SWEENEY of Tipperary

[Michael Lancast]

I am looking for a James Sweeney b.1834-5 who married Catherine b.1838(both from Tipperary) who came to Birmingham and had a family 1872-1884 of 7 children living at 141,Nelson Street, Ladywood,Birmingham recorded in 1881 Census
and in 1891 at 48,Digbeth, Parish of St Martin.
Mari Sweeney b 1872 - Brass Lacquerer
Thomas Sweeney b 1874 Iron Caster
John P Sweeney b 1876 Steel Polisher
Catherine Sweeney b 1878 Scholar
Alice Sweeney b 1880
Annie Sweeney b 1883
Sarah Sweeney b 1884
So James and Catherine born just before the Irish Famine and emigrated (but when and from where?)

[sue2white]

Have you tried looking at the Griffiths valuations for Ireland
The link is here.

Sue

[Corka]

Hi Michael

Before trying to find details in Ireland, I think you would be best advised to find out Catherine's maiden name. This will be recorded on the birth certificate of any of the children born in England.

Next step would be to find out if the couple married in England or Ireland. English marriage indexes can be searched at freebmd.com. Irish marriage indexes can be searched at the LDS pilot site (free) or irish-roots.ie (costs). Tipperary records are split into North and South, so be sure to check both.

If you use the LDS site and find a matching reference for both James and Catherine, you can obtain a photocopy of their marriage certificate from GRO Ireland for just 4 Euros. There is no online facility but you can download and print off the application form from that site, quote the reference and send credit card details to Roscommon. Allow 2-6 weeks.

A marriage certificate will provide the names of the fathers of bride and groom. This would be useful not least because the survey for Griffiths Valuation was carried out in Tipperary in 1850/1 when James and Catherine would have been children (so they wouldn't appear in the index). Their fathers may be listed, however.

I hope this helps.

Corka

[Michael Lancast]

Hi Michael

Before trying to find details in Ireland, I think you would be best advised to find out Catherine's maiden name. This will be recorded on the birth certificate of any of the children born in England.

Next step would be to find out if the couple married in England or Ireland. English marriage indexes can be searched at freebmd.com. Irish marriage indexes can be searched at the LDS pilot site (free) or irish-roots.ie (costs). Tipperary records are split into North and South, so be sure to check both.

If you use the LDS site and find a matching reference for both James and Catherine, you can obtain a photocopy of their marriage certificate from GRO Ireland for just 4 Euros. There is no online facility but you can download and print off the application form from that site, quote the reference and send credit card details to Roscommon. Allow 2-6 weeks.

A marriage certificate will provide the names of the fathers of bride and groom. This would be useful not least because the survey for Griffiths Valuation was carried out in Tipperary in 1850/1 when James and Catherine would have been children (so they wouldn't appear in the index). Their fathers may be listed, however.

I hope this helps.

Corka

Thanks for this which is very helpful. I have since found that Catherine (Kate) Mullen born in 'Newry' b.1847 and her husband James Sweeney b.1835 'Tipperary Ireland' - the dates I gave you earlier were wrong.
Their first child 'Mari' (Mary) b.1872 in Digbeth Birmingham so I hope to get a UK marriage and then move back as you suggest. looks likely they left at time of Famine years.
regards, michael