James and Bridget Williams

[shanew147]

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How easy is it to view the RC records?
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Most RC records are available on microfilm in the National Library in Dublin, but only part of the Celbridge records have been filmed - baptisms from 1857. You would have to try to contact the parish to see if they can check for you.

I would follow up on all English census returns for the Irish born members of the family to see if you can locate anything more detailed

I'd certainly keep those births for Henry and Sarah on the 'possible' list, but there could be other potential matches we are not seeing at this stage - it was very early days in the civil records and quite a few births were not registered. Also depends on the accuracy of his age on the returns - he could have been born late 1863 and before civil records.

Byrne is a very common surname - number 7 in terms of births in the 1890s. Williams is not so common - just 80 people with the surname in Co. Kildare on the 1901 census vs nearly 1,400 for Byrne


Shane

[Loulou330]

Very many thanks Shane for all your help and advice it is very much appreciated.

Regards,

Loulou

[shanew147]

There are four entries for the name James Williams as occupier on Griffith's valuation. This was a land taxation survey and the returns are dated 1851 for this area. Most people appear on these listings. These are all in the Celbridge area and I believe they relate to four different people - as each entry mentions a house.

see : James Williams - Kildare



Shane

[Loulou330]

Hi Shane,

Thank you for the link to the Griffiths valuation information - please forgive my ignorance but what can I get from this information?  Is it that I verifies that there was definitely someone called James Williams living in the Kildare area in 1851?

If you could help  me understand that would be great.

Loulou

[shanew147]

Griffith's relates to property and just shows the principle occupier - gives clues as to location and type of property held, but no family details. I think in this case it shows that there probably just four people named James Williams living in Co. Kildare - all of them in or near Celbridge.

There are a few situations where people are not listed on Grffith's - mainly depending on living situation and occupation. e.g. people living on someone else's, or state, property like policemen, butlers, coastguards, also people in shared accommodation e.g. living with other family, or living in tenements.


Shane