HI List I'm new to this particular List and have searched the Archives for any help with this problem. No luck, so am asking if there is anyone with any suggestions. I am helping a friend research her husband's ancestor who emigrated from Ireland to Liverpool sometime before 1878. His name was John BURILIN and this is the name the family has used ever since, but it seems to have been a new version of another name. (Burlin? Burland? Barlan? Bryland? Etc etc) 23 year old John Berilin married Mary Ann DWYER at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy (marriage cert), in 1878. His father is John Berilin too. 'Our' John became Burilin in the 1881 Census and he gave his place of birth as Ireland. My problems: . I cannot find anything about this Church. I did find a mid-1850s picture of a convent of Our Lady of Mercy and wondered if it was likely that they were married in the Chapel of the convent? . Where could I find the records of such a marriage? I have looked in the Liverpool Record Office index and there's nothing there. Would it be appropriate to write to the diocese office ? (if there is such a thing - I have not done any Catholic (or Irish) research so am not sure of the procedure.) . The Marriage Certificate says 'Married by Certificate" I'm used to English and Scottish certs which say "By licence' or 'After banns' so I don't know what significance this has. . John is not on the 1871 Census and nor are there any others with the name, which suggests he went to Liverpool on his own. But how on earth do I find whereabouts in Ireland? . Mary Ann Dwyer's father came from Co Kilkenny. Did Irish people stick together with others from their home area? So many questions, but if someone could help with even one I'd be grateful! I just don't know where to go from here. Many thanks Dorothy New Zealand