Note from Michael Purcell
We have found a photocopy in the PPP of Carlow
Cathedral Registers for 1774 to 1794 and 1787 -1811.
- I can confirm that the only Baptisms or Marriages recorded
during 1777 to 1791 were for those who paid.
- 2 shillings and 2 pence for a Baptism.
- 1 shilling and 1 penny for "an Unction". (the sacrament of
Extreme Unction).
- 5 shillings and 5 pence for a marriage.
- We will be looking for a "willing victim" to type up the
photocopies for the Carlow List any takers?
- Considering postage costs it is better if the volunteer is
resident in Ireland.
- In the meantime if someone has a particular enquiry for this
period , now is the time to ask, the Registers are not indexed
so approx. date of inquiry would assist.
- This offer is open for a week as we have to continue
cataloguing the PPP and will be moving on to other items.
Mick Purcell
I am at present working on the archive
collection known as the PPP (Pat Purcell Papers).
- In this undertaking I am assisted by two part-time
volunteers.
- I am very grateful to Michael Purcell for this opportunity
to work on such an important resource.
- I wish to add the following comment to Carlow / Graigue /
Killeshin Baptism and Marriage registers, 1769 to 1811,
photocopied and found in the PPP last week.
- The photocopies appear to have been done in 1969 by Pat
Purcell.
- The Baptisms / Marriages in the Cathedral Register for
Carlow / Graigue / Killeshin were entered by a clerk, who seems
more interested in keeping the accounts for 1777 to 1784.
- The Parish Priest of Carlow - Graigue,
Mr Gernon, is paid a
fee at the end of each month.
Many entries state:- "Baptism at (name of street)", two shillings = two pence.
(no name recorded).
- "for an Unction" one shilling = one penny (no name
recorded).
- "for a Baptism and Unction" = three shillings and three
pence (combination of both charges).
- "Married at Mr. Gernons House" five shillings and five
pence.
- There are a few entries recorded as "unpaid".
- All the writing is very clear and readable.
- Most entries are named with no record of Sponsors for
Baptisms but Witnesses are recorded for Marriages.
- What is really frustrating is when he gives the address,
there is no name attached and when he records the names, no
address in given.
Best Wishes, Jean Casey.
Some of the entries that have been extracted
as a result of enquiries to the team:
Baptised, 4th November, 1777. Tady, son of
John and Jone Brennan, Sponsors;
Michael Aughney and Ann
Doran.
Baptised, 21st November 1777; William of
Patt and Catherine Brennan, Sponsors;
Michael
Neale and Margaret
Cumins.
Thomas, 23rd November 1777, son of Patt and
Ann Brennan, Sponsors William Murphy and Mary
Welsh.
30th August, 1788. Bapt. Mary of
James
Lawler and Catherine Seymour, Sponsors ;
Michael
Quinn and Catherine
Connelly. no address.
25th June, 1773, Baptised, Robert son of
William Bowles and Sara Moore. Sponsors ;
Marjary
Macdermott.
It would appear that several of those
recorded are "Protestant”, there are no comments in the register to
indicate this but I know some of the families.
30th August, 1788. Bapt; Mary of James
Lawler and Catherine Seymour, Sponsors ; Michael
Quinn and Catherine
Connelly, no address.
26th September 1778. Churched Mr. Gurley's
Milk Woman, 2 shillings and 2pence -offering 4 shillings and 8 pence
=Total 6 shillings and 10 pence.
- (Note added in 2010. "Churched" was a form of
purification ceremony that mothers were to have offered shortly
after birth of a baby. This was a practice continued in the R.C.
church up to 1970s or 80s.
- There are many entries in this register for "a
Purification" the charge was one shilling and one penny -one
entry reads; 21st November 1778," for an Unction and
Purification" two shillings and two pence" = (combined charge
for both services, obviously the mother was in danger of death,
no mention of a baptism which may indicate that the baby had
died!).
- 5th September, 1780., for a Baptism in Leigh and Unctions,
4 shillings and 4 pence, (may be a case of both mother and baby
are in danger of death, the priest first baptises the baby and
then administers Extreme Unction to both of them)
Total figures for October 1778.
- Baptisms and Unctions = 2 pounds / 2 shilling.
- Marriages; = 5 shillings and 5 pence.
- Total; 2 pounds 7 shillings. 5 pence.
- For my payment; 11 shillings and 9 pence.
For Mr. Gernon; 1 pound, 15 shillings and 4
pence. (Mr. Gernon was the Parish Priest for Carlow, Graigue, and
Killeshin, not sure if the Baptisms / Marriages records were entered
by a housekeeper or a clerk, but it appears the Mr Gernon did not
enter any of them from 1777 to 1782.)
Mick Purcell
Maddock
Thomas from Hollymount, Queen's County, married
Mary Coleman from Oak Park, 1919.
Mary Ann from Granby Row, Carlow, died 1972.
Hutchinson
John Baptism, 1886, father, Barth, mother,
Thersa
Warren, Dublin
Road, Carlow.
John married Ann Doyle, 1777.
Transcribed by Jean Casey
Cunningham
Carlow Cathedral Register.
Cunningham, George, died aged 37, 26th
July 1949. Browne Street.
Joseph died 25th Oct. 1931, Browne
Street, buried in Ballybricken, Waterford.
Patrick died 26th May, 1940, Brown
Street.
Sarah, Baptised, 1833, Brown Street,
father, Mick, mother, Lucy Kelly.
Carlow Cathedral Register, Snippets.
Transcribed by Pat Purcell in June, 1956. Snippets from
Baptism Register,
Carlow Cathedral Parish. December
19th 1831.
Christopher
Riggs, Private
Soldier in the 65th Reg. of Foot was this day absolved by me
from excommunication which he incurred from living as a
Protestant and was by me restored to the unity of the Holy
Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church (signed) William
Hackett, C.C. in the presence of
Gerald
McDonald.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John
Seaconemow ? ,`1866, A strolling black
from Calcutta here on this day baptised having been under
instruction for a month or more. Pat
Murphy
answered for him at the font. He thinks he is about 35 years
of age.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John
Sunderland, 29th Oct. 1866, was this day received
by me into the church and conditionally baptised, he having
made a profession of faith in the presence of Thomas
McDarby and Betty
Clowry. (signed)
Fr. O'Neill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andre
Reyngout, 21st June 1926, killed
at the Beet Factory, from Belgium, aged 24, buried at St
Mary's Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John
and Ann and Sera
Snoddy, (formerly Sera
Barbour), 1st September, 1849,
Presbyterians, Mother and two children of Pollerton Road
conformed to the Catholic Church in their last illness and
received the rights of the church. Sponsors: John
Ryan,
Margaret
Curran,
Robert
Reddy,
Sera
Kennedy.
[note added by Michael Purcell, June 2012 - Cholera
victims, Sera and her two children were buried shortly after
"conforming "]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary
Tyrell, 13th Oct. 1828, a poor neglected
child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With kind permission of Michael Purcell
Carlow Cathedral EXTRACTS