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Leitrim / Who is my McDermott grandfather??
« on: Saturday 01 October 16 22:05 BST (UK) »
My family name is McDermott, or I thought it was! 
Up until very recently, my Irish family tree stopped at my grandfather, Thomas McDermott, born 1888, Carrick on Shannon, illegitmate son of Bridget. I could find nothing more. His birth was apparently not registered. But now Irish bmds are online and after a great deal of faff, I found Thomas's birth. His name wasn't McDermott at all, but Keegan. Well that came as a bit of a shock!
I can only think that he was baptised McDermott, presumably that being the name of his biological father. I have spent forever trying and failing to find his baptism.
I accept that there's not much anyone can do to help, but I would appreciate some thoughts on this.
Was it normal for a child to be baptised away from where he was born, and where his family were living?
In order to be given the father's name, would that father have to have been present at the baptism of an illegitimate child in 1888?
Wouldn't it have been very socially unacceptable for the mother to then marry someone else, i.e. NOT the father of that child? (Which his mother did!)
Why give the child the father's name if she wasn't going to marry him? In the context of the family, it only makes his illegitimacy even more obvious.
I am beyond confused.
Thanks for listening .........!
Up until very recently, my Irish family tree stopped at my grandfather, Thomas McDermott, born 1888, Carrick on Shannon, illegitmate son of Bridget. I could find nothing more. His birth was apparently not registered. But now Irish bmds are online and after a great deal of faff, I found Thomas's birth. His name wasn't McDermott at all, but Keegan. Well that came as a bit of a shock!
I can only think that he was baptised McDermott, presumably that being the name of his biological father. I have spent forever trying and failing to find his baptism.
I accept that there's not much anyone can do to help, but I would appreciate some thoughts on this.
Was it normal for a child to be baptised away from where he was born, and where his family were living?
In order to be given the father's name, would that father have to have been present at the baptism of an illegitimate child in 1888?
Wouldn't it have been very socially unacceptable for the mother to then marry someone else, i.e. NOT the father of that child? (Which his mother did!)
Why give the child the father's name if she wasn't going to marry him? In the context of the family, it only makes his illegitimacy even more obvious.
I am beyond confused.
Thanks for listening .........!
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