Hi Ian and Dave, Understanding the importance of Religion in searching for ancestors in Ireland is something we do need to emphasise. The situation here is a sad reminder to we Aussies of the early days of our country, particularly in relation to RC and Protestant convicts and early settlers. There were simply none or very few priests or ministers in the early colony until about the 1850's when the situation eased somewhat. By that time, an entire generation (or two if they were first fleet convicts) were born who had no religious instruction except fragments their parents recalled from earlier years in their home countries. Many did not know, or could not remember. In convict times Catholic priests were banned initially, being considered as likely to incite rebellion within the convict ranks. Much of our early documentation does not mention religion at all; having no convict ancestors I am lucky in that our family holds the same religion our great-grandparents brought with them from Ireland, and they arrived in 1862. It sure made my Fermanagh search that much easier. Had they arrived in an earlier time we may never have known their beliefs, if any! Kindly, Dee. -----Original Message----- From: fermanagh-gold-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:fermanagh-gold-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Gammage via Sent: Saturday, 7 March 2015 8:39 AM To: Dave H; fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: FERMANAGH-GOLD Parishes Yes understand about religion being critical in Ireland, Dave. However, religion is not often included in key documents in Australia. Mostly with mine I don't know the religion. It can change too. Arthur Mayne, for example, appears as Church of England in Australia though I would guess he was probably Church of Ireland when in Ireland. It is not ignored. Often religion is just not known. Cheers, Ian -----Original Message----- From: Dave H via Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2015 9:22 AM To: fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: FERMANAGH-GOLD Parishes Well it's been said over and over and over again RELIGION is the key but people still totally ignore it in their posts!!!! People won't read the advice given in posts!! How is one to advise anyone as to best possible location/church/graveyard when people just can't be bothered including the RELIGION of whoever they're looking for????? RELIGION is key for finding certain records in Ireland! ================================== https://www.google.ie/ ================================== http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/placenames/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FERMANAGH-GOLD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I fully understand that Dee but a lot did follow their religion/beliefs down the generations through their families, in that "they knew" they were RC in Ireland despite all the efforts to "neutralize" them... Great program on recently about Port Arthur including how those in solitary couldn't even see anyone but the Priest/Minister when at church. Certainly there are many many people looking for kin in Ireland not just on FG around same time as yours and in vast amount their Religion would be known yet the Religion is omitted on posts.. Dave. On 06/03/2015 23:10, Dee wrote: > In convict times Catholic priests were banned initially, being considered as > likely to incite rebellion within the convict ranks. > Much of our early documentation does not mention religion at all; having no > convict ancestors I am lucky in that our family holds the same religion our > great-grandparents brought with them from Ireland, and they arrived in 1862. > It sure made my Fermanagh search that much easier. > Had they arrived in an earlier time we may never have known their beliefs, > if any! > > Kindly, > Dee.

Thank you Dee. Appreciate the input. Best wishes, Ian -----Original Message----- From: Dee Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2015 10:10 AM To: 'Ian Gammage' ; fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com ; 'Dave H' Subject: RE: FERMANAGH-GOLD Parishes Hi Ian and Dave, Understanding the importance of Religion in searching for ancestors in Ireland is something we do need to emphasise. The situation here is a sad reminder to we Aussies of the early days of our country, particularly in relation to RC and Protestant convicts and early settlers. There were simply none or very few priests or ministers in the early colony until about the 1850's when the situation eased somewhat. By that time, an entire generation (or two if they were first fleet convicts) were born who had no religious instruction except fragments their parents recalled from earlier years in their home countries. Many did not know, or could not remember. In convict times Catholic priests were banned initially, being considered as likely to incite rebellion within the convict ranks. Much of our early documentation does not mention religion at all; having no convict ancestors I am lucky in that our family holds the same religion our great-grandparents brought with them from Ireland, and they arrived in 1862. It sure made my Fermanagh search that much easier. Had they arrived in an earlier time we may never have known their beliefs, if any! Kindly, Dee.