GLA Irish Ancestors

Unfortunately Kilrea RC?s baptism and marriage records only start in 1846 so you won?t get details of Daniel or Margaret?s births from church sources. Do you know what Charles Dempsey?s occupation was or the townland where he and Daniel lived?

Griffiths Valuation for 1858 has two Charles Dempsey?s listed. One was a farmer in Movanagher. The other had a house, yard and small garden in Coleraine St, Kilrea.

The 1831 census has 3 Charles Dempseys listed in the parish of Kilrea. One in Movanagher (1 male & 6 females), one in Claragh (3 males & 2 females) and the third in Kilrea town (with the slightly confusing annotation ?probably outside the town? 3 males and 2 females). All were RC.

Thank you for rapid reply. Unfortunately I have no information about Charlie Dempsey or his wife Mary other than that Daniel was his son. The 1831 census seems a good place for me to start, thanks for the lead. The Dempsy family history in South Australia is quite complex with at least two distinct branches resulting from two seperate immigrations thus my interest in a documentation trail. It would appear Danial Dempsey and his wife Catherine (nee Cassidy) married in Kilrea in Jan 1855 before emigrating to South Australia and moving to the mid north of South Australia around Port Augusta. Thanks again for your help it is really appreciated.

Best regards

GLA

Thanks Elwyn! Good luck with your search GLA

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

Thanks Elwyn! Good luck with your search GLA

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

GLA

I ought to have mentioned, you ought to be able to get a copy of the Jan 1855 marriage but you would probably need to get it from PRONI in Belfast or the National Library in Dublin.  (Some RC records for Tyrone are on-line but the parish of Kilrea doesn?t appear to be one of them).

Don?t expect too much information from the marriage record if you find it. RC marriages for that period generally only had the couple?s names and their 2 witnesses. You might get a townland but not always.

Elwyn

Dear Elwyn

Many thanks for all your help, it s really appreciated. I will see what records I can order, the wonders of the modern age! My Family geneology is starting to take shape with all your help. Australians are very proud of their Irish heritage especially since many of our national characteristics originate from our Irish ancestors.

Thanks again, best regards

GLA

GLA

I had a look at Kilrea RC marriage records in PRONI today for you. You are in luck as there?s quite a bit of information on the 1855 marriage. I have rarely seen so much detail for an RC marriage from that period.

Marriage took place on 1.1.1855. Charles Dempsey?s parents were Charles & Mary Dempsey of Kilrea (townland, rather than parish). The bride was Catherine Cassady, daughter of Frank & Mary Cassady of Kilrea. The witnesses were Charles Dempsey of Monynghan & Margaret Dempsey of Kilrea.

Cassady is spelled with the old fashioned long S (which some mistake for an f) and which was used with any word with a double s.  Don?t know of any townland in that area called Monynghan. There?s Moneyhogan in the county but some distance away.

Anyway hopefully this should help and it tells you that both bride and groom appear to have come from the town of Kilrea, rather than some other townland within the parish of Kilrea.

The mention of Margaret Dempsey as a witness seems to fit with your information that Charles may have had a sister of that name.

Elwyn