gives John H. Meadth as retired shipping clerk born c1851 Ireland-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9LY-T51
No I didn't mention his PoB but this is him. They lived at number 33.
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1901 census gives John H. Meadth as retired shipping clerk born c1851 Ireland-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9LY-T51
I am unsure if John H and Hugh J are the same person or not. Robert's marriage certificate says that his father had died prior to 1921. Obtaining his father's death certificate might unlock a few answers.
I also want to try and find John/Hugh on the 1911 census.