SINSEARLANN CHONTAE CHILL MHANTAIN

COUNTY WICKLOW HERITAGE SOCIETY * COURTHOUSE,  WICKLOW                                                                                     _Tel: (0404)20126 Fax :(0404)69980 E-Mail: ewh@iol.ie                                              

Our Ref: 1468/EN_3140 Date: 01/10/98

Dear Mrs. Milam,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in processing your enquiry. This is a very hectic year for us as Wicklow Town's Historic Gaol has just opened as a visitor's centre telling the story of gaol life, transportation of convicts to Australia and of course, the 1798 Rebellion. As you probably know, we are commemorating the Bicentennary of the 1798 Rebellion in County Wicklow. I have enclosed our Calendar of Events produced by the county for the commemorations. Also, we have recently opened our new genealogy section in the Gaol which is proving quite "visitor- friendly". Perhaps you will visit us some day!

Now to your enquiry! You requested information on your ancestor James Byrne born circa 1816 at Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow to William and Mary Byrne nee Jenkins. James married Mary Walker and you know of five children born in Ireland; William, Jane, Thomas, Peter and Maria.

I am glad to tell you that a search for the marriage of James Byrne and Mary Walker proved fruitful. Record sheet #1 shows the marriage of James and Mary at Hacketstown Roman Catholic parish in January 1850. I have highlighted the townland of Knocknaskeagh (spelt Knockeniske in the marriage register) on the enclosed section of townland map. As you can see, this is located on the border with County Carlow. Also the enclosed map of Wicklow's Roman Catholic parishes shows that the parishes of Rathdrum and Hacketstown  neighbour each other.

My next step was to search for the baptisms of the children born to James and Mary Byrne nee Walker. Record sheet #2 shows the baptisms of Johanna (Latin for Jane) born 1851, William born 1853, Mary born 1855 and Mary born 1865. It is interesting to note that neither Byrne nor Walker appear in the names of the godparents listed in these records. This might suggest that the couple were not living close to their relatives.  The naming of a second Mary in 1865, after the first Mary in 1855 suggests that the first Mary died in infancy. This practice was traditional in Ireland in the 19^th century, and indeed we come across it often in our research due to the high infant mortality rates of the past.

I could not locate the baptisms of Peter or Thomas at Hacketstown parish, but I did find a Thomas born to a James and Mary Byrne at the neighbouring Rathvilly parish in 1861. This is shown on record sheet #3. It is difficult to know if this is your ancestor as his mother Mary's name is recorded as Byrne rather than Walker. Perhaps Peter was baptised in a County Carlow parish.

In order to trace a further generation of your Byrne ancestors, I carried out a county-wide search for the baptism of James with parents William and Mary Byrne nee Jenkins. I am afraid this proved fruitless, as did a search for any children born to William and Mary Byrne nee Jenkins, or indeed a marriage of William Byrne and Mary Jenkins.

Next I carried out a county-wide search for the baptism of James Byrne with parents William and Mary, but not specifying Jenkins, as often the mother's maiden name is not listed in the earlier registers. This produced one James Byrne born to William and Mary at Rathvilly in 1809. This is shown on record sheet #4. I could not locate the townland of Knockbure in our place name listings, so I assume it to be in County Carlow. I also double-checked Rathdrum for James' baptism, but again, this drew a blank.

I hope the results of the above initial search are of interest to you. I have enclosed ancillary material which I hope you find interesting as well as a general map of the county. Again, I apologise for the wait and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or queries.

Yours Sincerely

Baptism Register Details

Baptism Register Details