Thomas R Roach and Catherine Dowling, looking for more information about them.
I joined the group because I am hoping to find out more about my father’s maternal grandparents, who came from Ireland. We have not found much information for Thomas R. Roach, M42D-4LY, other than that he was born, in Limerick, Ireland (according to the death certificate my grandmother filled out), he immigrated in 1848, through New York, and died 24 February 1914, in Minnesota. He is buried in Stephen Catholic Cemetery, Stephen Minnesota.
He married Catherine Dowling, M42D-4GN, on 18 September 1871, in Kane, Illinois. Marriage records says surname is Doylan and Dooling. The 1885 Iowa Census says she was 45, it also says Thomas was 50. 1895 Census says she was 55 and Thomas was 65. She emmigrated in 1861, from County Kilkenny, Ireland. She died 1 April 1927, at about 99, in Minnesota.
I am not good at researching. I would like to get some suggestions on how to start looking. I heard about some videos on different counties in Ireland I would be interested in viewing, but do not know how to locate them.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Hi @Sanra
Irish research can be REALLY a lot of fun, but it can take a lot of patience. Ireland only began keeping birth and death records in 1864. Before that time, you need church records such as baptisms.
There is a saying in genealogy that spelling really doesn't count. Especially in that time period, there were so many people who could not read or write and couldn't tell the priest or clerk or census taker how to spell the name. Those who could read and write spelled the name as it sounded to them. If they came from a different country or even a different part of Ireland, the name would be unfamiliar.
It's also common for ages or years of birth to vary greatly from record to record. Many people truly didn't know exactly when they were born. They didn't need to prove age to drive a car.
Roman Catholic baptismal records are available to view, free online, on several websites. I find the FindMyPast search engine the most accommodating. https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/ireland-roman-catholic-parish-baptisms
Good luck!
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This is a duplicate question, see: https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/93886/thomas-r-roach-and-catherine-dowling-trying-to-find-more-information-about-them
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@Áine Ni Donnghaile and @ A van Helsdingen
Thank you for the suggestions. It gives me a place to begin.
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@A van Helsdingen
I have seen you message in the other group. Thanks.
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Per MyHeritage, Thomas R. Roach was born in 1835 in County LImerick, Ireland to William Roach and Elizabeth Webb. His wife, Catherine Dowling/Dooling, was born April 1832 in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and died April 1st, 1927 in Minneiska Township, Wabasha, Minnesota.
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Hi Jessica,
Thank you, The dates and places match what is in Family Tree. I will look at My Heritage again to see if there is more information.
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