Greetings all, Following up on Mick and Brendan's recent news of Carlow church records being available at www.irishgenealogy.ie I decided to see what I could find for my Deere/Deer/Dear line. The records which furnished me with the details in my previous post below were that of the Roman Catholic Church. From here on the family were of that faith tradition. I assumed this had always been the case, given the records, but wondered if they had been Protestant long before, had they arrived with the planter families (as Deer is not a typical Irish name). I had a look last night and found some interesting detail. But need some other minds to help answer a few questions I have. On the Irish Genealogy site the only records that show up for the Deere/Deer/Dear family are Church of Ireland records. The earliest is that of Nicholas Deer, baptised in 1710. I'm guessing his parents could have been born circa 1690. All other entries list the parents, except this one. Record: http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/426bca0000145 Page: http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/reels/c-522-1-1-007.pdf Could it be a simple error that the parents' names were not recorded? Could it be that this child is the 'founder' of the family name, if he being an orphan, was given the surname by a member of clergy? Why is this the last record of this individual - no marriage, or burial record - ? Are there older record sources that could help me trace his parents, if of the same surname? On the IG site I see Deer appearing in Dublin as early as 1644. Also, the Record link above for Nicholas, it states that this is the Carlow Area (COI), but the parish is Aghold, a Barony of Shillelagh I believe. I understand that this is in Co. Wicklow. Was this Co. Carlow at that time? Have the county borders changed since Nicholas' time or was there an overlap between parish and counties borders? There are a few more COI entries leading up to 1775 (to my RC Deere's) but does anyone have any suggestions on how I may make a connection? Finally, can someone offer an explanation as to why, if there is a concrete connection, the entire family converted to Catholicism? Regards, Kristian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kristian Märkus <markus.kristian@gmail.com> Date: 8 June 2010 21:37 Subject: Deere/Deer/Dear Family To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Good evening all, With thanks to Mick Purcell I have managed to trace a line in my family tree to the late 1700's to two brothers; John Dear and Thomas Dear, the latter from which I descend and who married a Judith Dunne. I imagine the brothers were born c1775 or earlier. Information I have to date (Source: Carlow Heritage Society/Clayton-Browne Papers/Mick Purcell): There is a Judith Dunne listed at Raheenwood, Old Leighlin, in Griffith's Valuations 1852 as renting 'Houses, and Land' from Anne Vigors and Sisters. Land area listed as follows: A=2 R=1 r=29. Cost of land rent IR£1. House rent is 5 shillings making total, IR£1 and 5 shillings. This may be the same Judith Dunne who married Thomas. If so, he may have passed away by this point, if this was the home that he and his wife settled in. Extract from Browne-Clayton Papers: 'Kallender of Prisoners in Custody Newton, Esquire, High Sheriff of Carlow, 6th day of October 1796. Edward Byrne fined two marks and to give Security to be of the Peace for seven years. John Rourke guilty of assault, fined one mark (13 shillings and 4 pence) and then discharged. Thomas Deer found guilty of two assaults and to be imprisoned for a fortnight, fined six pence.' This also tells us Thomas was a blacksmith. Following the 1798 rebellion men in the area made the statements such as the following made by Thomas (records found in UK by, and held by, Mick Purcell): 'Thomas Deer of Bridewell Lane, Dealer, Sworn by his brother John Deer of Cockpit lane, had a pike and gave to Mr. Nowland the priest and requires a protection.' Thomas's son James raised his own family on Pollerton Road, but I would like to find out where his father Thomas and uncle James were born. I have a feeling it may be Killeshin. I may be wrong. I am at a dead end at this point and so far have been unable to find out who the parents of Thomas and John are. Can anyone point me in the right direction, offer some suggestions? -- Regards, Kristian