Hello everyone, I'm new to Irish research and have a lot to learn. My gggrandfather, William STANLEY, gave his birth place as Cork (no clarification of whether it was the City or County) on the 1871 Census, Wigan, Lancashire, England. On his marriage certificate in 1839, William gave his age as 19 so he was born about 1820 and he named his father as Francis STANLEY. In 1841, William & Ellen and their son, Thomas, age 1, lived with Francis STANLEY, age 75, weaver and his wife, Amelia, age 70, both born Ireland. Besides William, Francis had a son, Francis, born about 1816 in Ireland and married in Wigan in 1836. I believe he also had a son, David, born about 1813, married in Wigan in 1834, so the family left Ireland by the early 1830s. William named his only surviving son, David. Quite by accident, I've come across some Ballymoney and Bandon parish records and found STANLEYS with the forenames Francis, David and William and decided it might be a good place to start my search. Does anyone know where I might find earlier records? William and David, I know would be very common names but is Francis also a common name? I would appreciate any help or suggestions on where or how to start my research. Karen Fraser Vancouver Island, BC