Festus Fielden - needle in a haystack?

[Forfarian]

I am looking into a friend's family history and his 3rd-great-grandfather was Festus Fielden or Fielding, born in Ireland.

He married Betty Whitworth in Oldham, Lancashire, England in 1833 and had six of a family: Mary Ann, Catherine, Jane, Festus, Sarah, James and Eliza Jane.
In the 1841 census he was 27; in 1851 he was 37 and in 1861 he was 47, so I conclude that he must have been born about 1813/1814. He died in 1869 in Lancashire and is buried in Oldham.
He presided over a tea held by the Rechabites in Oldham in 1854 and another occasion in 1859 at which 500 sat down to tea in the Temperance Hall in Oldham.
In 1867 Thomas Tetlow, John Garside and Festus Fielding, cotton spinners, Oldham, were declared bankrupt.
I have yet to find any obituary or anything else that might be a clue to his origins.

What are my chances of finding his origins in Ireland, and where should I start looking?

[heywood]

1841 533/1
Festus’ residence is Rhodes Hill.

1841 533 /46/17
Catherine Fielden, 45 yrs b Ireland is living at Nether Lees with husband Samuel and children.
The others are born in county.

These residences are closeby.

I see a published tree naming James Fielden and Katherine Toole as parents to Festus but there are no records - not even this one in 1841.

There are Irish born Fielden in Ashton which you may have looked at already.

1861 3022 /8/9

Catherine and Elizabeth Fielding, mother and sister, are living with Mary Halkyard. Catherine is b Dublin.

[CaroleW]

Sorry - none of the following helps find his birth details - just a bit of additional info

He died as Fielden 10.6.1869 in Blackpool aged 55 - late of Lee St Oldham
Administration was granted to wife Betty on 5.4.1870 - effects under £50.  Address Lee St Oldham

[heywood]

1851 2233/46
Leesfield
Samuel Fielding b Todmorden, Yorks
Catherine b Dublin
Samuel 21 yrs b Rochdale
Elizabeth 30 yrs b Todmorden

[heywood]

Marriage of Samuel Fielding and Cathn Toole - 1813 St Paul, Dublin
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01st7/

I can’t see a baptism which might be Festus.

The Fielding family, may not have any connection to Festus though.

[dublin1850]

Festus in Ireland as a first name is very much localised around County Galway (particularly Clifden).
In the 1901 census only 2 out of 120 men called Festus were not born in County Galway.
In 1911 it was 7 out of 112.

If we add in the Festy records, it is 5 non Galway out of 218 in 1901 and 6 non Galway out of 205 in 1911.

[heywood]

May be relevant
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01st8/

James Toole baptised 1784 - parents Festus and Mary Toole

Marriage 1778 - Festius Toole and Maria Reily
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01st9/

There is also a baptism - 1812 of Festus Toole to Festus and Maria

[Forfarian]

Thank you all - lots of food for thought there.

[Wexflyer]

Festus in Ireland as a first name is very much localised around County Galway (particularly Clifden).
In the 1901 census only 2 out of 120 men called Festus were not born in County Galway.
In 1911 it was 7 out of 112.

If we add in the Festy records, it is 5 non Galway out of 218 in 1901 and 6 non Galway out of 205 in 1911.

Fascinating observation!