On a related note, some time ago when I was looking at microfilms of the parish books for various Drinagh ancestors, I realized that certain names appeared over and over again as witnesses. Was there a tradition of using designated witnesses? Were these the local important men, whose presence conferred some status on the marriage? One clue may be that they often appeared on behalf of persons who were not native to the townland (farm workers or servants)--was this in lieu of unavailable parents or other relatives? Any ideas? Sheila Connolly Middleboro, MA Researching Connolly, Regan, Collins, Williamson **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004)
In doing research at the National Library in Dublin last year - for southwest County Cork, I found that the parish priest was often used as a marriage witness. Barbara in St. Louis, Missouri -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IRL-KERRY] Fathers as witnesses to marriage On a related note, some time ago when I was looking at microfilms of the parish books for various Drinagh ancestors, I realized that certain names appeared over and over again as witnesses. Was there a tradition of using designated witnesses? Were these the local important men, whose presence conferred some status on the marriage? One clue may be that they often appeared on behalf of persons who were not native to the townland (farm workers or servants)--was this in lieu of unavailable parents or other relatives? Any ideas? Sheila Connolly Middleboro, MA Researching Connolly, Regan, Collins, Williamson **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&n cid=emlcntusyelp00000004) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Could have been a church clerk/curate Sheila, or a J.P or perhaps just someone convenient who lived in a shop or house next to the church. It could also have been a person who owned the property on which the grooms worked, or the manager - an honourary witness of some kind. It's strange, because weddings are planned so there's time to choose witnesses. I've pondered this myself as one of my umpteen-greats uncles appears to have attended almost every wedding in town! Judie, Victoria. Aust. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:22 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-KERRY] Fathers as witnesses to marriage > On a related note, some time ago when I was looking at microfilms of the > parish books for various Drinagh ancestors, I realized that certain names > appeared over and over again as witnesses. Was there a tradition of using > designated witnesses? Were these the local important men, whose presence > conferred > some status on the marriage? One clue may be that they often appeared on > behalf of persons who were not native to the townland (farm workers or > servants)--was this in lieu of unavailable parents or other relatives? > Any ideas? > > Sheila Connolly > Middleboro, MA > Researching Connolly, Regan, Collins, Williamson > **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in > your > neighborhood today. > (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message