Kathy~ I do not think one should ignore the sponsors in any sacramental record found. They may be as I call it the "back" door to information. I figure if the surname is the same then it is most likely a sibling, cousin, in-law, aunt/uncle. Usually someone who will be of an age to be alive to see the child to adulthood with guidance, spiritual and material. Most of the records if you are lucky enough to find, have the townland/village of the sponsor so this would be a clue to the rest of the family. 19th century and earlier Irish did not travel too far from home, especially if they were poor. Mary Ellen littlehouseantiques@att.net wrote: Mary Ellen~ Thanks for the info about ages of baptism sponsors. Can I assume that it would be fairly unusual for the sponsor to be a teen? Also can anyone tell me if it has benefited them much in their research to figure out the relationship of the sponsor to the child being baptised? I guess what I'm asking is.... Do you find mostly that the sponsors are relatives of some sort and it is therefore wise to pay attention to and spend time researching them? OR Do you find that in the main they are merely friends and not relatives and chasing after them is not worth the time and effort? Thanks! Kathy Rhodes -------------- Original message from Mary Ellen Chambers : -------------- Kathy~ Don't assume the age of Baptism sponsors. There are many incidences both in Ireland and in the USA in the Catholic church where sponsors are in their early teens. Also, grandparents have also been sponsors. "Back in the day" they had to be practicing Catholics. However, I have been to two over the past few years where one of the godparent's was not Catholic. One MUST be Catholic but not necessarily the other, per our pastor. I had questioned him after the service. ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 11:39 PM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Sharing Limerick Baptisms- Biggane, Shanahan,Donovan, Flaherty, Moloney, Cregan, Liston STUPID QUESTION OF THE DAY: In the Lutheran Church (at least here in Shiremanstown Pennsylvania), godparents/sponsors have to be adults (age 18 or older) and current members of the SAME church where child is being baptised. Is it the same (or was it the same in 1871 in Ireland) in the Roman Catholic Church? In other words, can I assume the sponsors Michael Biggane and Hana Shanahan listed on the following baptism, were both ADULTs (i.e., at that time period over 21) ...... Kathy Rhodes Griffith's Valuations: http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message