This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: JOHNKIRBY60 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.may.general/8473.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thanks everyone. My ancestor was William Kirby, who was born in Mayo about 1832 and emigrated to Manchester, England, in the 1860s. When he married Ellen Muirhead in Manchester in 1866 he was a widow. The records say he was born in Mayo and Ellen was from Westmeath. His father was called Patrick Kirby, who I estimate to have been born in about 1812. William and Patrick were borth labourers. I've been using a range of sources to try to locate his townland in Mayo - Griffiths, tithe applotment, emcumbered estates court, parish registers and civil registration (post 1864). This has left three 'suspects' - in Knock, Addergoole and Aglish. I found that that those in Knock and Addergoole died in Mayo after my ancestor had left for Manchester, which counts them out and leaving William Kirby of Aglish as the only likely candidate at this stage. He married Mary Keane in Aglish (Castlebar) in 1858. I've also found a Patrick Kirby who married a Mary Reilly in Aglish in 1831, which could possibly be his father. However, I'm a bit stumped because I have just come across four births in the neighbouring parish of Islandeady: 1861 John Kirby to William Kirby and Mary Cain 1862 James Kirby to William Kirby and Mary Cain 1870 John Kirby to William Kirby and Mary Kane 1873 Eliza Jane Kirby to William Kirby and Mary Keane Is this likely to be the same couple? Interestingly, I've also found a Michael Kirby a few streets from William Kirby in Manchester who is listed as being from Castlebar, who was married in Mayo. Not sure yet if he is a relative. I have found one possible marriage in Aglish Castlebar, where a Michael Kirby married a Mary Gildea in 1840. I wonder if Michael's Castlebar connection suggests William is also from there. Some other people in Manchester connected with William - called Hynes, Naven and Shevnan - appear to be from the Ballintober area, but I have found no marriage for William Kirby there even though the registers exist for that period. Being a labour and given the famine, I suspect that William may have moved around. But would that have meant him moving between different parishes quite some distance away? Any help to pin this down would be greatly appreciated. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.