Roman Catholic parishes/churches early 1800s

[josey]

Can anyone help with Roman Catholic parishes & churches near Chatham in the early 1800s? And whether the baptism records may be online?

My great great grandfather was born in Chatham, Kent [probably in one of the barracks] in 1813 - 1814. I cannot read the parish name on his military discharge paper. I am guessing his Irish father was a serving soldier. As Roman Catholics tended to get babies baptised shortly after birth, I wondered if he may have been baptised in the barracks chapel or a local RC church if one existed then.

Any help gratefully received!!! Josey

[grandarog]

Hi Josey,
            Looks like a flourishy hand writing PENGE . (Not that near Chathem) but Chatham or Woolwich would be the nearest military establishments  and I think Chatham is closest.
                                                                                   Cant offer any more help Im,e afraid.
                                                                                                      Good Luck, Rog.

[josey]

Worth a try!! Thanks, Rog.

[KaeDee]

Hello Josey,
I think I might be even less help......have you realised it was illegal to be a Catholic in Great Britain until after 1829. Even then Catholics lived an undercover existence and tried not to have their name in writing in a way that could later be used against them.  Irish Catholics were usually press ganged into Military Service.  When children were baptised the given name was something such as 'Mary' or 'Joseph' - but as they grew up that same person was known as Kate, Tess, Tom, Dick or Harry.  This name could change several times during a persons life....if required.

I understand there were English laws that said everyone had to be registered in a Parish, so Catholic families are ususally registered somewhere to give them legal rights -  using an anglicized name. 

My family has birth and marriages records in various places in Calais, Normandy, Paris, France; Dover, Nottingham, Torquay, London and so forth. This gave them legal rights during the many conflicts on either side of the channel.

I am descended from a Military seafarer who departed from Chatham, Kent
Happy Hunting,

Kathryn, from New Zealand

[josey]

Thank you for replying, Kathryn; that's reallyhelpful information. 

Josey

[behindthefrogs]

Hello Josey,
I think I might be even less help......have you realised it was illegal to be a Catholic in Great Britain until after 1829. Even then Catholics lived an undercover existence and tried not to have their name in writing in a way that could later be used against them.  Irish Catholics were usually press ganged into Military Service.  When children were baptised the given name was something such as 'Mary' or 'Joseph' - but as they grew up that same person was known as Kate, Tess, Tom, Dick or Harry.  This name could change several times during a persons life....if required.

Not quite right. The 1829 Emancipation Act enabled Catholics to vote, sit in parliament and hold property unconditionally.

The Catholic Relief Act of 1791 enabled Catholics to worship in their own registered churches with registered priests.  A number of Catholic parish registers date back to 1778 when the first steps to relieve the penal laws to which they were subjected were enacted.  Although Catholic marriages were not legal until 1837 and had to be conducted in an Anglican Church shadow marriages were conducted in some Catholic Churches

David

[josey]

Again, very useful information.

Thanks, Josey