Friars from Letterkenny Co Donegal

[franm101]

Hi there
I am doing some family research and I am looking for the family and history of my great grandad John Friar born in Letterkenny Co Donegal, 25 June 1872. I have found an IGI record of them on the family search.org website however they were R.C so assume they changed to suit a lifstyle. His parents were Daniel Friar and Mary Mcbride. Had 2 sisters Catherine and Mary and a younger brother Dennis. I have just found my great great grandad Daniels possible Will on PRONI and apparently they lived at The Glebe Magherenan County Donegal??? I am in New Zealand. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give. Thanks muchly
Fran Talia 

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat.

IGI lists 4 children to Daniel Friar & Mary McBride:
1. Catherine born 3 March 1867 Letterkenny district.
2. Mary born 29 Oct.1869 Co. Donegal.
3. John born 25 June 1872 Co. Donegal.
4. Dennis born 28 Dec.1875 Co. Donegal.

There could be other children simply not in IGI (many but not all Irish births 1864-c1882 are there). 1864 was the start of civil registration of births so any older children will not have birth certificates.

Do you have John's birth certificate? IGI entry lists his birthplace as Co, Donegal not Letterkenny. Catherine's brth is listed under Letterkenny district but she may have been born in a townland within that registration district and not Letterkenny itself.

Don't understand this part of your posting:

I have found an IGI record of them on the family search.org website however they were R.C so assume they changed to suit a lifstyle.

[franm101]

Hi here
Thanks for the welcome! No death certificate yet but I do have his marriage certificate which states Letterkenny Co Donegal as his place of birth. The trouble is that im in New Zealand and he changed his name to Fryer over here so anything here is unreliable. I am assuming that from Daniels Will record at PRONI that that is where he was from :-)   

[franm101]

Oh and I am confused why they had records with IGI as they were Roman catholics...atleast John was when he came to NZ :-)

[aghadowey]

The records of the 4 children listed in IGI are taken from civil registrations of birth which is nothing to do with their religion. Civil registration of births, deaths and Catholic marriages in Ireland started in 1864 (other marriages from 1845). For earlier dates you need to search for church records.
John most likely gave Letterkenny as his place of birth (on marriage certificate) as that was the nearest town to where the family lived but only was you'll know for certain where he was actually born is from his birth certificate.

[franm101]

ok thanks! i had been advised that the IGI was morman based and one index that the Catholics did not share their info for. I was also told that the C before the number iven as a batch number meant the information was given by a church organisation. Ofcorse this is just info passed onto me so im not sure myself :-)

[aghadowey]

Here's a bit about Irish records on LDS site:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03rx/

[franm101]

Thankyou! Thats very helpful! I cant fid his one there though C701501...nevermind :-)
So now do you advise trying to get John birth certificate to confirm birth place?? :-)

[aghadowey]

Birth certificate would give townland where John was born.
You mentioned before finding a will for Daniel in PRONI index- how do you know this is really John's father Daniel?