Steers of Kilmessan (Co. Meath)

[dask]

Hi, I am new to the chat forum. I am wondering does anyone have information on the family name Steers. They were from Kilmessan (outside it actually). I am a direct decendent of Laurence Steers b.1860 son of John Steers (b.1830ish) and Catherine Henry (b.17/03/1831 Dunsany & married 2 Oct 1853 Kilmessan). Laurence married Elizabeth Adams and moved to Dublin. Their daughter Ellen Steers was my grandmother. The family name of Steers runs cold with John. I can find no information about Steers before him. Catherine Henry's father was Laurence Henry born 29/11/1792 at Dunsany. Her mother was Eleanor Maguire. Laurence Henry's parents were Mathew Henry and Catherine Brady.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

[shanew147]

What denomination are your Steers family ?

The RC parish for the town of Kilmessan is Killeen, and baptism and marriage records go back to about 1740 (with a few gaps).

Historic Church of Ireland baptism records for the parish only go back to the 1880s.

see : Introduction to Irish Records



Shane

[dask]

Hi Sahne,

Don't know if this posted but the Steers were all Roman Catholics.

Dask

[shanew147]

Marriages usually took place in the bride's parish - i.e. her current residence, (which may not be her birth parish). Since you can find no earlier details on this Steers family it's possible that they came from somewhere outside the parish..

What sources have you already searched ?


Shane

[dask]

Hi Shane,

Have searched the IFHF website and taken what I could from it. Also, 1911/01 Irish census.

Born 03/10/1860 Laurence Steers (f: John Steers of Kilcarty m: Catherine Henry) -m- Elizabeth Adams (f: Michael Adams m: ?) 05/09/1886

Siblings: John (b.26/06/1855), Mathew (b.24/12/1856), James (b.12/07/1864), Catherine (b.15/07/1867)

Have a record of a John Steers born at Dungar Park in Roscrea, Tipperary on 27/04/1817 but he is CoI. There is a John Steers on the 1911 census in Kilmessan living with James. I suspect this is the same John Steers as above (RC) but am less inclined to think he is the one from Tipperary. Though conversion would not be impossible.

Dask

[shanew147]

It's possible that your John Steers was from a nearby parish in Meath where the records dont go back far enough to show his baptism.

Few rural RC parishes have records before 1830, so it was lucky that Catherine's family came from Killeen parish with such old records. Some of the parishes adjacent to Killeen dont go back nearly as far - e.g. Skryne only to 1842, Rathcore and Rathmolyon only go back to 1878..etc

p.s. I think there may be a few additional parishes in the County that RootsIreland/IFHF dont include in their system..


Shane

[dask]

Hi Shane,

Thanks for that. I am aware that the NLI in Dublin have copies of parish records and someday I plan to go down and do a bit.

Many thanks,

dask

[shanew147]

If you visit the NLI, it might be worth checking the Tithe records also - these date from the 1820s/30s and might show if your families were in the same area at that times.



Shane

[dask]

Hi Shane,

Yes, never thought of those. Must add that to the list of look ups. Again, many thanks,

dask