Dowling ancestors

Hello Michele,

I went to www.rootsireland.ie and found only one baptismal listing for a Robert Dowling in Co. Longford

Robert Dowling baptised 1853 Co. Longford in 1853

I searched and found that he was baptised in the parish of Templemichael  which was Church of Ireland.

This site is free to join and search but you will have to pay about €5 to view and print this record.

It should hopefully give you both parents names and godparents names.  It might yield an address.

Kind regards,

Anne Dennehy

That's fantastic Anne.  Thanks very much for your efforts on my behalf.  I'll certainly pay to print the record.  It's very exciting when you get a lead.  Robert's daugher (my husband's grandmother) had told me Robert had been born on Earl Fitzwilliam's estate so I have been getting nowhere following records in Co. Wicklow.  I finally got his death certificate which says born in Carrickglass Longford.  Amazing !!

Thanks again for your help.  It's rather frustrating sitting in Sydney, Australia and trying to follow leads on the internet.  Though I don't know how we managed before the internet !!

Kind regards

Michele Pont

Hi Michele,

Glad that we were able to find him so easily and quickly.  It doesn't always work out like that.  If there is anything else that we can do, please let us know.  It's so exciting when you get some results.  I must tell you that you will find it strangley addictive.  I loved searching so much that when I had finished my own family tree, and then my husband's family tree, I found that I was frustrated not to have anything else to search.  That is why I like volunteering with this site and trying to help others find their family.

Kind regards,

Anne

Hello Anne

Since you have kindly offered, any idea how I find out something about Robert Dowling's parents - father also named Robert, and mother Mary Kelly.  That's all I know, taken from Robert's death certificate, and also his baptism record at Templemichael, Co. Longford that you put me on to.

Also, would you have any idea how I find out which church he was baptised in?  My husband and I are coming to Ireland in July and I'd love to take a photo of the church if we are in the vicinity.  I got onto the CHurch of Ireland's website and found there are 5 churches in Templemichael Diocese of Ardagh;  also looked at a site www.longford.ardagh.anglican.org and didn't pick up anything.  And I checked out the website for Representative Church Body Library.

Any clues you can give me are greatly appreciated !!

Kind regards

Michele

Hello Michele,

Normally you can search for the marriage record of Robert and Mary on www.rootsireland.ie, however I have just done that and I can't find a marriage record for them.  I searched all counties on that site .  I then went to www.irishgenealogy.ie and searched for them there but to no avail.  I then went to www.askaboutireland.ie and searched the Griffith Valuation but couldn't find Robert there either.

The church of Ireland records for Templemichael go back very far in comparison to other parishes.  I can't understand why I can't find them.

It is possible that they didn't marry, and I'm wondering if there is an asterisk with the letter E at the end of that record you printed?  This could mean that the baby Robert is recorded with both his parents but he is illigitimate.  

It is also possible that the record was just skipped when they were being transcribed, so it is advisable to search the church records when you come over in July. Many church of Ireland churches have closed due to falling numbers and there will usually be one church in the locality which will be able to tell you where the records are kept.  I would advise you to contact the church of ireland body in Longford and ask where the records for Templemichael are now being kept.  I know that in the RC parishes some priests don't like to show the records as they say they are all online with one website or the other, but I know from searching my own tree that out of 4 children born in my family during the famine only three were on www.rootsireland.ie .  When I physically went through the parish records in the local church I found the baptism record of the fourth.  So mistakes have definitely been made, and records omitted and improperly transcribed.

So sorry that I can't seem to help you any further,

Kind regards,

Anne

Dear Anne

You've been fantastic - thank you very much.  I suppose it's possible Robert & Mary were married elsewhere & came to Templemichael before son Robert was born in 1853. 

There is nothing on Robert's baptism record - no letter E or asterix.  It doesn't give his birth date, only baptism date.  No sponsors are recorded.  Under "Notes" it says "Farmer born 27 September  Rev R Card".  I have discovered through someone at  library@ireland.anglican.org  that son Robert was born on 27 September 1853 in the church of Templemichael, and I have asked how and if I can get a copy of the birth record.

I will do as you suggest and contact the Church of Ireland body in Longford to try and find where the records for Templemichael are now kept.

Again, thank you so much for your help, and if you can think of any other angles, please give me a yell !!

Kind regards

Michele