Ron, I have just the opposite findings...ALL of my forbears-born 1834-1871 in Ireland were able to read and write (having gathered their signatures from various documents and having also inherited a few written letters)Most of them were listed as "labourers". The National School sytem had been in effect since the late 1830s and before that there were many hedge schools scattered about the country. Nancy --- Ron Lanning <ron@ykk.co.nz> wrote: > Hi just wondering if any fellow Researchers , may have an opinion or > indeed > have come across the following situation . > > My GGGrandfather was Married in April 12 1846 In St Finbarrs , Cork > City , > on His Marriage entry his Father`s occupation is shown as a Labourer as > was > His Bride`s ( Margaret Mahoney) Fathers occupation was also shown as a > Labourer .On their Marriage Cert Margaret used an X to sign Her name > whereas > Nathaniel did not. > > What i`m thinking is this it`s seems dubious to me that a Labourer from > a > Labourers Family as was his Brides Family , would Marry in St Finbarrs > Church before they emmigrated ( His Bride was 3 months Pregnant at the > time) > , it seems to me they would`t bother , and they would be to Poor. > The other thing was Nathaniel not using an X by his name, i wouldn`t > think > he would be able to read or write if he was a Labourer from a Labourers > Family at that time. > I`m thinking that the Families were from a Farming background , not a > Labouring background. > > Any Opinions Welcome !. > > Regards > Ron Lanning > > > ==== IRL-CORK Mailing List ==== > Threaded archives for IRL-CORK can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/irl-cork > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > ____________________________________________________ Sell on Yahoo! Auctions – no fees. Bid on great items. http://auctions.yahoo.com/